New Betta, He's Ill Already

[Lacuna]

Please help!

I got a new betta yesterday, and he seems ill already . My tank is 48 litres and has been cycled. There are 10 pygmy corys in with him that were added a week ago, and they currently seem fine, very active. Ammonia and nitrite are 0, pH is 7.6, and temperature is 26 degrees. I haven't tested nitrate today, but it's normally about 6 or 7 as I have live plants. I also added some wood with plants on yesterday, I'm afraid I don't know what the plants are. I did a 20% water change yesterday morning before I bought him.

He was quite active when put in the tank yesterday, swimming about, and he looked healthy. He ate a few betta flakes last night. This morning I noticed some white stuff around his mouth, and over the course of the day he has become increasingly lethargic. He spends a lot of time still, either hanging around in a corner of the tank, or sitting on the bottom. He doesn't even care if the corys swarm past him, and I haven't seen him flare. I have dosed with some Melafix, as this is all I have to hand. Should I do a water change? I think I'm not supposed to if I keep using the Melafix.

Does anyone know what is wrong with his mouth and what I should do? I don't have a hospital tank, I'm afraid, so any meds I add will affect the corys. Photos below, sorry they're not better quality, but the first one shows his mouth quite well.







His name's Hector. Many thanks.

 

[Honeythorn]

If you get a food safe clear plastic storage tub, ( Wilkinsons sell them for a couple of quid , one at least 12 inches long and 10 deep ) set it up with a small sponge filter and heater, plus a bunch of silk plants ( just easier in this case ) and a cave for him to hide in ( again, wilko do a cheap house shaped ornament and a treasure chest one which is fine for him to hide in ) , and no gravel or substrate (keeps it cleaner ) You can use that as a hospital tank and treat him for fungus separately from your main tank.

The move to a new tank and most likely different water stats than he's used to, may have stressed him and caused the fungus.

 

[aly_starh]

Hi, lovely betta

Regarding the matter, 10 pygmy corys might be slighly pushing it. Bettas do usually sulk for around a week until they are used to there surroundings.
Its good that he has already ate.

Melafix is really dangerous for Bettas, stop using that immediatly.
Try Betta-fix instead.

The white thing around his mouth, does it look like cotton? it may be a fungus.
Best thing to do is, Quarantine him, even if its a small jar, tub etc. Make sure the size is atleast 1 1/2l. You can get a coke bottle, cut it in half and pop him in there, keep him in a warm, low lit room. Add a pinch of aquarium salt, to make the water sterile, and what would be really good is if you have an Indian Almond leaf, if not make sure you buy some, its good for de-stressing. Keep him in QT for around a week, doing daily water changes with dechlor and salt.

If you dont want to do that, leave him in the tank, minus the melafix and do the salt and indian almond leaf thing, with daily water changes.

Putting him in QT in this circumstance is so the cories leave him alone.

Hopefully he will get better soon.

EDIT: before you all take a dig, 1-2l is fine for when bettas are put in QT, experienced betta owners/breeders have told me this in the past.

 

[Rezatii]

While I will agree that 2l is fine for quarentine purposes only I will say a coke bottle isn't ideal, something wider is preferable to height, to allow the little guy to get to the surface easier


-Rezz

 

[MewMew42]

you'll need to be treating the mouth fungus with myxazin by waterlife, you'll need to get the 60ml one, that will do you! corys will be fine, im treating my girls in with a brisltenose

bettas are really susceptible to it unfortunatley =[ a few of my girls have it, it needs to be treated asap as it takes a hold quite fast

ps if you cant get that then some meth blue will do, if you can get a fish bag from your lfs, fill it up with water from you tank and let it float in there add one pippette full of meth blue to teh bag with a teaspoon of salt, let that dissolve then add him, keep him in there for about 30 mins then put him back. i did this twice daily and it seems to be keeping the fungus at bay, this is only a last resort if you cant get myxazin!...warning! do not put it straight into your tank it will kill your filter and stain things!!!

 

[aly_starh]

While I will agree that 2l is fine for quarentine purposes only I will say a coke bottle isn't ideal, something wider is preferable to height, to allow the little guy to get to the surface easier


-Rezz

yeh, you can cut it in half, so you will have just over a litre. I know it may SOUND small, but once you see the betta in there, it aint small at all.

ONCE AGAIN... ONLY FOR QT !

 

[Honeythorn]

Why on earth would you want something as small as a coke bottle? For a hospital tank you need to keep the water as clean and stable as possible, this means filtering and SPACE. Which is why a plastic storage tub is perfect for the job. They're cheap, easy to get , do the job very well and you can store them away for next time or for a spare tank in an emergency. I know for a fact Wilkinsons stores sell them in all sorts of sizes, and one that's 12 inches x 10 inches or thereabaouts is perfect for a hospital tank.

 

[aly_starh]

Why on earth would you want something as small as a coke bottle? For a hospital tank you need to keep the water as clean and stable as possible, this means filtering and SPACE. Which is why a plastic storage tub is perfect for the job. They're cheap, easy to get , do the job very well and you can store them away for next time or for a spare tank in an emergency. I know for a fact Wilkinsons stores sell them in all sorts of sizes, and one that's 12 inches x 10 inches or thereabaouts is perfect for a hospital tank.

I knew someone would take a dig, QT?!?!?

smaller would make it easier to do water changes and less swimming so he wont get tired out.

 

[dthoffsett]

There is nothing wrong with using a coke bottle or other small container as a QT tank. Just because you don't choose to do it doesn't make it wrong.


Lets keep this polite and on topic, after all the goal is to help the OP.

 

[Lacuna]

Hi, many thanks for all the replies. I think this forum is the best I've seen for helping people quickly.

I wouldn't say the white stuff looks like cotton wool, it doesn't look fluffy. It's hard to say really. I'm going to stop the Melafix and pick up some Myxazin tomorrow. I'll also get a container and heater to use as a hospital tank, I don't have anything suitable at home. Do I need to use carbon filter sponge to remove the existing meds from my tank?

betta_246 do you think I'm overstocked? The tank's 12-13 US gallons, and at an inch per gallon I thought I would be okay with 10 pygmy corys and a betta. The water stats are fine so far. I thought the corys would be happier in a big group, and I'd prefer not to return any.

Hopefully he will be okay, I'll let you know how he gets on. He's mostly just resting on a leaf at the top of the tank at the moment.

 

[MewMew42]

I hope he gets better =]

what meds have you used in your original tank? if its just melafix i wouldnt worry about its as its a natural remedy

as long as you have had no problems with water quality and everything is stable then I dont see any problems with your stocking =]

if hes having problems going up for air you could drop the water level down a bit? but if hes okay on the leaf then leave him be

good luck!

 

[ellena]

How is he? It looks like columnaris which my betta had. He's a stunning colour-hope he pulls through it OK

 

[loraxchick]

for fungal issues use PIMAFIX...not melafix or betta fix(which is diluted melafix)
undoubedtedly it was stress from being rehomed that caused this flare up. clean clean celan water is the best remedy. if you chose to medicate, qtank is needed as anti bac meds generally are no good for the filter bacs. and i see no problem with the current stocking if the filter is working preoperly (ie. no ammonia/nitrites).. please dont add salt to the main tank with the cories. they dont like it/ dont tolerate it..and no need to run carbon if only using melafix as it dissociates (sublimates) from the water on its own.
best of luck!

 

[Lacuna]

Well, he died

Before I went to bed last night I noticed that the white stuff had spread rapidly all round his mouth, and when I got up this morning he was already dead. Unfortunately, this is the second betta I have had die in the past few months. I don't even know what killed the first one, but he also died within two days. After he died, I stripped the tank down and sterilised, but this makes me wonder if I've been unlucky or if there's something wrong with my tank. The corys seem fine though.

I think I'll try once more, but if the next one dies I definitely won't get any more.

Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[MewMew42]

oh no im sorry =[

it does take a hold very very fast, ive lost about 15 males and females in one go due to it

it may be just a bit of bad luck, maybe try a breeder rather than lfs' as some dont take care of them in the first place