Please Help Me Asap

[fugi14]

I am so scared. My female betta was just fine a week ago but she has steadily been getting worse over the last couple of days. I tried to get a picture but the picture just wasn't clear enough to be of any use. Her gills are all reddish (they are red just from coloration but they are worse now) and they seem to be oozing white stuff. She has black dots all over her fins and her scales. I don't know what's wrong. I have tried several treatments but she hasn't responded. Please help me, what should I do?

 

[Castellop123]

It sounds like your betta has Ichthyophthiriasis (White spot) and Dactylogyrus (Gill Worms). Luckily for you, there is no other fish and there is no danger of a massive outbrake. White Spot is not the biggest problem, simply buy a white spot formular and add to the aquarium. Gill Worms are the real danger. The problem is caused by a monogenetic fluke (Thrematode) Tetraonchus monenteron and Cichlidogyrus tilapiae. But enough of the scientific stuff... If you have done nothing, then the fish shall die...

The only course of action is to bath the fish in ammonium Hydroxide (1ml of 25% Ammonium Hydroxide for each litre of water). Do not put the fish in the solution for more than a minute... The other courses of action are usually complicated and dangerous for the fish... You may find a formular somewhere which will treat Gill Worms but if you do not act immediately...there is usually little you can do.

Sorry if the Diagnosis was a bad one....

 

[zoekin8yg]

white spot would mean white spots there is also black spot, perhaps you will find some good advice on the emergency section.

 

[DarkEntity]

Black patches is usually ammonia burns i think

 

[jollysue]

I am at a loss as to why the fish is diagnosed with gill worms, which is not a common malady, and the only described symptoms are red, inflamed gills and some discharge.

I am with Dark Entity:

Start with water quality: What are the stats on the water? Always, no matter, what start with water changes. Even if the stats (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) are fine, the bacteria, fungus, parasite, whatever load will be reduced by water changes and give the fish a chance of recovery on its own.

Get a correct or reasonable diagnosis before throwing meds in the tank.

Are there other fish in the tank? What size is the tank? How long has the fish been in the tank? Is it filtered or not? what is the water change regimen? Are there other fish with a problem in the house? Can you get a good clear pict of the fish? Are there small hairy things on the gills?

I am not familiar with any desease with black dots. (Not to say there is not one; I have not dealt with all deseases. Thank God!) Dark Entity may be correct, but it doesn't sound like she is sure. Gather this information and if no one responds to the black spots w/more certainty, post in the emergency section. Or post now, and we will work together.

For now do frequent water changes and add salt at about 1 tsp per 2.5 usg. This assumes that the fish is alone in a small hospital tank.

The gills could very easily be from ammonia burn or from bacterial infection stemming from water quality.

Check the Betta care and the Betta health sections on this site BettaTalk

 

[fugi14]

The ammonia was a little bit high but not unbelievable. I did a water change and fed her some peas as recommended on another site. The tank is a 2.5 gallon hexagon and she is the only fish.

 

[Glod]

Can you get us a picture of the fish ? Can you give us the tank stats ? PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate. Is the tank heated ? Filtered ? What is the water change routine ? any new additions to the tank ? Any new medications or chemicals used ?

The symptoms of ICH or whitespot are white salt like grains scattered across the body.

Red gills could indicate many things, gill flukes are one but if it's the only fish and has been in the tank for an extended period with no new fish added, that is unlikely. It could also be irritation due to something in the water, increased ammonia or nitrite could casue reddened gills.

Good luck with your fish.

p.s. a tip for getting a decent pic, focus on something in the bowl then hold the shutter button half way down and moce the camera until the fish is in focus then finish taking the pic. Disabling the flash is also a good idea usually.

 

[jollysue]

Any ammonia that is enough to register is of concern. Consider if you were floating in and breathing urine water.

The pea is a good addition to your fishes weekly diet. One fast day a week followed by a bit of mashed pea. It is to keep the digestion regular--clean the pipes. Betta are such little piggies. They are prone to overeat protein and not get their veggies.

But constipation does not cause red gills, mucus, or black spots.

check this site about black spot deseaseblack spot desease