Okay so my betta's fins are getting kinda greyish and I don't know if that's normal, but they aren't splitting or anything so it's not fin rot. Plus he is yellow to begin with but seems to have these little red vein type things where his fins connect to his body. They weren't there before. The internet leads me to believe it could be Septcemia or something like that. My spelling is SO off but it starts with Sept. Anyway, internet suggests Macaryn two, what's the difference between that and Melafix? Any light you could shed would be fantastic. Thank you.
Red Veins? Any Ideas? Not Good...
- Thread starter littlejen
- Start date
Do you mean they're looking a little see-through and you can see red veins in his tail? Are they all going in the same direction, or do they spread out? Or is it that he's losing coloring?
As far as septicemia goes, if I remember rightly, that's caused by being in high-ammonia water and tends to look like red spots or boils on the body or fins- or both. (Although I should also add, I'm certainly no expert!)
Do you have your Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate & PH levels? How often do you do water changes? Is your tank filtered? Heated? How many gallons is it and are there any other fish in the tank? Are there any other symptoms, such as lethargy and/or not eating or eating less?
As always, the main suggestion is water changes to facilitate healing. Pics would also help diagnose if you have them, but we need lots more information.
As far as treatment goes, it's hard to say without knowing first the cause and the possible illness.
As far as septicemia goes, if I remember rightly, that's caused by being in high-ammonia water and tends to look like red spots or boils on the body or fins- or both. (Although I should also add, I'm certainly no expert!)
Do you have your Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate & PH levels? How often do you do water changes? Is your tank filtered? Heated? How many gallons is it and are there any other fish in the tank? Are there any other symptoms, such as lethargy and/or not eating or eating less?
As always, the main suggestion is water changes to facilitate healing. Pics would also help diagnose if you have them, but we need lots more information.
As far as treatment goes, it's hard to say without knowing first the cause and the possible illness.
zoekin8yg
Fish Herder
maracyn is an antibitoic, melafix is an anti bacterial
it does sound like septacemia. although can you get a pic?
it does sound like septacemia. although can you get a pic?
Thanks for the quick response. Okay, I have one of those betta starter kit tanks, so its just small.
First and only fish ever. I use Betta Plus to condition the water and I use my tap water which comes from a well.
No the veins aren't in his tail. The red lines look like almost as if they'r divind the fins and the rest of his body and they run horizontal. One spreads down a teeny bit. I change his water every 3 days, and feed him Nutrafin Max. I have a small heat lamp that attaches to the top of his tank. He does seem to mope around a fair bit.
Hope that helps.
zoekin8yg
Fish Herder
see the stripes on this female do they look like that? http
/cgi.ebay.co.uk/FEMALE-CROWNTAIL-BET...1QQcmdZViewItem
/cgi.ebay.co.uk/FEMALE-CROWNTAIL-BET...1QQcmdZViewItem
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Really very hard to get one with the starter tank.
see the stripes on this female do they look like that? http
Nope, more like thin lines like what veins would look like in a human
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
zoekin8yg
Fish Herder
Just wanted to check it wasnt stress stripes!
Always happy to help whenever I can. 
Since he's your first betta, I assume you didn't invest in a master kit to test the levels in your tank? I highly recommend one if you can get into town (I assume since you're on well water that you must be pretty far out), they cost around 30.00 if I recall rightly. If you can't afford that, at least invest in an ammonia test kit. Ammonia in any range can harm fish, but if you're keeping up with the water changes, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. How long have you had him?
Also, I'm not entirely sure that this applies with tap water (anyone know about this?), but do you use any kind of dechlorinator? It is used to remove chlorine from source water. Since you have well water, I'm not sure if it would apply...
As far as the lines on his body go, could they be stress lines? Here is the source page for the pic (with more pics there too). Not sure if it is specific only to females-- I think I remember reading that males can get them too. But let us know if it looks in any way similar.
Since he's your first betta, I assume you didn't invest in a master kit to test the levels in your tank? I highly recommend one if you can get into town (I assume since you're on well water that you must be pretty far out), they cost around 30.00 if I recall rightly. If you can't afford that, at least invest in an ammonia test kit. Ammonia in any range can harm fish, but if you're keeping up with the water changes, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. How long have you had him?
Also, I'm not entirely sure that this applies with tap water (anyone know about this?), but do you use any kind of dechlorinator? It is used to remove chlorine from source water. Since you have well water, I'm not sure if it would apply...
As far as the lines on his body go, could they be stress lines? Here is the source page for the pic (with more pics there too). Not sure if it is specific only to females-- I think I remember reading that males can get them too. But let us know if it looks in any way similar.
zoekin8yg
Fish Herder
Phaedra that pic isnt stress lines its aggression/breeding bars
I use betta plus for his water. It's a brand of bowl conditioner.
Oh god no. Not stress lines. Those are huge blotches. The ones I'm talking about is just verrrry thin red lines.
Thanks for all the help.
It just occurred to me, I wonder if it could be a bacterial infection? Considering that you use well water (and sometimes it's hard to know what's in there to begin with), it could be...
Check out the link here and scroll down to the section on bacterial infection.
Do you have any pictures of your guy?
Check out the link here and scroll down to the section on bacterial infection.
Do you have any pictures of your guy?
You mean there's a difference?
No really, I didn't realize it. Silly me! Still, it wasn't a bad thought, although my image searches turned up the complete opposite photo references.
zoekin8yg
Fish Herder
http/www.bettysplendens.com/articles/pag...p?articleid=930
red streaks on fins close to the body : Septicemia (internal bacterial infection)
I think the initial diagnosis was most likely. It could be the water if its not drinking water?
/www.bettysplendens.com/articles/pag...p?articleid=930red streaks on fins close to the body : Septicemia (internal bacterial infection)
I think the initial diagnosis was most likely. It could be the water if its not drinking water?
yeah since his fins are grey, he's a little sluggish and this red line stuff is happening I think I'll treat him for a bacterial infection.
zoekin8yg
Fish Herder
You mean there's a difference?
Still, it wasn't a bad thought, although my image searches turned up the complete opposite photo references.
Its alright just thought id point it out, but no wasnt a bad thought
Similar threads
Most reactions
-
327 -
256 -
204 -
186 -
186 -
168 -
144 -
141 -
137 -
123 -
121
-
111 -
94 -
87 -
F
77