Sorrell
If you're a bird, I'm a bird
Some of you know that I had a run in with TB in my fishroom early this fall and I thought I would share my experience with it and getting over it 
I lost over 20 fish total, probably closer to 30 (all bettas) in about a month. The disease took some fish very quickly, others took 3-4 weeks to fully succomb. I was not able to bring back any fish that showed symptoms, only do my best to contain it once I realized what was going on. My fish would lose muscle mass and to the best that I can describe "became longer". As this happened their heads would swell and color would fade and tended to warp. They continued to eat until their last day or two, but overall behavior was compromised. They contined to swim, but it wasn't with the same patrolling and flaring attitude that bettas tend to have.
Here is an example of one of my fish, he had a slow progression that lasted over a month. I apologize if the second picture is disturbing.
Before:
The day before he died:
The main reason that I had such a massive die out in my fishroom was because of cross-contamination. Even though all of my fish were in seperate containers, my equipment was the same and that was the problem. I was basically passing the disease from fish to fish as I cleaned their tanks, so in theory, they may as well have all been together.
Once diagnosed, every tank in the fishroom, symptoms or not was sterilized. I bought styrofoam cups that the fish were placed in and all the tanks were soaked in a bleach solution of 1/10. All of my nets and basters were thrown away and replaced with new. I wore gloves for the next month whenever my hands were in the water. The remainder of the affected fish passed away, but I was able to contain it before it completely wiped me out.
I now have a new system with my bettas without affecting their water change schedule. Everyone gets a 100% water change every 3 days. I have a bucket of net dip (the purple water you see at your lfs that the nets sit in) that holds my nets and basters. The basters are never used in more then one tank without being fully filled and submerged in the net dip. Same with my nets. The fish are placed in styrofoam cups while they are out of the tank and those cups are assigned to them. I have a dirty bucket and a clean bucket and they are never mixed and the tanks never touch either of them. If I have any fish who doesn't look quite right (be it symptoms of anything) they are moved to the end of the water change line so my hands won't pass anything to anyone else.
Even though this happened with my bettas and with a specific disease, there are many diseases that are contagious that can affect all types of fish. Containment is so important and that can be done with communities tanks as well. Keep two buckets, one for the old water and one for the new. Sterilize your equipment (syphons, buckets, nets, etc) often. Quaruntine any sick fish and all new fish to try and nip things in the bud.
I hope this will help with keeping your fish healthy and your fishkeeping more enjoyable. A little extra work can really make the difference in the overall health of your fish and that's what we all want right
I lost over 20 fish total, probably closer to 30 (all bettas) in about a month. The disease took some fish very quickly, others took 3-4 weeks to fully succomb. I was not able to bring back any fish that showed symptoms, only do my best to contain it once I realized what was going on. My fish would lose muscle mass and to the best that I can describe "became longer". As this happened their heads would swell and color would fade and tended to warp. They continued to eat until their last day or two, but overall behavior was compromised. They contined to swim, but it wasn't with the same patrolling and flaring attitude that bettas tend to have.
Here is an example of one of my fish, he had a slow progression that lasted over a month. I apologize if the second picture is disturbing.
Before:
The day before he died:
The main reason that I had such a massive die out in my fishroom was because of cross-contamination. Even though all of my fish were in seperate containers, my equipment was the same and that was the problem. I was basically passing the disease from fish to fish as I cleaned their tanks, so in theory, they may as well have all been together.
Once diagnosed, every tank in the fishroom, symptoms or not was sterilized. I bought styrofoam cups that the fish were placed in and all the tanks were soaked in a bleach solution of 1/10. All of my nets and basters were thrown away and replaced with new. I wore gloves for the next month whenever my hands were in the water. The remainder of the affected fish passed away, but I was able to contain it before it completely wiped me out.
I now have a new system with my bettas without affecting their water change schedule. Everyone gets a 100% water change every 3 days. I have a bucket of net dip (the purple water you see at your lfs that the nets sit in) that holds my nets and basters. The basters are never used in more then one tank without being fully filled and submerged in the net dip. Same with my nets. The fish are placed in styrofoam cups while they are out of the tank and those cups are assigned to them. I have a dirty bucket and a clean bucket and they are never mixed and the tanks never touch either of them. If I have any fish who doesn't look quite right (be it symptoms of anything) they are moved to the end of the water change line so my hands won't pass anything to anyone else.
Even though this happened with my bettas and with a specific disease, there are many diseases that are contagious that can affect all types of fish. Containment is so important and that can be done with communities tanks as well. Keep two buckets, one for the old water and one for the new. Sterilize your equipment (syphons, buckets, nets, etc) often. Quaruntine any sick fish and all new fish to try and nip things in the bud.
I hope this will help with keeping your fish healthy and your fishkeeping more enjoyable. A little extra work can really make the difference in the overall health of your fish and that's what we all want right
I think you just need to ask "How's that working for you?" I thought I had a great routine going until I had TB attacking the fidhroom, so I made some changes. I don't think anyone can ever say that they have 'the only way' 
