Sick Betta With Crawling Parasites

[art_t]

Hi Everyone,

I am a newer fish owner (as of the last few months) and I've encountered my first fish disease, but I'm not exactly sure that the disease is what I THINK it is (Ick).

About 6 days ago I noticed a strange spot on the head of our betta. He stayed in a corner at the top of his tank under his filter and he is not eatting. I began immediately treating for Ick that day doing a 25% water change and adding Rid-Ick (doing this cycle every 24 hours). Yesterday, I noticed these tiny parasites crawling everywhere throughout the tank (especially on the bottom gravel). He still has not eatten and he continues to stay in the corner wheres he's been now for 6 days. I've been doing the daily water change and adding the medication, but seeing the parasites crawling around really freaked me out. He also becomes very aggitated when you go near his tank, swimming so quickly that he seems like he's going to jump out. Is this really Ick? I was wondering if it could be fish lice? I don't want to treat incorrectly and I feel really terrible for him?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your help!

Regards,
Art_t

 

[black angel]

Need more info on what you are seeing. Are they tiny worms, if so how big and what colour, do they swim or stay in one place. If its lice then these are flat and almost see through with little legs almost like woodlice in appearance.

 

[Kopix Nation]

Maybe the worms are nematods.... I had nematods... They are harmless but very nasty looking...

claire

 

[art_t]

Hi,

Thank you for the response! No, they are not worms. They are so difficult to see, but they are grayish in color, round and VERY, VERY VERY tiny. They seem to float around the tank and then they land on something and they begin to crawl around it. They're on the gravel, the plants, the glass and they are crawling on the filter. They seem to crawl around pretty quickly too. I wanted to move the betta into a medicine tank, but I'm really afraid to stress him even more. He just sits at the top and continues to take air in frequently as if he may be labored. I could TRY to get a picture, but a photo would never show the parasites because of how tiny they are.

Thank you again for trying to help me.

Art_t

 

[black angel]

You can use salt to try and kill them off or a med for external parasites.
I am currrently treating a female betta for little worms at a .3% salt solution in a 4 gallon tank.
Add 1 level teaspoon of aquarium salt per gallon and then do the same 12 hours later to give you .2% and again another 12 hours later to give you .3%
I will leave her in this for up to 2 weeks to kill the worms.
If using salt remember that it doesnt evaporate so adding water to top up you dont add salt.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Sounds like fish lice to me, do the parasites look anything like this;

http/www.fishpalace.org/argulus_qianhu.jpg

If you can get hold of some Jungle Parasite guard med, that would be your best best at removing the little critters, i don't think salt will kill them though, check out and scroll down this link for more info on fish lice;

http/www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html

 

[black angel]

What size tank do you have and how do you clean it. They could be those harmless little crustaceans that come in on plants or bogwood. Have you actually see them on the fish?

 

[Animation]

Not to sure what to suggest could look it up in one of my books but i'm frankly to tired and am going to bed- i might be able to get on here on boxing day and help..

 

[art_t]

Thank you again to all that have tried to help us. The betta is still alive and I've been continuing the daily water change (even on Christmas with family visitng). I have no clue what this parasite is. My local pet store recommended a product called "clout" and I've used it twice. He said that it usually kills any parasite affecting his tank within 24 hours, but I still see them crawling around, only there aren't as many as there were a few days ago. I'll just keep on trying the daily water change and continue adding medicine until something gives. BTW, it's a 3 gallon marineland tank and he's the only fish in it. Nothing new was added to the tank (such as plants) so I don't know where this came from.

Thank you again!

Regards,
Art_t