Sick Betta?

[Bozza]

my gf has 3 crowntail male, 3 delta tail male bettas n 1 crowntail female n 3 delta tail females.
atm she is tryin 2 breed them so far only 1 crowntail male n the 1 crown tail female will breed but because the male is still young he is eating the eggs lol he'll work it out soon.
but the problem is we think one of her delta tail males is sick all of a sudden hes just layin against the side of the tank n we havnt seen him eat.
none of the fighters have heaters in theyr tanks but she has always kept the verry well like that. they do however have lamps near them that warms up the water.
he has been acting like this the past 3 days if ne1 can pass on ne info that would b much appreciated.

thanx in advance T.

 

[liz2]

I am no expert but those that are will ask you for water stats, more info on the fish and poss photo. One thing I will say, and not getting at you just a point ,I find the water temp fluctuates too much with a lamp near the tanks.
Anyway, at least my post will put your thread at the top again. Good Luck

 

[Bozza]

i dont know the water stats but he is in a devider tank the male next 2 him is fine. iv never had a heater n never had a heater plus its summer here now so y would i start having problems now? thanks 4 ur advice i think hes just an old fish. hes starting 2 eat a little now wich is gd as he wasnt eating nething. i think 2morow as here it is now realy late, ill put him in a bigger tank.

 

[Ravenwing]

When's the last time the water was changed? What are you feeding him? How big is the devided tank? I know this is a commonly debated topic, but's commonly stated that each betta should have at least 1 gallon of swimming room. (Mine have 2.5 each)

Also, constantly seeing the other fish may be stressing him out. I'd suggest a single 2.5 gallon tank per fish=) If you're in the US, Petsmart carries these for around $10....

The water temperature should be between 73-85. The closer you can get to the 80s the better, but if you do change the water temperature make sure you do it gradually.

Also, is he showing any other symptoms? There are a few diseases betta's can get. Velvet, Ick and Fin Rot (I believe) are some of the more common problems....a picture would help greatly in this....

I hope he gets better!!

 

[Bozza]

i assume petsmart is american? im in australia atm here it is summer so his water tamp is easily hitting early 80's wit out a heater iv never used a heater n never had ne problem cause it is usualy warm here even in winter. he now isnt in the divider tank wich was 3 L (i believe its around 3.8 L 2 a gallon) the tank he is in now is 4 L he is swimming abit better but still spending most of is time on his side, this isnt worrying me as much now as he has been like this 4 about a wk its the not eating that im worried about. there are no other simptoms n im sorry but at the moment i cant get a picture but there isnt much 2 look at as i have described it exactly. i know wat velvet, fin rot and ick are as i have had bettas 4 yrs n dealt with these diseases but i have neva had a betta with these kind of symptoms and nothing else.
if u have more infomation that would b much appreciated

 

[liz2]

One of my fave bettas is displaying the same symptoms. He is in a warm tank by himself..has become very lethargic, stays at the bottom leaning. He has paled though but ate bloodworms last night I think it is just old age. I have 2 others that are really old and every morning I peer at them to see if they have died..they then swim to front of tank and glare at me. No outward visible signs just not "right"

 

[jollysue]

Is he bloated at all? My first thoughts with a betta are about fin rot--which you already answered--and about constipation/bloat. I'm glad he is by himself, just in case. 80 I believe should be no problem. If his immune system is down, fluctuations in temperature will put more stress.

I would find a spot where the temp is stable and no drafts. Treat with mild salt which is always helpful to a Betta. Give the pea treatment if he is eating--or daphnia.

Lower his water and of course keep it super clean. If you have IAL, use it.

 

[Bozza]

he looks like he cant swim down just floats i usualy give my fighters daphnia every now n then or a pee 2 make sure they arnt havin ne constipation problems but hes not eating just lays there floating on his side. but wen i go near the tank he does swim a little then goes back 2 the same spot n floats on his side again.
like i said now its not so much the floating part thats worrying me cause hes been like this 4 over a wk n seems like is holdin up pretty gd concidering the cercumstances its the not eating part im worried about. i have tried everything i can think of 2 get him 2 eat. im away 4 the wkend wich also worries me cause if a fish is gonna die its always when im away i do know he is in gd hands tho. he isnt one of my 2 most magnificent fish but i have growin very fond of him in the short amount of time iv had him so if neone else has more infomation or a similar experience pls help.

 

[dazzly]

hello! a have a very sick betta splendes. he has some kind of fungus theat eats him alive. the top lip has been eated by this fungus and from his belly comes out the same white fungus that is on his mouth and eyes. he's active, but he can't eat cause the fungus is in his mouth. what shoud i do? i have some photos with him. please help him!

 

[jollysue]

dazzly: My first suggestion is that you post on the emergency forum. Second post clear pics Then any information on his habitat: water stats and/or changes, tank mates, type of tank accommodations, food.

It is hard to dianose as there can be bacterial infections that look like fungus. But frequent water changes are always in order to keep the bacterial and any parasitic load low--keep very clean water. I would normally recommend aquarium salt, but frankly the symptoms sound so advanced that it may give him discommfort and no longer benefit. Salt works against fungal and parasitic infections well with Betta and is recommended by many as a constant in Betta water. At this point there is also a possibility of first and secondary infections.

I'm sorry, but your description sounds as if it may be very advanced. On the other hand if you have overstated, there may still be a treatment option. Pics will help. But I would do it in the emergency forum with an experienced hobbiest.

Bozza, how is yourBetta?

 

[dazzly]

dazzly: My first suggestion is that you post on the emergency forum. Second post clear pics Then any information on his habitat: water stats and/or changes, tank mates, type of tank accommodations, food.

It is hard to dianose as there can be bacterial infections that look like fungus. But frequent water changes are always in order to keep the bacterial and any parasitic load low--keep very clean water. I would normally recommend aquarium salt, but frankly the symptoms sound so advanced that it may give him discommfort and no longer benefit. Salt works against fungal and parasitic infections well with Betta and is recommended by many as a constant in Betta water. At this point there is also a possibility of first and secondary infections.

I'm sorry, but your description sounds as if it may be very advanced. On the other hand if you have overstated, there may still be a treatment option. Pics will help. But I would do it in the emergency forum with an experienced hobbiest.

Bozza, how is yourBetta?

jollysue: i would post on the emergency forum but i can't find it i tried salt and he's in quarantine for 2 weeks but is not going very well. the water is clean, i put him daily fresh water and i saw that the infection grows if the temperature of the water is 24-25 C. now i keep the water at the temperature of the room. 18-20C i have pic with this infection but where i can post them? thx for the help

 

[jollysue]

dazzly: to find the emergency forum: scroll to the top of the page; click on Tropical Fish in the Tropical Fish Forums > Tropical Fish > Bettas > Sick Betta? heading; that will take you to the Tropical Fish Subforums; click on the subforum Tropical Fish Emergencies or click
here

When you open a thread on the emergency forum, then after you have posted a thread with the description of the problem, start to work on posting a pic. (You may get some help there by the person replying posting a link to a description of an infection that you recognise as yours.)

If you have an acct. with photo bucket, etc., or a web page, you can post a link. The world at the top with the chain link over it: click on it then copy and paste the web address using your right mouse key. There are other methods too if that doesn't work for you.

Do you have MelaFix and PimaFix? I doubt that they are strong enough to tame this monster now, but they may slow it until you get something else. Do look to collecting a fishy first aide kit.

This will be a frantic and frustrating process and it may be too late. But let's do what we can. By the way do you have other fish? It would be a good idea to boil or dip in 10% chlorine your impements as you go along. If you have other fish, be sure to keep what you use with the Betta separate until they are thouroughly sterilized.

Let me know what's going on.

 

[Bozza]

poor simbah past away yesterday i dont think he was in ne pain it was just his time 2 go.
he did still swim n started 2 eat but mainly just floated my bf wants me 2 get another one ( 2 replace him n add 2 the other 6) but i dont think i cauld just yet.

 

[jollysue]

simbah!

So sorry