White Splotches

[Amunet]

One of my female bettas has white splotchy patches on her. She's been like this since I've gotten her. It's definitly not just her coloring b/c whatever it is, it's on her and it's getting worse.
I've treated the tank with maracyn 1 & 2 twice. Added copper safe, treated with general cure... Got done with a fungal treatment not too long ago, and now I'm starting on Triple Sulfa.
I'm getting worried b/c she's starting to clamp her tail fin. She still eats and acts normal most of the time, but there are the times when she gets clampy.
Here are 2 bad pics of the largest spot on her. The camera doesn't pick it up very well at all.

None of the other fish in the tank are sick. No spots on them, no clamped fins, nada.

I was thinking that it might be columnaris but figured it might not be b/c the other fish don't have it and that the one that does hasn't been acting sick until recently and I've had her for.. 2? months now.

 

[WILDER]

Adding to many meds can weaken the fish immune system also poison it.
Never add meds till you know what you are dealing with.
I would do a water change and get the med out of the tank if the fish fins are clamped.
The white blotches are they beneath the skin.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing.

Sorry don't want to sound like i'm having ago but adding to many meds can cause more harm than good.
If a fish has a bacterial infection sometimes it can take longer to cure then the meds instructions say.

 

[Amunet]

Oh don't worry, I don't think you're having a go at me

I know too many meds can be harmful. I haven't treated the tank with ALL of those meds one right after the other. I've treated the tank with those various things b/c of various reasons, not just b/c of this one fish. I mean of course I was hoping the meds would cure it of whatever was wrong, but other than the very first maracyn treatment... and now with the triple sulfa.. I haven't treated the tank for the reason that I posted heh..

I'll do the water change though & not continue with the meds to see if that helps with the clamping.

She hasn't been flicking at all. Like I said in the first post, she acts totally normal (other than the few times she starts to clamp). She gets excited for food, she flares at the other girls, she swims, etc etc. Even when she does get clamped up, she's still swimming around. She's not listless or anything.
I'm just worried b/c it does appear that this stuff on her is starting to spread which is why I started on the Triple Sulfa.

 

[WILDER]

If there no flicking and rubbing it sounds more bacterial.
White bleaching beneath the skin can be columnaris.
When you used the maracyn one and two how long did you treat, was there any improvement.

The pics are a bit blurry to get a good look.
Take a look here to see what you think.
http/www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles/d...columnaris.html

 

[Amunet]

Oh It's not under her skin, it looks like it's on her scales. It's a whitish/grey color.

The first time I used the maracyn 1 & 2.. it appeared as though it helped some. I used it the amount of time the instructions said. Don't have the box in front of me... think it's 4 days?
The spot didn't go away completely though.
The 2nd time I used maracyn.. it didn't seem like it did anything from what I remember.

 

[WILDER]

Columnaris has many disguises it can look like a greyish white marks.
If the fish isn't flicking I would take the bacterial route.
Is the betta on its own as I would try tetracycline.
Sometimes it can take up to three weeks on bacterial meds.

The best method is medicated food if the fish is still eating, but you can't use other meds as you will overdose.
http/p103.ezboard.com/fthegoldfishandaqu...opicID=26.topic

 

[WILDER]

Here is another link got loads of them.
http/www.nippyfish.net/flexibacter.html

 

[Amunet]

So should I just keep going with the triple sulfa?

The only reason why I waited so long to post about this is b/c I just didn't know what was going on with her. And I remember reading that thing about columnaris killing the fish fairly quickly, yet here my fish is 2 months later and still healthy (other than the clamping that only recently started to occur).

The fish isn't alone and can't be seperated. I'd rather treat the entire tank though since the other fish have come into contact with her. So the other fish could have this and I'm just not seeing it.

 

[WILDER]

It depends on the strain of columnaris.
I had fish when I first started that lived ages, columnaris spots are hardier to get rid of but they don't seem to die fast, they can last weeks to months.
Is triple sulfa as gram postive and gran negative med.

 

[emmsy]

best to quarantine raher than treat the whole tank, cos as wilder says, some meds do more harm than good. Do you have a Q tank?

Emma

 

[WILDER]

Triple Sulfa
Manufacturer: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals
A broad spectrum antibacterial medication that treats fungal infections, furunculosis (aeromonas), fin and tail rot, columnaris, body slime/white body and fin blotches, cloudy eyes, molly disease, and bacterial hemorrhagic septicemia.
Active Ingredients: sulfamethazine, sulfacetamide, and sulfathiazole.

The meds fine but you might need to treat longer than its says, so I would treat the betta in issolation.

Emma a vet so i'm worried lol.
My daugher called emma lovely name.

 

[Amunet]

I have no idea if it's gram negative or positive or both.
I think I'll just do a few water changes over the next few days and start on a different med after about a week (or more if you think that would be better)?
I don't want to use tetracycline if I don't have to. It just made an absolute mess out of the tank the last time I used it so think I'll try maracyn 1 & 2 instead?
I know that sounds selfish of me, but it created a nasty foam at the top of the water and I know the bettas that were in the tank then had a hard time getting their breath of air b/c of it.


EDIT: So.... triple sulfa is ok.. lol.. geeze. Hmmmm.... well I do have a Q tank but it's in use at the moment. Not b/c of a sick fish but an unruly female betta who wanted to fight with the rest of my female bettas.
I'll see what I can do though and try to clear it out so I can stick the sick girl into it.

 

[emmsy]

Thank you wilder. Yeah, serious, some meds are just not suitable until you have identified EXACTLY what the problem is. Problem is, they are creating more meds that treat a wide range of ailements, rather than specific treatments. Also,some people put too much med in, thus overdosing the animal/fish

Emma

 

[WILDER]

I would only use tetracycline in issolaton.
It does wipe the benefical bacterial out in your filter.

 

[emmsy]

+1 wilder