I have had my betta for six months. He was very healthy the first several, less so the past several since moving his bowl out of one house and into this dorm. He was still ok though; but he has totally crashed over the past four days or so. I noticed right before i did a water change (about 70%) that he was subdued and hanging out on the bottom a lot not really moving. He has grown less and less active and responsive since then, to the point where he hardly responds to any stimulae with more than a vague gesture. He was a bit bloated and discoloured (with some odd white stuff below his gills, it's still there) so I have been fasting him, which has made him better before. He isnt bloated now, but still discoloured and inactive. His fins look fine, though his tail seems stuck together a bit. The white stuff doesn't match the descriptions of bacterial infection that I've seen, it's got a somewhat metallic sheen though? He mostly -looks- fine, he just acts like he has zero strength or interest in anything left. He was eating last time I fed him. Any ideas anyone?
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Re: sick fish
Wed, December 13, 2006 - 7:48 PMHave the temps fluctuated from house to dorm, and in the dorm itself? He could have "velvet". Have you flashed him with a light to see if he is kind of dusted in gold... you said he has a sort of "metallic" sheen to him. If you flash him and he is glowing sort of, it is likely 'velvet' and you can treat it with Maracide... I have to look to be sure.
Okay, yeah... Maracide will treat Velvet, Ich, and Chilodinella (a bluish-white film that could also look "metallic", I suppose)
You can pick this up at your LFS... err, sorry... local fish store. Treat as directed and do not for any reason shorten the treatment. It will only result in the "ailment" becoming immune and/or stronger, so the next time you will have a very hard time finding a medicine that will be effective against it... just like us with antibiotics... same basic thing.
Hope your fishy guy is better soon. :o) -
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Re: sick fish
Wed, December 13, 2006 - 8:05 PMI don't see any particular glow or sheen about him ... then again, i've heard it's very hard to spot--temperatures have fluctuated ridiculously over the past couple weeks, so that's consistant. i dont think it'll be any better when we have to move back to the house in a week!
If i treated him and he didnt have velvet, would that harm him? -
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Re: sick fish
Wed, December 13, 2006 - 8:12 PMIs there any way to keep his tank temp consistent? Are you using a submersible heater for his tank? If not, you may want to. It could really help during this season and any time the temps flux. The up and down can definitely take a toll on his little body, eventually wearing him down and killing him.
And no, I don't think the Maracide treatment will do any damage to him if he does not have velvet or one of the other issues. If he were a baby, I would avoid it... but he's likely quite a few months old, if not a year or more already and he should be able to handle it. Also, yes... velvet is very hard to see. I have a very hard time detecting it usually and I breed these guys.
Try the Maracide and if you can, try to regulate his temps. Depending on size of his tank, a heater should not be that expensive and a submersible is your safest bet. Try a Hagen or Jager, Stealth... one of those brands. The Whispers are cheaply made and notorious for malfunctioning... *read FRY YOUR FISH!!
Hope this helps! -
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Re: sick fish
Wed, December 13, 2006 - 8:54 PMyou're welcome!! :o)
I can't wait to hear of his full recovery... -
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Re: sick fish
Mon, December 18, 2006 - 6:11 PMhe still seems sick, i've treated him for five days with maracide as the package advised. I also switched his water and dissolved aquarium salt in it at the start of that. He seems a -little- better than he was, but his tail is still locked up, he's a bit more responsive but still relatively unresponsive and inactive.
any more suggestions? also, the package says the maracide treatment can be repeated if necessary, but it doesn't say if one should wait a few days or not?
Thank you;
Severinn -
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Re: sick fish
Mon, December 18, 2006 - 10:24 PMgo ahead and treat him another cycle... 5 days, I believe
don't use the salt again until after this second cycle has finished, but do change the water as the directions suggest
and keep him stable... temps, 12 hour cycle (light), etc.
be sure to remove any uneaten food, as well
Good Luck! -
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Re: sick fish
Tue, December 19, 2006 - 3:52 AMhe seems to be eating fine now. I need to change his water tomorrow while moving him back to my house with me; but his treatment finished yesterday. Should I wait till then to start the second cycle? Is skipping a day all right?
He's become slightly more responsive. Still spends most of his time being listless, oblivious, and very still though. Tail remains locked; actually, the whole area around his tail seems a bit ... not sure, kind of how I'd think scales would look if you were eventually going to shed a layer of them. It doesnt look horrible, but it definately looks a little strange ...
Thanks for your continued help. -
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Re: sick fish
Tue, December 19, 2006 - 9:30 AMHi,
I would go ahead and start his new cycle of meds right away... don't give any room for the "bug" to strengthen, but keep on pounding away at it until it's gone. I think it's a great idea to change his water BEFORE you go to your house... he'll likely be a little stressed after traveling and another water change would increase that.
His "clamped fins" are his way of saying that he's not feeling so great. It's a stress signal also. If it looks darker, maybe a little red or black on any of those clamped fins, it could be fin rot... maracide isn't strong enough for this either. If it looks lighter... "like he might shed"... I would think it is fungal, but can't be sure unless I can SEE the fish in person or a very good photo of him.
The fact that he is eating is a good sign. When they stop eating, they are "giving up" usually. I assume he is also "pooing" then?
I have some general questions for ya:
-what is his normal tank temp? average, I mean. the range, if it fluctuates.
-how often do you change his water and how much at one time?
-do you have any type of water parameter testers, like ammonia, pH, nitrates, etc. ? dipstick or tube kind... either way?
-what do you feed him and how much, how often?
-does he have a regular light cycle... 12 on and 12 off?
-where is his tank in relation to a window? is he getting direct or filtered sunlight? is it drafty where he is?
-and finally.... what kinds of deco do you have in his tank? substrate? plants? details, please.
Answers to all of these things will help me decipher what may be causing his behaviour. (I used to be admin on a fish site... have done this for awhile... hence all the ???s) I will do my best to help you make your little guy all better. What's his name again? I can't recall.
Okay... waiting to hear from you....
~aminah and the fishy/froggy/rattie/cat/gecko gang! :o) -
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Re: sick fish
Tue, December 19, 2006 - 2:15 PMusually when i have to drive with fish, i put him in a smaller container with a lid, so that it/he doesnt spill out, but i can try to transport him in his bowl I suppose and do his water change tonight.
His fins are many-coloured; they've always been a dark maroon/purple with irridescent transparent, blue, and red/pink. they look about the same colour as usual. The "shedding" look isn't on is fins, it's near the end of his tail. I'll try to get a good picture of him; he usually makes that a challenge though.
I don't know his normal bowl temperature, but I know the room temperature. it has, historically fluctuated between about 69 - 80 degrees. lately i've been using the window to try to force it to stay between about 72-76.
I change his water about 70% every week, and full change every two months.
I don't have any water parameter testers. Awkwardly he's getting totally different water after this week for about a month as well, since we're going home tomorrow.
I feed him 2 or 3 pellets every day, except about once a week he gets these little dried shrimp things. He's not a huge fan of those though. Also one day a week I don't feed him, because he has swim bladder problems, and needs to clear his system out routinely. Sometimes he still gets really bad though; then he fasts several days followed by eating part of a pea. He likes the pea.
I've been making efforts to keep his light cycle regular lately; there was a few days it definately wasn't, since I was sleeping at abnormal hours. I can sleep with it light out though, so I am just keeping the blinds open during the day all the time now. Usually my room lights are off at night, so hopefully it evens out.
He's in range of a window and gets filtered sunlight. It's a tad drafty. Not very, but still somewhat. That's why I have a hard time regulating temperature with the window alone; to cool the room off means drafts. But tomorrow he's moving to a place without drafts but which will continue to get indirect light. His light cycle there will be more regular too.
He's had the same decor for six months; that tank gravel stuff, some polished rocks, a couple of shell things he likes (I've heard chalky stuff is -bad-, but these never caused him problems before, and he's very fond of one of them). He has a plant, I'm not sure what kind it is. It's a crazy thing that decays and replicates itself at the same time. He loves his plant.
His name is Fish.
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Re: sick fish
Tue, December 19, 2006 - 2:42 PMOkay, let's hope I can answer and address all of these things
1-Fish's tank needs a heater to regulate his temps... this is the biggest factor in his poor health right now. Any fluctuation outside of 2 degrees one way or another is dangerous, stressful and is causing his behavior, poor health, etc. If his tank is less than 5g, try one of the small 7 watt heaters, if more... a 25 watt submersible will do fine.
2-I don't know what is on his tail... do you mean the peduncle? the part just before his fins start? What color is it? white? grey? fluffy like cotton or stringy? This doesn't sound good.
3-What kind of pellets are you feeding him? Are they specifically for Bettas? Hikari Bio Gold is the best one, in my experience. And the "krill" or dried shrimp will increase any and all problems he has with digestion. Any freeze dried food is BAD NEWS when it comes to these fish! I've seen death after death in Bettas that have been fed any type of freeze dried food... any of them. Constipation is almost guaranteed and SBD (swim bladder disease) is a close follow up.
4-Move Fish away from the window ASAP! Any fluctuation is bad, bad, bad. Really.
5-Change some tank water every week... EVERY week! If his tank is smaller than a 2.5g, it needs a 100% water change EVERY week. If it is less than 5g but more than 2.5g, you can do a 50% change once a week and then a full 100% once every other week. If 5g or more, you can do weekly 25% changes... but do them faithfully.
6-Treat your tap water with Prime by Seachem only. Don't let the water sit up for days... to age it, or give it time to condition... just treat accordingly with the Prime when you add the fresh water in. And make sure the temp of the new water is within a couple degrees similarity to the existing water.
7-It is better if you put Fish in a smaller, more secure container when transporting him. Maybe do a water change a couple days before you plan to travel and use some of his tank water in the travel container. Once at your destination, set up his bowl (?) and add him and his travel container water to that.
The key to healthy and happy Bettas is stability in their environment and good quality food.
I hope this helps further with your Mr. Fish. :o) -
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Re: sick fish
Tue, December 19, 2006 - 2:48 PMI forgot about the plant... if it is decaying and leaving pieces in the water, remove the debris or get a different type of live plant. My fish like java moss and java ferns... which come in plain and lace versions. Anubias work okay, too... but they require more light.
I'm not sure what the chalk thing is that you mentioned... if it's a "vacation feeder" type thing, it could be fouling up the water chemistry and contributing to Fish's health problems. Even if he likes it, you may need to replace it with something else... a tank safe rock or shell or toy? These things tend to spike the ammonia and nitrites in your tank and/or plummet your pH... all of which can kill Fish or make him very unhappy and unhealthy.
good luck! -
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Re: sick fish
Tue, December 19, 2006 - 4:52 PMit doesnt decay that rapidly; bits turn brown; i usually break them off and throw them out myself; they rarely fall off. it simultaneously replicates itself by creating new leaves and roots on the ends of its old leaves, it's actually kind of amazing.
by chalk, i meant people say shells are a "chalky" substance one shouldnt put in a bowl. He's had a couple in there for a long time though, and he used to be an extremely healthy fish, with them there, so i dont think they're hurting him. There's one he likes to hide behind.
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Re: sick fish
Tue, December 19, 2006 - 4:48 PMI'll look for a heater tonight.
yes, i mean the part just before the fins start. it's the same general colour as usual, pink/purple/white. It just has an odd texture--neither cottony nor stringy though. More "flaky"--but not -flaking-.
I feed him "betta bites". I'll stop with the dried shrimp; originally I bought them because they were said to help digestion; but I believe you. He had swim bladder issues before that; but the occasional fasting seems to keep him okay. the Peas help a -lot-. It's weird though, I can't find his poos much anymore. Or he only does it when I give him a pea, etc. Yet he doesn't look swollen enough not to be doing it. Today I found some changing the water, but they looked odd, light coloured/filmy.
He's not like ... right next to the window. There's a bed and a little space between him and the window. He's as far from it as I could put him keeping him out of range of the door. He'll be all the way across the room from it in the next place.
His bowl is about a gallon, so I'll switch to full changes every week. he was healthier back when i did that, come to think of it.
-shudder- there's a small piece of a fin at the bottom of the container he's in right now waiting during the water change. He might've broke it off while fighting with the net (he kept trying to swim into it instead of out), but I don't know.
I took a (poor, blurry) photo of him in there too. Where can I mail it to you?
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Re: sick fish
Tue, December 19, 2006 - 4:52 PMoh, and if anything the area before his fins start at the end of his tail is a little more pink than it used to be. or i'm imagining it. -unsure- -
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Re: sick fish
Tue, December 19, 2006 - 7:00 PMokay... yeah, if you can find a little 7 watt heater... it'll look like an oversized credit card... that will e a great help. the shells in his tank sound like they are real shells and that is fine. i have shells in my tanks, too. the plant actually seems to be a java fern... mine all do the same thing you described. they are great little plants. his poo is probably making it's way down in the substrate, so no biggie. i also fast my fish once or twice a week and i occasionally give them a pea. it's great for getting things moving. :o)
it sounds like you are doing what he needs. keep an eye on that spot near his tail fin. you said when you flashed him before, it wasn't that glowy looking, right? like velvet? could it be ICH? i mean, ICH is usually grainy looking. Flexibacter is cottony and white... kind of stringy. i am stumped.
send his pic to me on here... PM me. if that doesn't work, i'll go now and pm you my email addy... look for me in a few, k? -
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Re: sick fish
Tue, December 19, 2006 - 7:04 PMi forgot to mention this... grey poo is not a good thing. if it was old poo that deteriorated some and is grey... then okay fine. but if it is coming out of Fish as grey and slimey, this is internal and most likely parasitic. watch closely for a poo. hehe. really. and hope for a nice brownish red one, but if it should be grey... lemme know and we can change meds on Mr. Fish guy. k?
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Re: sick fish
Tue, December 19, 2006 - 10:06 PMsaw some kind of 7.5 watt heater in the store, it wasn't any of the brands you mentioend. something starting with an H. familiar?
I don't see anything about his appearance that really fits a normal diagnosis. It's very odd. -
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Re: sick fish
Tue, December 19, 2006 - 10:41 PMHagen? also Azoo makes these small ones that work okay... I've had one for a year or more and it still works.
with the small 7 watt heaters, don't worry too much about the brand name... they aren't always readily available, so any one of them is okay. when you get into the larger submersibles... the brand names are more important for quality and safety of your fish.
yeah, I am stumped with this Fish guy. If I could see him in person, it would make a world of difference.... even from his picture, he looks okay except for the clamped fins. I just can't pin point it.
I really think the fluctuating temp and the poor water parameters... high ammonia, etc. ...is what's causing his issues now. once they are corrected, he should be turning around... hopefully.
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Re: sick fish
Thu, February 8, 2007 - 7:56 AMSound advice!
Our beta appears to have a barely perceptible fugal infection along his back for 1/4 inch starting at his gills - several questions:
- I've put a dozen drops of BetaFix by Splendid Beta in the tank daily for 3 days now and plan to do so for 3 more...
- don't let water sit to cleanse chlorine? I've done it for a long time now. Of course I've killed a couple of fish - could this be the cause?
- the tank is far from a window - how important is a heater for a one year old fish?
- our tank is 2.5g, but we only keep it 2/3 full - we should fill it further, shouldn't we? [note: i just went into the other room and added water]
- you mention lights. I only turn his on when I feed him... OK?
Thanks
Dan
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