13 Common Betta Fish Diseases (With Photos): Prevention and Treatment
Betta fish suffers from a number of health conditions, but the good news to the keepers of this type of fish is that these health problems can be prevented and also treated. If the infections occur in the aquarium, they can be easily identified and treated effectively.
This article covers all the common diseases and illnesses of Betta fish, their prevention, diagnosis and treatment. So if you keep the Siamese fighting fish at home, read on to learn how you can keep your aquatic pet healthy.
Betta fish diseases and illnesses are categorized into fungal, parasitic and bacterial. Most fungal infections result from previous health conditions. Parasitic ailments are the most contagious and can be introduced into the aquarium by new fish. The most common causes of bacterial sicknesses include poor quality water and inappropriate fish handling methods.
In Brief, What are the Common Diseases of Betta Fish? Well, They Include:
- Fin and Tail Rot
- Columnaris
- Hemorrhagic
- Dropsy
- Pop Eye
- Eyecloud
- Mouth Fungus
- Furunculosis
- Fish Fungus
- Velvet
- Ich
- Anchor Worms
- Hole in the Head
1. Fin and Tail Rot
As the name suggests, this disease affects the fins and tail of Betta. It can be caused by bacteria or fungi. The fins and tail appear to melt away as a result of rotting.
It can be prevented by keeping the aquarium or living conditions of the fish clean.
Fin and Tail Rot can be treated by medications containing antibiotics, such as trimethoprim, erythromycin and sulfadimidine.
If it is effectively treated, the fatality is medium.
If you have had Fin and Tail Rot affecting your fish, you may have tried medications such as Tetracycline, Jungle Fungus Eliminator (JFE), Maracyn or Melafix. But the truth of the matter is that these medications are not quite effective in treating this infection, and some even kill your fish.
I have had little success with JFE and the other medications showed no success - they even worsened the condition. According to my own experience, the most effective medication for Fin and Tail Rot is 
The medication is itself a 5-day treatment, and it comes with clear instructions on how to use it. The most amazing thing about this treatment is that it starts to give positive results from day one! According to the manufacturer, it can also deal with pop eye, body rot, raised veins, ulcers, 'redness', cloudy eyes and other health conditions.
If you have the Fin and Tail Rot disease or the related infections in your aquarium, I would encourage you to go for this medication. I have been using it since I discovered it in 2010 and I have had no disappointments with it.
2. Columnaris
This is a bacterial disease that causes the fins to rag and fray. It also causes skin ulcers or lesions, white spots on the mouth, cottony growth on the mouth, scales & fins, and gills discoloration. The fish can have breathing difficulties as a result of the gill infection.
The sickness can be prevented by treating open wounds and fungal infections. It can also be prevented by avoiding factors, such as limited oxygen, water hardness and overcrowding in the aquarium.
Columnaris can be treated by Oxytetracycline and antibiotics containing Sulfa 4 TMP, TMP Sulfa and triple sulfa.
If the infected fish is not treated, it can die in less than 72 hours.
3. Hemorrhagic
Commonly known as Redmouth, Hemorrhagic causes serious bleeding inside the mouth and eyes of the fish.
The disease can be prevented by disinfecting the aquarium to kill Yersinia Ruckeri, which is the bacteria causing the illness.
The treatment of Hemorrhagic is possible with antibiotics such as ampicillin.
The infection is treatable, which means that the fatality is low.
4. Dropsy
This is a deadly ailment that affects the kidneys. The infected fish can have swollen abdomen as a result of accumulation of internal fluid.
Some more symptoms include; outward-sticking scales and sunken eyes.
The bacterial infection can be prevented by keeping the aquarium clean. It can also be prevented by feeding fish with vitamins-rich foods.
There is no known cure for Dropsy but medications, such as Betta Revive, can help with the condition.
Most fish that suffer from Dropsy do not survive.
5. Pop Eye
This disorder causes swelling on one or both eyes. The swelling can be a tumor or viral infection.
Pop Eye is usually a symptom of a disease and can be avoided by preventing infections in the aquarium.
Antibiotics such as Tetracycline can cure the ailment.
Most fish that suffer from Pop Eye survives at the end.
6. Eyecloud
Commonly known as Cloudy cornea, this disease causes white films on the eyes.
It can be prevented by improving the quality of water. A water conditioner is needed to make the water safer for the aquatic animal.
Eyecloud can be treated by antibiotics such as Metafix and Fungus Clear.
The bacterial sickness is not fatal but can impair vision.
7. Mouth Fungus
This is actually a bacterial disease, and it causes white lines and clumps around the lips and mouth of the fish.
It can be avoided by keeping the water clean.
Amoxicillin as an antibiotic can cure Mouth Fungus.
The infected fish cannot survive if the illness is not treated early enough.
8. Furunculosis
The symptoms of Furunculosis include skin ulcers and open red sores.
Improving water quality can effectively prevent the disease.
Fungus Clear as an antibiotic can treat this bacterial ailment.
Furunculosis can kill fish that doesn’t receive treatment in time.
9. Fish Fungus
This is a fungal disease that originates from previous infections. The affected Betta usually has cotton-like growths on the skin.
It can be prevented by avoiding primary infections and injuries.
Antibiotics such as Methylene Blue and Fungus Clear can cure Fish Fungus.
The sickness can become fatal if it is not treated early enough.
10. Velvet
Betta infected with Velvet appears to have a rusty skin.
The parasitic disease can be prevented by improving the quality of water and ensuring the living conditions are stress-free. Water conditioners are some of the best substances to improve the living conditions.
It is highly contagious but it can be treated fully by 
With all these healing components, this remedy can also be used to treat all the other diseases, illnesses, sickness and disorders listed on this article. I have been keeping Bettas for almost 15 years, and I have seen this medication heal my aquatic pets. I recommend that you use it to prevent, control and treat many ill-health conditions.
If Velvet is not treated early enough, the infected fish dies in a matter of days.
11. Ich
Also known as White Spot, Ich is a parasitic disease that causes white spots on the skin of Betta fish.
It can be prevented by changing the water regularly.
The sickness can be treated by Fish-zole, Malachite Green or salt baths.
It is very easy to deal with the illness if treatment starts early.
12. Anchor Worms
This is a parasitic disease that attacks the tail or fins. The affected parts appear red & swollen and have protruding worms.
It can be prevented by treating any newly infected fish.
Some antibiotics such as Methylene Blue and Parasite Clear can cure the disease.
The ailment can become fatal if it is not treated early enough.
13. Hole in the Head
Betta infected with Hole in the Head have an abrasion on the head that looks like a pinhole.
The parasitic infection can be prevented by cleaning water off carbon.
Parasite Clear is an antibiotic that can cure the disease.
The infected fish usually dies after a few days if it is not treated early enough.
Summary.
Disease
| Type
| Prevention
| Treatment
|
|---|---|---|---|
Fin & Tail Rot
| Bacterial/Fungal
| Clean living conditions
| Tetracycline
|
Columnaris
| Bacterial
| Treat open woulds
| Oxytetracycline
|
Hemorrhagic disease
| Bacterial
| Disinfecting aquarium
| Ampicillin
|
Dropsy
| Bacterial
| Keep aquarium clean
| Betta Revive
|
Pop Eye
| Bacterial
| Control other diseases
| Tetracycline
|
Eyecloud
| Bacterial
| Improve water quality
| Metafix/Fungus Clear
|
Mouth Fungus
| Bacterial
| Improve water conditions
| Amoxicillin
|
Furunculosis
| Bacterial
| Keep water clean
| Fungus Clear
|
Fish Fungus
| Fungal
| Avoid primary infections
| Methylene Blue/Fungus Clear
|
Velvet
| Parasitic
| Clean living conditions
| Fish-zole
|
Ich
| Parasitic
| Change water regularly
| Fish-zole/Malachite Green
|
Anchor Worms
| Parasitic
| Treat new fish
| Methylene Blue/Parasite Clear
|
Hole in the Head
| Parasitic
| Avoid carbon in water
| Parasite Clear
|
In Conclusion...
Now you have it. With this information, you can keep Betta without any worries. Some fish can develop behavioral conditions, such as stress, lethargy and poor appetite, but you shouldn’t be worried about these short-lived conditions, especially if your fish is new in the aquarium.
Have you ever dealt with any of the above Betta fish infections and diseases?
© 2015 Januaris Saint Fores
Comments
- Author
@Shannon. Bubbles, spots or growths? Well, any condition on the skin is usually as a result of poor water quality. First, check to ensure all water parameters are normal! See the parameters in the answers above. You can then consider getting a suitable medication if the condition remains.
My Beta is acting very normal but he appears to have what look like tiny white bubbles mostly on right side up by his gills. What do you suggest I do?
- Author
@Joe Try performing 100% water change and ensure all water parameters are right! You can also try a different medication like Tetra Fungus Guard.
Hey, my beta seems to have a similar issue to Tanya, he got a white spot about a month ago we tried Fungus Cure by API, however the spot now has some redness and although the fish is swimming around appearing to be healthy that spot is bugging me and the treatment hasn't solved the issue. We use Plan Spring for the 2 gallon tank plus we always throw in conditioner and some beta fix as preventative measures so we are pretty bummed out. Anything else we can try?
- Author
@Tanya Your betta's pic can help, but if the growth is cotton-like, then it's most likely to be fungus. You can also consider it to be an anchor worm if the affected area is red and swollen. The two conditions can be caused by poor water quality, so you may also need to condition your water. Follow the Bettafix Remedy link above to find the best conditioners. You can then use appropriate medications like Fungus Clear.
Hi, I was hoping you could help me. My betta fish has a white growth on her fin. She swims and has a good appetite. I change her water on a regular basis. She has filter and the heater. Her colors look vibrant but the growth on her fin seems to be getting bigger. Not wider just looks like a bigger let's say blister. I am not sure if it's fungas because I can't find any picture on the intentet that looks like the one he has. Thanks!
- Author
If it's okey, then you need to keep good conditions of the water. See comments above to see how to keep the parameters right.
I feel my fish is confused.
On a serious note, my fish appears to have the fungus and loss of scales under his neck. I have treated him for three days with Rapid-Cure. He appears a little better in appearance, but he is swimming eating and even blowing his betta bubbles of happy glory, but his scales haven't grown back and I still see some fungus remains on his head.
Is there anything else I can do, because the medication says to stop after three treatments.
Any advice?
- Author
@Trishy This is highly liked to be the swim bladder condition which is usually a symptom of a disease. It is aggravated by internal parasites or constipation as a result of over feeding. You can deal with it by trying things like increasing water temperature and reducing nitrate levels, fasting your fish (3 days recommended) and feeding him cooked green pea.
My betta has been healthy for2 years and as of yesterday he became non-active and lays on bottom of the bowl,today he's laying sideways and swims to top radically and back to bottom,I don't know what is wrong,can I get a word of wisdom,I'm change water regularly?
- Author
@Sarah, all these can be caused by poor water quality. Ensure you change water according to the tank size, and get the parameters right- ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, pH, temperature, air, etc. Use also appropriate conditioners, and see if you can include a filter on your tank. The color fading could be due to velvet while the bubbles on the tail could be worms. The breathing problem could be due to gill infection which is a symptom of columnaris. Monitor your fish careful to know the exact illness(es) and use the right treatment(s) as described in the article.
Hey there. My Betta fish is looking faded in color and will only lay on the bottom of the tank and won't eat. It also looks like there are bubbles or something on the ends of his tail. I cleaned the tank... not sure what exactly is wrong. No bulging belly or anything. Looks like he's working really hard to breathe.
- Author
It could be popeye in its early stages, and yeah, you need to continue changing water and conditioning it accordingly (get the right nitrogen level) and also using medications that have proven to cure the infection, like antibiotics. Kanaplex is a powerful antibiotic, so it can help with the infection and other diseases.
Thanks for responding, Januaris. If I look at her from a straight angle, the eyes look okay. But if I look from a top-down view, I see a small bubble over her eyes. So, do you think I should use Kanaplex or stick to water changes, conditioning, etc? She's not pooping, because she's not eating anything. I'm worried about her.
- Author
@Gein Popeye causes swelling on eyes, so if you are seeing some swelling on one eye or both, your fish could be having the infection. The disease is usually a symptom of another disease, so if it's really there, it could be caused by the fin and tail rot. Concerning the internal parasites, you can check for any color changes in her poop and also swelling on her belly. For her staying on the surface and not eating may mean that she's sick, but probably recovering after treatment.
Nice article. I have a couple of questions regarding diagnosis, though. My female betta has fin rot and tail rot. I am not sure she has popeye or not. How do i know for sure she has popeye? I noticed she has fin rot for about five days. I put her from a 10 gall tank to a 1 gall tank. Did 100% water changes for the past five days. She is at the surface, not eating. I ordered kanaplex. And i use stress zyme and a little aquarium salt. I add a pinch of the aq salt after the water changes. Does she have internal parasites or anything?
- Author
@Nevaeh Ick usually causes white spots, so you can consider other illnesses such as furunculosis and dropsy which cause skin ulcers and outward-sticking scales respectively. See medication and best practices for these conditions from the article!
My male Betta has had Ick once a few weeks ago and he healed ,but When I looked at him it looked like his scales when gone on the top of him and you could see his skin. Does he have Ick again? How can I help him?
- Author
@Layla It could be the color of the food you are giving to him or as a result of the parasite medication! He could also be eating things like plant remains or old food remains present in the tank. But if he's swimming normal, it should not be a big issue. Just consider these things.
My bettas poop is grey or black most of the time and has been for a month or so! What does this mean ... he is swimming normal and active and colorful. He sometimes gets ammo burns when the ammo in the tank is 0 and I clean the tank (3 gal) every other day?!! I think he may have a bacterial disease from the poop and ammo burns but Idk... could also be parasites but I treated him for that like a month ago cause I started to see black spots in his poo but soon realized it was from his filter cartridge cause their were black spot / debrie on the ground !! I am just wondering how to help my little buddy!?
- Author
@Lilac His tarnish brown poop could be just normal given that you're giving him reddish brown food and he's not showing any signs of sickness. But you need to inspect the tank for other things he could eating, like plant remains, rotten wood or old food remains.
My betta pooped normally for a half year when I got him but then he just started to poop a tannish color brown... it's been like that for months now ... his poop is now light brown... like alittle lighter than his reddish brown food!! I treated him for parasite but I should have known that wouldn't do anything cause his poop was tan/ light brown... not white ... and the other day he jumped out of his tank and I found him after a few hours ... he is healing now and don't worry I have put in aq salt and stress coat and such ... but a day or two after he jumped out I found a new poop and it was the exact color of his food !!! But then the next day I found a tan/ lighter brown poop and have ever sconce:( I am wondering what this is or if this is just his intensities changed or what ... if it helps I'll say again that he has had tan: light brown poop for a few months now so I don't think it's rlly bad I am just wondering what it is!?
- Author
@holli
If the splotches you are talking about are white spots, then it could be an ich which is a parasitic disease prevented by changing water and treating the fish with salt baths and other suitable medications. Concerning the lifted scales, try to examine them carefully for things like white growths which are usually fungi. But do not underestimate the roughness of the castle! It could be soft on you, but rough on him! Examine it and other components of the tank carefully for sharp edges.
My fish is dark blue and it looks like just one of his scales is lifted. At a certain angle you can see it is most likely a lifted scale and it catches the light easily. But around that area by his eye he is also getting whitish grey splotches. These splotches are also on his other side but only closer to his tail fins. I only see this on his scales not on his fins at all.
Could this be scale rot? Could my decorations be too rough?
He had a small castle he can go inside of and a tall dragon. They are like stone and smooth with detailed texture. The texture isn't rough in anyway to my fingers. They don't feel like they could snag his scales at all.
None of the pics above look like what my fish has.
- Author
If he's getting ammonia burns even after 50% water change, then you need to go for a higher percentage. Try that 100% and see if you can add a filter and some plants in your tank as they absorb excess nitrates - get test also for this parameter and others like pH, aeration, temperature and organic matter. You may also want to consider your water source. Some sources like tap are loaded with more compounds and therefore this water needs to be changed every week - at least 30% change is recommended.
The reason why 100% water change is not recommended is that it kills beneficial bacteria and can stress your fish. For your case, if you think bacteria are playing a major role in your tank, you can go for about 95% water change. Concerning your fish, you need to place him in another container with similar conditions as the tank. And after water change, try to make the tank conditions favorable - not very different from before. You can try some conditioners in this case.
How often/ how much water should I change for a three gallon tank?! My betta keeps getting small ammonia burns in varios places on (I am certain its not fin rot because It happens very quickly like in an hour or less) his tail right after I clean his tank (60%) once a week, but his ammonia tests are fine. Id assume its from me stirring up the waste and stuff at the bottom however I remove all poop and waste I see every day with a turkey baster! Yesturday I did a waterchange and today he got an ammonia burn in his tail so for now I will be doing 50% water changes every day to refresh the tank and let him heal and also I have added some AQ salt to his tank. I am leaving for camp so next friday when I get home I am planning to do a 100% water change... however I am hesistant to pursue because many have told me 100% changes are bad... is this true? I believe that because my tank is so small it cannot be cycled so 100% changes are fine, however I am not sure!? and for the future what would be a good water change ammount and times to prevent him from getting ammonia burns?
Thanks, and a person defiantly needs to put water conditioner in their tank otherwise their betta would die! But aquarium salt and bettafix arent water conditioners. Betta fix is a medicine that helps fins heal but is dangerous for bettas because it has melafix which is bad for them to breath in. Aquarium salt I use in my tank already. my betta is pooping normal now though because I took out something that was rusting! I know that is really wierd but my betta is better now! how many pellets do you reccomend I feed him every day now?
- Author
Internal bleeding is usually caused by ulcers, ruptured blood vessels/intestinal lining, the hemorrhagic/septicemia disease or even stress. To prevent it, you can try things such as food with garlic, food with high levels of calcium & vitamin C and Maracyn2 medication. Hemorrhagic is caused by yersinia ruckeri bacteria which can be killed by antibiotics like ampicillin and prevented by disinfecting the aquarium. You also need to condition your water as most health conditions result from poor quality water - you can try aquarium salt or bettafix conditioners.
Thanks! How could I solve the internal bleeding? I already have started to soak his pellets so that they arent hard before i give them to him! But their are still black spots. I have the general cure now just in case but I dont think its parasites because he looks healthy and is pooping and eating every day now! How do I solve the black spot in his poop problem and what could be causing internal bleeding?!
- Author
It looks like you have partly resolved the problem with your fish, so you just need to monitor his progress. The bloat could be a feeding malpractice - giving him excess food. The black spots could be due to internal breeding i.e., caused by hard-food abrasion in the digestion system, or it could be some black food fragments you're giving him. The whitish poop shouldn't be a big issue - it could be caused by the food color.
If you usually don't change water regularly, you need to start doing so! Some bacteria that cause digestion issues thrive in dirt water. Internal parasites are also favored by dirt water, so you need to keep changing water. Find out the changing frequency for a 3 gallon tank with filters. Concerning buying medication, you need to keep monitoring the poop for things such as parasite eggs, fragments, etc before ordering the general cure. :)
I have a betta fish and it had been pooping fine a month or two ago and then it started to have tiny black spots in its brown swirlies. A couple of weeks ago my betta kept eating and stopped pooping and he began to bloat. I resolved that by giving him a pea and fasting him. Now he is pooping fine but his poop is now a light grey/brown/ almost (not quite) whiteish and the black spots are still in his poop and sometimes he has pretty big black spots in his poop that you could easily see one or two without a flashlight!(before you could only see the black spots with a flashlight). My betta is still active. He lives in a heated and filtered three gallon and the tests are all good; ammo = 0, etc. He has lost a tad bit of color but is still pretty active during the day! I was wondering if I should order general cure by api for internal parasites??? and if you happen to know what is wrong with him. His only symptoms are his white-ish poop and recent bloating (but I fixed that and now he is better and pooping every day!). He is pretty active and mostly the same color (mostly). How can I help my betta?!
- Author
I guess you are talking about fin and tail rot! As far as I know, triple sulfa and tetracycline medications that work are manufactured by the reputable pharmaceutical companies, So buy the ones that are manufactured by leading companies (like Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) as this is the only way you can get genuine medication that can fight this bacterial infection.
You also need to post your question on betta forums as these are the places where you can get more opinions from other keepers of this pet! Thank you.
Does anybody know if triple sulfa or tetracycline is better for Betta that has finally melt And fill disease can't seem to find an answer
- Author
Deterioration of fins or tail is usually due to the Fin & Rot disease or Columnaris disease, and the thin body and crippling is due to the sickness. These diseases are caused by bacteria that thrive in dirty water, so you need to change water regularly depending on your tank size. Before adding fresh water, you can let the tank dry in the sun and soak its components in hot water. If you have plants, get them outside to dry any water on them. When adding fresh water, you can include some aquarium salt, conditioner or tea tree oil.
Keep pH between 7-8 and ammonia, nitrites and nitrates below 40 ppm. Check also to ensure that the water is at the right temperature - 26-27 degress C, and is well supplied with air.
Then you need to treat your buddy! You can try BettaFix remedy (see it in the article) - it can fight a number of health conditions, including ulcers, wounds, fin & tail rot and mouth fungus. There are just many medications for fin rot- follow the BettaFix link in the article to see them on amazon. Look also for jungle fungus eliminator, meracyn, waterlife, melafix, myxazin, etc.
Wish you all the best for your betta!
Hi. My Betta-fish fins deteriorated. Came back some. His body is bent and thin, and he has trouble swimming. He looks crippled but still has an appetite. Not sure what to do on a consistent basis. Has been a few weeks now. Need help. Can't figure out.
Thanks for thequickcc reply Januaris. Yes did condition Vermer's water with Top Fin then put himmm n his tank. I did buy the remedy medicine that covers all bacterial, fungus and parasite and started his treatment this morning. I'm not sure what brought on this infection, could have been stress during transportation since I didn't bring him home right away. He also came from Walmart and I doubt they do much for betta care.
Vermeer seems to be ticked off today. His been full on flaring with gills open and all, for hours now, this is the first time his done this. This started up about 2 hours before I started treatment and hasn't stopped. I had moved things around his aquarium and he started up. I moved everything back and his still flaring. There's no mirrors and it's a low lite area, he has a pattern on his tank's background of squares. He also has started up trying to attack something in a small opening of his decoration pineapple.
- Author
Thanks Christina for loving my article! When it comes to your Vermeer, you don't have to wait when you see any signs or symptoms of an infection. Do you condition your water? Most illnesses happen as a result of poor water quality. Grab a good water conditioner to improve the water quality. Follow the Bettafix link above to find the best conditioners. As for the white spot, it could be an inch developing or any other fish disease. But you don't have to wait to see how it turns out. Get a medication that fights many fish infections, like the Bettafix Remedy mentioned above. :)
Love this article.
I'm concerned about my new little fella, Vermeer though. I just bought him a few days ago and a new tank with a pineapple with a hole going through it to hide. When watching him today I noticed a white spot on his body under his ventral fins. However he doesn't act like a sick fish, in fact he'd be a piggy. He also isn't lethargic or hanging at the bottom of the tank, his quite active. Should I wait a bit or should I assume he has Ich or fin for and try treatment now?
Thanks
- Author
Thanks Rythegreat! You can actually prevent and control most the illnesses by conditioning your water. Many aquarium conditioners have been manufactured, but it is only a few that are the best! (*** Follow The Bettafix Link Above (In The Velvex) To Find These Best Conditioners***).
Thanks. Now I'm going to be much more cautious of my Beta, Harrison. And thank you for the treatment suggestions, now I know what stuff to get
- Author
Sorry for your loss, and you are welcomed to review anytime that your new pet develops health issues!
This is really helpful. A couple of years back, when I had my betta, Bluey, the blue betta, he developed ich. He had it for a while, and I had no idea how to treat him. Eventually I found some medicine that helped, but by then my lovely betta was gone. Thank you for making this guide. I hope it'll help other betta owners know how to care for their fish, as I did not. If I ever get bettas again, I'll memorize this list. I finally know how I could have saved him...
- Author
Hello Pattie,
Lumps in fish are usually a symptom of another disease, and in rare cases tumors. From your explanation, you have talked about the gills/chin being whitish. This could be discoloration which is a common symptom of the columnaris disease! This sickness has other symptoms such as ragged and frayed fins- which you have also talked about. Inspect your fish carefully to see if it has skin ulcers and breathing problems as these are also symptoms of the disease.
Because this is highly likely to be columnaris, I would advise you to try medications that contain Sulfa 4 TMP, TMP Sulfa, triple sulfa & Oxytetracycline- like the BettaFix Remedy- you can get it though the Amazon link in the article. To prevent this illness, ensure that you avoid things such as limited oxygen, water hardness and overcrowding in your tank.
If it happens to be a tumor (of which I don't suspect), you can prevent it from happening to other fish by feeding them with foods such as cruciferous vegetables & brazil nuts pellets and flakes and processed bloodworms. These foods fight thyroid dysfunction which is the common cause of gill lumps.
Wishing your pet quick recovery!
I have been researching for hours and cannot figure out what is ailing my fish. He has a "lump" between his gills (on his chin if you will it's whitish). This literally appeared overnight. He is lethargic and just hanging out at the bottom of the tank. He still has interest in food but he seems to have a hard time getting it. His color is still good but I'm noticing fin clamping today and he was not doing that before. Also his beard looks like it's "hanging out". This started about 3 days ago and I started treatment; Kanaplax and Furan 2. Any ideas what this could be??
- Author
Hello Anna,
Doing 100% water change will help kill the bacteria which seem to be surviving in the water. On the side of ammonia, you can reduce it by the following ways (consider ways that apply to your situation):
- Doing regular water changes.
- Scooping out unncessary organic matter like uneated food, rotting plants and dead fish.
- Vacuuming/cleaning the gravel.
- Unclogging the filter.
- Cutting down on feeding.
- Avoiding overstocking.
- Introducing healthy bacteria.
- Lowering pH.
- Increasing aeration.
- Using ammonia neutralizing/removing pellets/drops.
Concerning the black poop, it could be caused by the type of food or medication you are giving him. This situation can also happen if the fish has bleeding ulcers in the digestive tract. You can monitor the stool closely to see if there is blood on it, and also see if he has symptoms of hemorrhage. But I guess it is the food or medication you are giving him.
Thanks for the reply! My betta does not have any tank mates because it's a three gallon but i read that 100% water changes are bad?! So how can I get the ammonia to go down and the fin rot to go away ... right now I am doing 40% water changes every 3-4 days with a siphon and I am treating the fin rot with jungle fungus eliminator and salt... it works but the rot keeps coming back? And do you know anything about the black poop?
- Author
Hello Anna, It looks he was bitten by other fish, and it appears like they keep biting him. Do you keep other fish in the tank? If yes, ensure that they are not overcrowding just to reduce stress.
Fin rot is caused by bacteria (and in some cases- fungus). From your explanation, it looks like it is a bacterium that is surviving in the tank. You need to change water every 5 days- for a 3gal tank. Let the tank dry in the sun and soak its accessories in hot water. If you have plants, get them outside to vaporize any water on them. When adding fresh water, include some aquarium salt or conditioner.
Keep pH between 7-8 and ammonia, nitrites and nitrates below 40 ppm. Check also to ensure that the water is at the right temperature - 26-27 degress C, and is well supplied with air.
On the side of medication, you can try BettaFix remedy (see it in the article)- it can fight a number of conditions, including ulcers, wounds, fin & tail rot and mouth fungus. There are just many medications for fin rot- follow the BettaFix link in the article to see them on amazon. Look also for jungle fingus eliminator, meracyn, waterlife, melafix, myxazin, etc.
You can also prevent the disease by tea tree oil or tonic salt, but the most important thing here is to clean the tank and its accessories and let them dry in the sun, then change the water (every 5 days).
Hope the best for your pet!
My betta bit his tail like 4 weeks ago and got fin rot on his back tail... I put him in a heated bowl and did daily 100 percent water changes and he got better and regrowth and then I put him back in his three gallon with fresh water and a week later he got it back. I put in jungle fungus clear and it does great and always makes it go away but the fin rot always comes back. So I decided to do a 100 percent water change and boil the gravel a week and a half ago. After a which now his back fin has regrown some but now he has a small but on his bottom tail?! The meds removed it mostly but I want to know what keeps causing the rot?! When it comes it comes fast and it's like tan/brown and crispy when I look with a flashlight. His poop also turns black when the fin rot comes back and his poop is normally brown. I read reasheaeched a ton and I think it may be because as the ammonia starts to build up he gets it back?! But I don't know ?! I am trying to cycle his 3gal and i don't know if I can but I am going to the store this weekend to get some Indian almond leaves and ammonia nautralizing drops and to get his water tested. Any ideas why he keeps getting it because this is getting annoying!
- Author
Hello Sandra,
It looks like the lump is a viral infection which could be a symptom of another disease. You have talked about seeing white under the discolored scales- this could be the main disease, i.e. fish fungus, ich or even anchor worm, and I think the discoloration is just due to the sickness. You need to examine your fish carefully to identify the exact disease. See description in this article to help you identify the disease. I have also suggested some medications in the article. Have you tried Bettafix Remedy? Try this as it cures almost all fish diseases. It is also a great water conditioner! See the link for the medication i.e. at 10. Velvet, and buy it if you use Amazon.
In addition, I have suggested a number of practices that can create good aquarium conditions and keep your fish healthy. Do more than changing water and warming it! See the table in the article to learn more about these practices.
Lumps in fish could also be tumors, and if they occur in the gills they are usually as a result of thyroid dysfunction. Some foods like cruciferous vegetables & brazil nuts pellets and flakes and processed bloodworms can help improve thyroid function. So try them also. But most importantly, always keep good aquarium conditions, treat infections early and feed your betta accordingly.
Hope your pet gets better!
I have a dragonscale betta whose been healthy since I got him. He's solo in a 4 gallon tank with pump and heater. I'm meticulous about his water conditions. In December I noticed small lump by the side of his right gill. It's gotten bigger and I tried Lifeguard to see if it might be sufficient to reverse what I was seeing. There was no sign of reversal and this lump continues to grow. It's not affecting him at the moment as he's eating and swimming normally. I've taken a pictures of this growth but in the picture it appears much darker than when viewing him live. When he's swimming away from me, I see white under the discolored scales. I hope this is something I can take care of because he's a great pet! I can't attach photos here or I would provide them. Thanks. I have a dragonscale betta whose been healthy. 4 gallon tank with pump and heater. He's alone. I'm meticulous about his water conditions. In December I noticed small lump by the side of his right gill. It's gotten bigger and I tried Lifeguard to see if it might be sufficient to reverse what I was seeing. There was no sign of reversal and this lump continues to grow. It's not affecting him at the moment as he's eating and swimming normally. I've taken a pictures of this growth but in the picture it appears much darker than when viewing him live. When he's swimming away from me, I see white under the discolored scales. I hope this is something I can take care of because he's a great pet! I can't attach photos here or I would provide them. Thanks.
- Author
Thank you fishfriend!
Your post is really great! - very helpful, clear and easy to understand. Good job :)
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