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?
Questions & Answers
I thought my Betta had fin rot, but there was only discoloration and a fraying of the ends. I put him in a new, clean tank treated with aquarium salt with daily water changes. Seemed to help but no new growth. Today his gills are slightly discolored. He is eating normally and active, but no bubble nests. He's in a 2.5-gallon tank, unfiltered with live plants. I've been doing 100% changes twice a week. All his water parameters are in safe ranges?
I think you are doing the right thing now. You just need someone who knows about Bettas, like a veterinarian, to check your water parameters and advise accordingly.
Can you advise me as to why my beta has stopped eating for four days and lies motionless at the bottom of the tank?
You need to inspect your fish further for more symptoms because any disease can cause a fish to stop eating and lie motionless!
My Female Betta has been lying at the bottom and top of the tank; not moving for a few minutes at a time. Her fins are never open, and she often spits out or sort of vomits her food when she eats. Her abdominal looks white and a bit large, but we always thought it was her babies. Do you happen to know if anything is wrong with her?
You could be giving her food that causes digestive issues like bloat. You can try changing the food to see if there are any positive changes.
My betta has had a gill puffed out a bit for about two weeks now. I started to use antibacterial drops to help him out, but he's been hiding in his castle, and hasn't eaten in a few days. I recently changed his water and noticed that he had red things on the ends of his tail and fins. What could this be?
While a photo could help, it sounds like the red things could be blood blisters. He could have been hurt by rough objects in the tank.
I recommend that you clean your fish and apply the antibacterial drops. Then, remove any sharp or rough objects from the water.
Can you help me? My fish has been sick for about a month. I've tried everything. He will have fuzz on his back that looks like Columnaris. It'll go away a little before it returns looking like a dandelion! I feel terrible that I can't help him...the fuzz looks like that in the Columnaris picture, but it could also be fungus. I've treated him with Lamenting and Metronidazole, and then fungus cure separately. I have also tried Methylene blue. Please tell me what I can do.
The problem could be the water and other elements in the tank. You need to start charging water regularly, and you can begin by performing a 100% water change.
Ammonia build-up has been studied to cause all sorts of ailments in fish. You need to ensure that the amount of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates is below 40 ppm. To lower these compounds, you can do the following.
- Change water regularly.
- Scoop out unnecessary organic matter like food remains, rotting plants and dead fish.
- Vacuum/clean the gravel.
- Unclog the filter.
- Cut down on feeding.
- Avoid overstocking.
- Introduce healthy bacteria.
- Lower pH.
- Increase aeration.
- Use ammonia neutralizing/removing pellets/drops.
When performing a 100% water change, 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, and ensure the water temperature remains between 26-27 degrees C.
After changing the water, cleaning the tank and obtaining the right water parameters, you can continue with the fungal medication.
© 2015 Januaris Saint Fores
Comments
- AUTHOR
You can try keeping the water parameters optimum. Keep the right levels of pH, ammonia, nitrites, organic matter, etc. See the parameters in the comments above, and try to give him some time to see if there are any positive changes.
Hi,
My betta fish has fins rot. I have tried everything: change its water frequently. Used bettafix. The stopped it since I read it does not work. I also used JFC tablets, but I don’t see any improvement in the fins. He eats well and swins and rest normally, but I don’t see its fins recovering. What else can I do? Please help
- AUTHOR
Like I have answered in the Q&A section, if she is not showing any signs of sickness, it is highly likely to be a developing bodymark. So don't worry, but keep a keen eye on her to act immediate in case it's not a mark.
My new betta I got had a small red spot on top of her head. I have her in quarantine before I add her to my sorority. I can’t tell if the spot is still methgoing by that needs to be treated. I can’t tell if it’s just a scale though. Should I treat her and what for?
- AUTHOR
If she was fine hours before, then it is likely that she was bruised by a sharp object in the water. You can disinfect the wound and keep the water extremely clean.
female beta has what looks like a large bruise on her side after mating she was fine before. this was only about 4 hours after mating she is staying on top of the water and does not look well what can I do?
- AUTHOR
It is highly likely to be swim bladder or bloat. See the remedies for swim bladder in the answers above. As for bloat, just cut down on the amount of food you're giving him, but let the food feature some peeled pea.
PLease HELP! My Betta is having issues and I’m very concerned for him, I’ve had him for 2years now and a few days ago I noticed him laying at the bottom of the tank, the next day he was still there and barley moving around. My boyfriend bought some medicine for him because he looks like he has tail rot but he might have another problem he looks really bloated and lays side ways and sometimes vertical and doesn’t look like he’s breathing. I’ll shine a light at him and he’ll swim up the the top get air and fall back down slow vertical again :( I don’t know what to do now.. I have him being treated in a little fish bowl and now using water conditioner.. he was in a 5 gallon tank when he got sick. What does this mean when he’s vertical could he have kidney disease or something??!? Pls help .. thanks in advance!!!
- AUTHOR
Yeah, you can do.
Can I send a picture of my bettas problem? I don't know how to explain it.
- AUTHOR
It can't be okay! In this case, they are likely to be furunculosis,
- AUTHOR
Highly likely to be tail rot.
I have a three week old betta that has a white area at the end of its tail. My I know of what it is?
Is it okay if the white part is surrounding the pink (There are small pink spots around him now with white covering the outer circle)
- AUTHOR
He could have been pierced by a sharp object in the tank, but if the spot has a white area, it could be a worm.
- AUTHOR
Tap water is okay, but distilled water (mineral water) lacks minerals that fish needs to survive.
And along with that other question, can I use Mineral water ( the water we drink). i need answers desperately... Thank you
Now I have another problem. Although my fish has healed... It seems to have a pink spot on its left side... I think its like fish fungus or something.... I only shifted it to a colder room. but since i live on a tropical place, its very hot. So I'd like to know what happened.... Thank you if you see this.
- AUTHOR
Well, a lot of infections can cause fish to lay on its side. Watch it carefully for more symptoms in order to diagnose the specific infection.
- AUTHOR
That should be fungus! See how to deal with it from the article and similar answers above.
My fish is laying on its side, but i still see its fins are moving. And it was breathing. What do I do????
Hi can you help me? My Betta male has these white bumps coming out of his scales right beside his top fin... I don’t know what it could be :(
- AUTHOR
Don't you think that it is fungus. See the disease above and remedies. You can also try to keep the water parameters right. See the parameters in the answers above.
My son's beta fish has a whitish growth in between his lower fins. He hasn't eaten for awhile but still is swimming around. We have change the water about every 3 - 4 weeks. Any idea what it might be?
- AUTHOR
Likely to be fish fungus. See the disease above.
My fish has white stuff around his mouth??
- AUTHOR
It's likely to be a fungal infection. And most fungal infections are caused by poor water quality. Try to improve the water and keep the right parameters - see them in the answers above.
my betta fish has bland spots on his fins. What is that?
- AUTHOR
Don't you think it's furunculosis? See its remedies above. Other possible infections are fungus and velvet. Just monitor your fish carefully to know the exact infection.
My beta has peeling skin, and there's like open spots with pink. What is that?
- AUTHOR
It may take some time for the tail regrow, so give it time. But ensure you keep the right conditions of the water. See the right parameters in the answers above.
My betta lost his tail more than 80% due to some reason. He recovered from the issue almost 4 months back and now doing good. But his tail has not re-grown back and still only have some 20% tail. I feed him live foods like mosqito larva, small worms and pellet food. can anybody advice me how to re-grow his tail back.
- AUTHOR
It could also be a new color developing, but you need to watch keenly for their next stage. If they happen to be an ailment, you need to take the right measures. See the answers above to learn how to control some of these diseases.
My blue beta has black spots on his fins. Ick? Fin rot? Just spots? what are they? HELP (Male veiltale)
- AUTHOR
Try Amazon. Follow the link on the Velvet section to search for medication,
I took a betta fish that was living in a small glass and put it in a brand new 5 gallon tank. Treated the water, washed everything with water, got a heater, thermometer and pump. I transferred him to the new water over several hours. Have added new water. He eats the pellets for betta but not the blood worms. He was raggedy to begin with but his eyes may be out a little. Did not notice them at all before. Today is Day 4 in the 5 gallon tank. I don't have plants because the pet store guy made a big warning about snails taking over the tank.
Possible pop eye and shredded fins are my issue. Where would you get the medication indicated above?
- AUTHOR
Sac? Your question is not clear, but you can prevent and control many health conditions by changing water and keeping the right parameters. See optimum parameters in the answers above.
My glofish has a black sac on its top fin. What could it be?
- AUTHOR
The black could be his color, but the white spots are definitely a sign of illness. You just need to monitor him carefully to see if he's behaving sickly, then act accordingly.
My betta fish has black on the edges of his fins and some white spots. I looked at the diseases but none of them seem to be what he has. Is it just his color or is he sick? Thanks
- AUTHOR
@ Try maintaining the correct water parameters (see them in the answers above) and consider some good medication (see in the article).
My Betta is a half Moon male and for the past two or three months his fins and scales have been fading, along with his gills turning white. I've tried everything from changing his water often to feeding him once daily or every other day, and nothing seems to be helping. I don't know what to do.
- AUTHOR
If it was all due to constipation, then you just need to keep feeding her accordingly. May be you try softer feeds and avoid overfeeding.
My betta has been swimming sideways for weeks and stays to the bottom of the tank. I have moved her into a smaller tank, didn't feed her for a couple of days and fed her the insides of a pea. It doesn't seem to help, other that she seems fine. I do feed her every other day as I'm sure she was constipated. is there anything else I can do for her?
- AUTHOR
@Shane. Spoot? A pic can help, but it could be a tumor or a hole developing. See comments above to learn how to deal with a tumor. See carefully also the Hole-in-the-Head section.
- AUTHOR
@Michelle. Highly likely to be velvet! Try the Betta Remedy mentioned in the velvet section.
- AUTHOR
Sounds like he has a combination of ailments! Read carefully the diseases and their symptoms!
My fish is very sick. He is not eating, moving very little, whit bubble on and bellow one eye, color in tail is draining, the tail is ripping, I'm worried.
- AUTHOR
The pic would have helped, but your betta could be suffering from more than one ailment! The rough body could be due to velvet while the sores could be a sign of columnaris or furunculosis. You can try medications with antibiotics, and also fungus clear.
My betta has started to hide all day (in his little house) when he used to show excitement when I walked in the room and doesn't appear to be eating. His body looks rough and porcupine like. He also has sores. Recommended by the fish store, I added aquarium salt and bettafix. This has been the case for a few weeks and he doesn't seem to be getting any better. Any thoughts? I also have a photo.
- AUTHOR
@Liz If the buildup was cotton-like, then it's most likely to be Fish Fungus. See the medications for this condition in the article. Concerning survival, I think he has a chance given that the hole has been there for days. If it was something serious, he would not be living by now! In addition, most fungal infections happen due to dirty conditions, so keep changing and conditioning water and also maintain the right parameters - see them in the answers above.
Hi, I've been doing research trying to figure out what my betta has, I was hoping you could help. He started out lethargic, and having trouble breathing, and I noticed an off-white buildup in his gills on one side. I thought it might be scar tissue or gill hyperplasia, so I did a water change with aquarium salt and started treating him with Bettafix. It appeared to be clearing up, but he's still having trouble breathing and now there's a huge hole in his side where the buildup had been before--I can't see any obvious parasites, and the hole isn't bloody so I don't think it's furunculosis. It's just hollow and white and kind of wispy, or maybe I'm seeing bones? I panicked and started him on Tetra Lifeguard All-in-one last night, but I'm really doubting that he's going to survive. Do you have any idea what this disease could be? It doesn't look like any of the ones listed here (but maybe I'm missing something), and I want to know if there's any chance that he can be saved. Thank you!
- AUTHOR
@Jay In addition to cleaning the tank, change the water regularly and keep the right parameters - see them in the answers above. Concerning the medicines, you may need to use some more effort in searching for them. You can check on Amazon India.
- AUTHOR
@Jasmine It's most likely to be her color, but keep the water/tank clean and with the right parameters - see them in the answers above.
Hi There , I am a new owner to Betta Fish I have one male and Female betta . I have looked at the above and wanted to ask if someone can help me on my small Female I bought her a few weeks ago and decided to do a dip just incase there are any infections as her anal fins seemed to be torn or rotted away. when I shone a torch to check for any viral infection nothing appeared on the body but only on the outer corners of her fins Like a Blue Glow ? is this perhaps the colour she may turn into once she has grown or is this some type of infection? its basically like a neon glow on the outer rims of the fin
- AUTHOR
@Dulce A photo of her would help, but any skin condition is usually due to fungal infection or effects of dirty water. Try cleaning the tank, conditioning the water and maintaining the right water parameters - see them in the answers above.
Okay, so my betta female. A while now, she gotten a white color on her stomach. And today, I noticed on her right side, her stomach seem like it got swollen up, and gotten pink. This never happened to my other bettas. And i'm concerned. But please help me.
Thanks for your diagnosis. I would believe dropsy even though his abdomen isn't huge. My vet said there was nothing that he could do and it sounds the same with dropsy. I keep trying to give him betta bits, shrimp ones, but he hasn't eate
- AUTHOR
@ Juliet. May dropsy, but first you should implement vet recommendations to see if there is any improvement.
I have a sick betta who looks absolutely fine from the outside, just seems bloated and will not eat. Took him to a vet who said he has possible mycobacterial infection. Any other ideas?
- AUTHOR
@Gabriela It's most likely that he's been overwhelmed by the water conditions. You need to keep the water parameters (see them in the above answers) optimum, and it's good you've already cleaned the tank and conditioned the water.
Hello!!! I want to know what could ve happening y o my sisters Betta. They clean tank once a week. He seems lethargic, laying at the bottom of the tank. He goes up only to take some air but once he is up, he keeps falling down. He seems weak and he breaths opening his moth very fast. I want to save him. What can I do? I just cleaned his tank and put some spring water and water conditioner. Ian there anything else that I should do? Thank you very much for your your advise.
- AUTHOR
@Caroline, it could be Furunculosis or injury. Check if there is any sharp object that can pierce your fish. And yeah, keep cleaning the tank and changing the water and try medications like Betta Remedy and Fungus Clear.
Hello, I read the list of diseases but I am still unsure about what is happening to my betta. My betta has red spots at the end of his tail. I first noticed this yesterday but now a day has gone by and the red spot is even larger than it was before. My first impression after seeing it today was that his fin is bleeding.
I must add that I did clean his fish bowl recently and added a plastic plant. I am thinking the plastic plant may be too harsh for my betta which caused this for his tail. I'm going to clean his bowl again and remove the plastic plant. I'm a new fish owner so I'm learning on the go. But I researched afterward that plastic plants are not a good idea and/or red spots at the end of fin/tails could be an indication of fin growth. I still am unsure of which possibility it could be. What should I do?
- 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?
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@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!?
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@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!?
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@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.
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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?
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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?!
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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?!
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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
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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.
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