Sick Betta (Help!)

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BaBeL FiSh - 25 Jul 2005 18:29 GMT

Hello,

I have a new betta (two weeks purchased from aquarium shop) who started out
being a rich light blue with a black head. He is in a large community tank
and they all seem to get along fine. Over the last few days he has been
hiding in one of the aquarium ornaments. Today when I got home I found him
lying on the bottom of the tank in a corner breathing, but not moving. I
checked this site: http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm and have done
as it says and have quarantined him. When I netted him, he tried to get
away but kind of gave in with not too much bother. Now he is on his own, he
is still lying on the bottom and comes to the top every so often for a
breath of fresh air, rapidly followed by him moving back down to the bottom.
I cannot see anything on him that matches any symptoms mentioned at the
above site. The only difference in him I can see is that he has a bronze
tint to the top of his head. Other than that, I have nothing to go on.

He's obviously ill with something and I just need to figure it out before
it's too late. We kept a betta for a long, long time and he died just
recently. We had no problems with him (apart from ich once which was
treated with no problems) and I guess he just succumbed to old age. I don't
want to lose another one so soon!

Sorry for cross post, but would be grateful for any useful help, tips, etc.

Many thanks.

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BaBeL FiSh - 25 Jul 2005 22:09 GMT

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> Many thanks.

Further browsing leads me to believe this may well be velvet. Any treatment
tips anyone?

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Elaine T - 25 Jul 2005 22:41 GMT

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> Many thanks.

Look up velvet. Faith mentiones it on her page you referenced and there
should be other info online. The parasites can take on a golden or
bronzy appearance and it's really common on bettas. What I don't know
is whether it causes such obvious behavioral signs.

If what you read on velvet fits, you've got a lot of treatment option.
Like ich, it's sensitive to copper, salt, formalin/malachite, and
acriflavine. Velvet is also photosynthetic, so darken his bowl or tank
during whatever treatment you choose.

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Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

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BaBeL FiSh - 25 Jul 2005 22:52 GMT

>> Hello,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> acriflavine. Velvet is also photosynthetic, so darken his bowl or tank
> during whatever treatment you choose.

Thanks. I will get some velvet treatment from LFS tomorrow and try and save
him!

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BaBeL FiSh - 26 Jul 2005 18:56 GMT

> Look up velvet. Faith mentiones it on her page you referenced and there
> should be other info online. The parasites can take on a golden or bronzy
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> acriflavine. Velvet is also photosynthetic, so darken his bowl or tank
> during whatever treatment you choose.

Should I treat the community tank the betta was secluded from? The fish in
there are showing no signs of illness, but now I have some velvet control
treatment, I wondered if I should use it anyway just to be sure. Don't want
to stress the fish in there unnecessarily though.

Advice appreciated.

Thanks.

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Elaine T - 26 Jul 2005 19:36 GMT

>>Look up velvet. Faith mentiones it on her page you referenced and there
>>should be other info online. The parasites can take on a golden or bronzy
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Thanks.

Yes, treat the tank and darken it for a couple of days. It's reasonably
likely you have velvet spores in the main tank. They have a quick
lifecycle of only a few days, so you don't need to treat for weeks as
with ich.

Signature

Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

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BaBeL FiSh - 26 Jul 2005 20:13 GMT

>>>Look up velvet. Faith mentiones it on her page you referenced and there
>>>should be other info online. The parasites can take on a golden or
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> lifecycle of only a few days, so you don't need to treat for weeks as with
> ich.

I have treated the tank and darkened it by draping a towel over the front of
it as you suggest. Thanks for your help.

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IDzine01 - 29 Jul 2005 00:27 GMT

I would be inclined to not treat the whole community tank but it's up
to you. Velvet medication can be pretty harsh on some fish and some
sensitive species can die from it. (Including invertebrates and many
aquarium plants). It can also upset your biological cycle, which has
repercussions. Generally, the velvet parasites are opportunistic so if
your community fish are healthy, they may not become pray to them at
all. On the other hand, it could infect others in your tank, especially
if your fish aren't in the best condition.

http://www.nippyfish.net/velvet.html

Good luck with the little guy. I hope he comes out of this ok.
C

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Elaine T - 29 Jul 2005 02:40 GMT

> I would be inclined to not treat the whole community tank but it's up
> to you. Velvet medication can be pretty harsh on some fish and some
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Good luck with the little guy. I hope he comes out of this ok.
> C

Funny, I've never had plants, filter or fish die from a single dose of
typical velvet remedies with some mix of copper, formalin, or malachite
green. You do have to be more careful with loaches and tetras when
using malachite green for extended periods, but I've still never lost
plants or filtration. Did you get a remedy that had methylene blue in
it by mistake maybe?

Velvet can be a pain to cure, thus my leaning toward prevention.

Signature

Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

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Pet Forum / Aquaria / General / July 2005

Sick Betta (Help!)