Beta Fish Sick -- Causes, symptoms, treatment and follow up. Here's everything you need to know about this problem.
Beta Fish and Sick - Facts
Problem Definition:
A Betta Splendens Fish can become sick because it is inflicted with various diseases or is highly stressed.Symptoms:
The only way you can diagnose what is wrong is by observing the symptoms. Here are a few for reference:- stays constantly either at the bottom or at the top of the tank. (Swim bladder, bacterial infection)
- refuses to eat (White Spot, Velvet)
- shows white spots all over its body (White Spot, Velvet in starting stage)
- has red streaks on its body (Bacterial infection, Inflamed gills)
- has white formations around its gills, mouth, etc (Fungal Infection)
- shows visible cysts and white mucus-like substance all over its body (Velvet)
- either or both of its eyes are bulging out (Popeye)
- has rotting fins and tails (fin rot, tail rot)
Duration of Problem:
Every problem has its own time period, but as a rule of thumb, most diseases are beyond cure and the fish is likely to die after one week of untreated infection.Exposure:
Fungus, bacteria and other parasites often thrive in untreated and poorly-maintained tanks. Here are usual causes of the diseases mentioned above:- White Spot and Velvet are the result of parasitic infections
- Swim Bladder is caused by over feeding
- Ammonia poisoning occurs from excess of ammonia in water
- Popeye is a bacterial infection
- Fin rot and tail rot are caused by bacteria
The Treatment:
Here are the treatment methods for the diseases mentioned above:- Medications like ampicillin, penicillin, and tetracycline are useful to treat fungal diseases, dropsy, bacterial infections, tail rot and fin rot.
- White Spot and Velvet respond to copper in the starting stages. Formalin, malachite green and other medicines need to administered along with a freshwater bath/dip.
- For other parasitic infections, remove all visible parasites from the water. Using commercially-available medicine helps, but may not entirely eradicate the parasites. Follow up any treatment with the prevention methods outlined below.
- Ampicillin also treats popeye
- Swim Bladder trouble is due to overfeeding, so reducing the amount of daily food should soon set things right
- There is no cure for Ammonia poisoning.
Prevention:
- Remove the fish from the infected tank
- Dry the tank and clean it
- Keep the tank in the sun for a day along with other rocks and ornaments
- Do not use re-use plants from an infected tank
- Change the filter media
- Use treated water to to refill the tank and add medicines to prevent fungus and bacterial growth
- Transfer the fish back into the tank
Precautions:
Carefully monitoring your tank for signs of disease is the best way to prevent disease outbreak or death.Helpful Supplies:
Many medicines work for the most common diseases so it's good to have a supply handy.Level of Seriousness:
Every disease stated above is quite serious when neglected.Lasting Consequences:
After being treated for rot disease, the tail and fins of the fish may grow with slight discolorations.Genetics:
Popeye and Swim Bladder seem to primarily effect Beta Fish.Lifestyle Accommodations:
No major changes. Ration food after Swim Bladder treatment.Expense:
All the medicines are relatively inexpensive.