Betta Body Rot ?

Hi, I have a betta that has developed a sore on his side, near to the back fin. It's not bloody, there's nothing protruding, but it looks like a large sore. He has been sick for a while, and up until I saw the sore I thought his fins looked pretty health, and we had our water tested, but I hadn't seen the sore until today. Our water had high levels of ammonia so I used distilled water instead of tap and cleaned out the tank entirely. He's the only betta in a 1.5 gallon tank with a heater and a filter. So, from everything I've read, it sounds like I should get a new quarantine tank, fill with water (distilled?), wait several hours for it to warm up to the appropriate temperature (use my heater - disinfect it?), add antibiotics (the only ones available immediately are Mardel Maracyn) and water conditioners? and move my fish.

Should I get a second tank ready for salt baths or do I add salt to the quarantine tank? I feel terrible that our betta is suffering. We have had to move him a lot lately, and I think it may be stress. Anything to help with the stress of moving him back and forth between tanks? Do I need to throw out my tank and start completely over or will bleach work? You can see a couple of photos of him at: http/www.mediafire.com/?xdze12x1fufd9t5,http/www.mediafire.com/?g5c5dmggg86yqv7. He often sits like this at the bottom of the tank (facing up) and then you can see the sore at the base of the body by the tail. Any help or advice would be much appreciated. I can't seem to get any great help at Petsmart (where I got him).

Thanks!

Your betta has been through a lot of stress by moving him so much. I know that you are trying to keep him in clean water. That's a good start to healing body wounds. I would probably adjust the water temperature to around 80 degrees and adding a little salt. I would continue to do water changes around 1/2 gallon daily. To condition the water, get a container that can hold about a gallon of water and fill it and allow it to sit for at least 24 hours. The chlorine disapates from the water and is safe to replace the water you take out. The other option is to use a dechlorinator which is very safe. Water temperature is important so if adding standing water, add very slowly, maybe a cup every 15 minutes. He needs to be in a stable environment where things don't change. So, you are on the right road. Good luck.

The main problem seems to be that you have him in an uncycled tank, which is why you have the high ammonia levels. So you're doing what we call a fish-in cycle. Read up on that in the beginners section of the forum.

As you only have a 1.5gallon tank (that's far too small by the way) you should change the water in it at least twice a day and make sure you use a dechlorinator that detoxifies ammonia with each new water change (Seachem Prime is a good one).

You need a liquid test kit (like the API master freshwater test kit) to monitor the water conditions as you have to do this daily.

Putting him in distilled water is very bad as it has no mineral content, plain tap water is just fine.

All you need is good water quality and some salt and he should pick up.

You mention moving him around tanks, does that mean you have a tank with a cycled filter? If so take a small amount of the filter media and put it in the betta's filter. That will help cycle your filter very quickly.

Also, please put him in a bigger tank if possible. It's cruel to keep them in tanks as small as yours. A larger tank will also mean the toxins will not accumulate as quickly.

All I see on the picture is a nicely focused plant and a blue blob, which I assume is the betta, so not much help really.

Thanks so much for your replies. Here are some clearer photos (he was hiding last night). The wound has gotten larger over night. I'm worried about him. So, from reading your posts, it sounds like I should do the following:

1. Buy a larger tank as soon as possible. Is a 5 gallon tank large enough?
2. Add some salt to his water. If I don't have aquarium salt right at this moment - is plain sea salt okay (it's not iodized)? How much for 1.5 gallons?
3. Change his water at least twice a day with tap water. I filled up a gallon jug (that only previously had distilled water) and am letting it sit for a few hours before adding. I have Top Fin Betta Water Conditioner that I can add to treat the tap water. Add a cup every 15 minutes so that he has time to adjust to the temperature change.
4. Should I get some antibiotics to add to the water?

Thanks again! I will read up at the beginner's forum.

Ouch! That is one nasty ulcer, poor thing.


1. Buy a larger tank as soon as possible. Is a 5 gallon tank large enough?
That's a minimum, a bit bigger would be better.

2. Add some salt to his water. If I don't have aquarium salt right at this moment - is plain sea salt okay (it's not iodized)? How much for 1.5 gallons?
Add about 1/2tsp per gallon and if you change his water the new water must have the same dose. I'm not sure about the sea salt with a betta. Aquarium salt would be safer.

3. Change his water at least twice a day with tap water. I filled up a gallon jug (that only previously had distilled water) and am letting it sit for a few hours before adding. I have Top Fin Betta Water Conditioner that I can add to treat the tap water. Add a cup every 15 minutes so that he has time to adjust to the temperature change.
The water conditioner makes the water safe to put in the tank virtually immediately (so no need to leave it to sit) but you need to temperature match the new water to the tank water so as not to shock the fish.

4. Should I get some antibiotics to add to the water?
You have Maracyn which is ideal.

It's crucial that you understand about cycling your filter so please make sure you read up about it.