What Is It?!

What is this thing on my fish?!?!!? Obviously its Arnie... Again... Ive had so many problems with him the last month or so and ive FINALLY got him eating normally and back how he used to be and that thing appears....

So... Ive added pictures... This one was about 6 weeks ago before the problem with him not eating etc...

This is his "good side" tonight incase ppl were thinking this is something natural or whatever...

And this is the mingingness that he's "grown" since last night!! What is it? How can i make it go away?!!?

Another one as i couldn't really get a good pic of it...

can you describe it to us, Jess? It's really hard to see in the picure. I'm assuming you're talking about the white area that looks like camera flash?

oh.. sorry... no, that is camera flash...

Im meaning the thing on his gills... i guess you cant see it too clearly on those pictures but its just like a sore. Its really bright red with a white spot in the middle.. I opened the tank to get a closer look (he comes up to have some food when i do that) and it looks just like an open sore He wouldn't let me touch it though, bit me.. Any ideas?

Jess said:

oh.. sorry... no, that is camera flash...

Click to expand...

That explains that problem, then...


Anyway, I can see the spot you're talking about. Off the top of my head, my first guess is parasites. However, I don't have any good facts to back that up. I'll do a bit of looking and see if I can come up with anything.

Parasites? Sounds like something im going to have trouble getting rid of... Would that not affect my cories too though? They're fine... Thanks for looking for me though! I wouldnt know where to start...

Jess

Y'know, I may be way off, but after having a handful of experiences with flexibacter lately, I'm wondering if this isn't an ulcer presenting slightly differently. My fave betta has been fighting a problem I couldn't figure out. I'd call it his "cold sores". They would be a small white spot near his mouth that would eventually disappear. Recently one of these ulcers broke out in fuzz, and all of a sudden I realized I had been seeing "mouth fungus", one of the ways Flexibacter presents itself. His immune system in the past must have been strong enough to fight it off, but not now. This article from Aquamaniacs.net describes many of the different symptoms that can occur (including loss of appetite) and treatment of the disease. Hopefully wuv or somebody can come along and help confirm or deny this - I'm just taking a shot at it here.


Edited to add: Jess, the more I look at it, the more it reminds me of the "cold sores" my guy gets around his lip. I highly reccomend reading all of that article -even though it's kinda long.

Hey Cation,

Thanks so much for that link My last betta actually died of Mouth Fungus ( Arnie 1 ) and although im probably wrong this doesn't look the same.. I put some melafix in last night and this morning when i did a small water change.. If it is fungus that should hopefully clear it up... Guess ill have to wait and see... poor Arnie.. he's been through a lot the last month or so, bless him... As you said, maybe some other people will come on with some ideas.. I havent got a clue, ive never seen anything like that on any of my fish before..

Jess

is this the sore that ur talkign about?

i dont' know what it is but i thought it might clarify for the others to hlep

Yes it is! Thank you... i probably should have done that but im a bit slow tonight...

Ooh, Arnie ate all of his pellets tonight.. and having read through that article i thought id add that the water temp is 24 celcius already so if it is fungus that should help slow it down

Jess

Actually, Mouth Fungus is flexibacter, which is, confusingly enough, not a fungus but a bacterium! Therefore, it will not respond to an antifungal. Again, I urge you to read the article - flexibacter presents in many ways.

Edited to add - oops, we cross-posted! Looks like you did take a look at it! )

It seems to be getting bigger... The melafix obviously isnt working!! Anyone have any other suggestions of what it is or what meds i should buy as im going to the LFS tomorrow...

Thanks

Jess

I don't think it's a parasite. Sounds more like a fungus infection. I would try Maroxy, from mardel. Do 100% water changes daily, and retreat. Use some salt in your water, and raise temp to 82.