Betta Is Acting Weird

[Lacuna]

I have had my betta nearly nine months. He is in a 48L fishpod with 6 kuhli loaches. On Saturday I noticed him scratch against an object in the tank, but only saw him do it once so didn't think anything of it. Sunday I did the usual water change. Yesterday I noticed he was acting odd. He was scratching against objects, but also darting around a fair bit. Other times he was swimming totally normally. He was also acting more aggressive than normal towards the kuhli loaches, but they eventually got the message to stay out of his way. I did a water test and the stats are good; ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrates 10. The kuhli loaches seem fine.

I have been out today, but this morning and when I got back this evening he is mostly just sitting under the filter, barely moving. When he does move, his movements can be a little jerky, and he still darts a bit. He's also flaring a lot, if a snail or something comes near him. I fed him yesterday and he ate fine, and it was his pea day so I've not fed him today. It's only his behaviour that is weird, he looks completely normal and has no signs of illness that I can see. I don't know what to do, as I don't know what's wrong with him. I could do a water change but I've got a feeling that's not going to make a difference as I only did one a few days ago and the stats are fine. Suggestions?

Many thanks.

 

[BettaCrazy7]

Usually when fish rub themsleves on objects it's a sign of ich. If he doesn't seem to have any white spots then I don't know what to tell you. I'm not too good with illnesses.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I'd have said ich too.

He'll probably be flaring more because if he's ill and he can't be bothered with anyone he'll be flaring to try and keep them away.

 

[Lacuna]

Yesterday after I posted he was swimming around almost normally. But this morning he was back to lying on his side under the filter. He's had white spot before and the symptoms were a bit different, this time he's darting more than rubbing. But I think I'm going to medicate the tank with anti-white spot anyway, because I need to do something.

Thanks for your help.

 

[loraxchick]

ich would be obvious as white specks (like salt grains) on the fish. check for velvet with a flashlight with the tank lights off. will look like gold dust on the fish. flicking can also be from internal parasites so be sure to monitor his poo. any long stringy white or mucousy poo is bad. flicking can also be from constipation, stray voltage or chemical exposure. any signs of finrot? any recent additions to the tank
all the best
cheers

 

[Lacuna]

Thanks loraxchick. I can't see any white grains or specks. I am going to buy a flashlight tomorrow to try and see if he has velvet. I haven't seen him poo for a little while, but last time I did it was normal, and he doesn't look at all bloated. Nothing has been added to the tank recently, and he has no signs of fin rot. He is mostly lying down, sometimes seems to be breathing heavily, other times okay. He does swim about occasionally, and will then dart through the tank. Still eating though. I will just monitor him and see if he displays any other symptoms.

 

[fry_forever!]

Probably flukes or something. You often can't see those. I know that as soon as my fish start rubbing against objects in the tank, and there are no visible signs of parasites, it's flukes.

Try treating with an anti-parasite med (Jungle parasite clear has never failed for me) and if you use Jungle parasite clear, put in one dose, then in 48 hours do a 25% water change and add another dose. Do another water change 48 hours later.
Then, in about a week, repeat the first treatment. (dose, water change 48 hrs later, etc.)

He will be good as new. And it doesn't harm biological filtration.

If you use a different med, follow the directions, but make sure to dose again in another week, because you need to kill the eggs that hatch.

Good luck.
-f_f!

 

[loraxchick]

Probably flukes or something. You often can't see those. I know that as soon as my fish start rubbing against objects in the tank, and there are no visible signs of parasites, it's flukes.

Try treating with an anti-parasite med (Jungle parasite clear has never failed for me) and if you use Jungle parasite clear, put in one dose, then in 48 hours do a 25% water change and add another dose. Do another water change 48 hours later.
Then, in about a week, repeat the first treatment. (dose, water change 48 hrs later, etc.)

He will be good as new. And it doesn't harm biological filtration.

If you use a different med, follow the directions, but make sure to dose again in another week, because you need to kill the eggs that hatch.

Good luck.
-f_f!

an excellent suggestion that i had overlooked! thanks for keeping my skills sharp
and regardless of stats, keep up those water changes for the next week or so. if there are nasties in the water (and not just nitrogen compounds) will dilute them. hopefully you will see some improvement soon
cheers

 

[Lacuna]

Thanks for this. I will pick up some anti-parasite meds, hopefully Jungle Clear tomorrow He's still hanging in there, though looking rather sorry for himself.

 

[fry_forever!]

No problem. Good luck. Those parasites can be very annoying.

 

[Lacuna]

I have picked up some meds, but the anti-white spot I used says that you must leave it a week since the last dose and do a water change before adding any more new meds to the tank. I used anti-white spot last Thursday, so this means I can't dose new meds for three days. Could I just do a massive water change and add the new meds, or should I wait?

 

[fry_forever!]

You could put some activated carbon in your filter and do a 50% water change. Then you could start treatment with the new med.
Good luck.

 

[Lacuna]

He's looking worse now. I added some new meds to the water. I got Interpet anti-slime and velvet, which says that it also treats flukes. He mainly sits about, and seems to like positioning himself between objects, like between two moss balls, or wedging himself next to the bogwood. When he does swim, he darts about as though irritated. This evening was the first time he wouldn't come up for food. His fins also seem clamped, and most worryingly, he has a red patch on his belly, between his ventral and anal fins. Does anyone know what this might be a sign of? Could it be an internal bacterial infection?

 

[loraxchick]

id say internal parasites over bacterial, especially if he is rubbing on things and "darting" around as you described. get a med with fubendazol and praziquentil if you can find it (if in US, Jungle makes a good anti-internal parasite food. also a powdery med you can add to the water (the food is better cause you want them to eat it). have you seen his poo? is it normal? looking skinny/sunken belly? is he pale? also, have you seen him eat food only to spit it right out?
all the best
cheers

 

[Lacuna]

Thanks loraxchick. He is still darting. I haven't seen him poo for a while but he doesn't look bloated. He doesn't look skinny either. I would say he is pale. He was eating fine until last night, and now he won't come up for food or eat. I am thinking of isolating him into a hospital tank - it is only about 10 litres, and I don't have a filter for it, but I have a heater. It is shallow, and it will make getting food to him easier. I don't mind changing the water daily if needed. He only comes up for air occasionally, and he gasps at the bottom a bit, so the hospital tank might be better for him. I will pick up a med for internal parasites. I might have to treat the whole tank with this, as the kuhli loaches are swimming madly about, and it's not normal for them to do this constantly. They're also not eating all their food, which is unusual.