Betta Looking Very Sick....think He's On The Way Out:-(

[korok]

Hi

I've returned from a day out to find my blue betta looking very sick indeed. When I fed the fish this morning he was fine, but on my return his whole face seems to have turned whitish, including his eyes. He's also hiding on top of the filter at the top of the tank. I think, in fact, he may be blind as when he does venture out he is swimming into things and struggling to get through the plants. His face has an almost mumified appearance to it and seems he is struggling to open his mouth, almost as if it is stuck together.

Unfortunately my camera is broken so I can't take a picture. Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be? His tankmates are five zebra danios, three silver hatchets and a chinese algae eater. Is it possible the algae eater could have attacked him as he does chase the betta from time to time? He's looking very poorly indeed. Is there anything I can do or is it best I out him out of his misery?

He was my first fish when I got my tank six months ago so would be sad to see him go

 

[korok]

My blue betta has just passed away RIP Bob.

 

[WILDER]

Bless him awful R.I.P.
The chinese algae eater could of been sucking on his face, as they do like to suck a fish slime coat.
Bless him.
The white on the face did it just look like a bleached out colour.

 

[korok]

Bless him awful R.I.P.
The chinese algae eater could of been sucking on his face, as they do like to suck a fish slime coat.
Bless him.
The white on the face did it just look like a bleached out colour.

Yes, it did look bleached, but only the face. I did a quick post mortem. Part of an eye was missing and his mouth seemed to be sealed and quite hard. All my other fish seem fine but will be keeping an eye on the algae eater. He's still quite small, about 1.5 inches, I've only had him for two months. I thought they started sucking slime when they got older. I have only ever seen him chase the betta, he seems to ignore the danios and hatchets. Maybe the betta had something in its coat that was particularly appealing to it.

I'm getting a second tank next month so will probably move the algae eater into that after cycling and then find myself Bob Mk II for my current setup.

 

[WILDER]

To be honest never heard anything like it.
So its very hard to say whats gone off.
How are the other fish in the tank acting.

Sometimes fish go stiff before they even die.

 

[WILDER]

How did his eye look.
Like something had sucked on it, as plecs have been known to suck eyes out.

 

[DarkEntity]

Hi

I've returned from a day out to find my blue betta looking very sick indeed. When I fed the fish this morning he was fine, but on my return his whole face seems to have turned whitish, including his eyes. He's also hiding on top of the filter at the top of the tank. I think, in fact, he may be blind as when he does venture out he is swimming into things and struggling to get through the plants. His face has an almost mumified appearance to it and seems he is struggling to open his mouth, almost as if it is stuck together.

Unfortunately my camera is broken so I can't take a picture. Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be? His tankmates are five zebra danios, three silver hatchets and a chinese algae eater. Is it possible the algae eater could have attacked him as he does chase the betta from time to time? He's looking very poorly indeed. Is there anything I can do or is it best I out him out of his misery?

He was my first fish when I got my tank six months ago so would be sad to see him go

If there are no obvious marks, nothing untowards and you have never seen anyone going for the fish, old age is a posibility.

Most shop sold Betta are a lot older than people think and with the crappy quality of most these days their life expectancy is about 2years at a push. What most dont know is if they cant sell them its likely they are passed to another store etc...until they are sold, some of this poor bred fish can be a year or more old before sold.