Blotchy Patches on Betta

[peacockbetta]

I just noticed today that my male betta has some small blotchy, lighter color, fuzzy patches/spots on the right side of his body. I have quarantined him.

His behavior seems normal, but I'm worried that this condition might get worste. He's acting kinda pissed off, probably to be back in the little bowl and not in the tank with the girls.

I'm guessing he may have scratched himself on something and now is getting some type of fuzzy baterial thing going.....(I'm not sure).

I'm thinking of doing a tank cleaning, gravel cleaning, changing water, and adding some Quick Cure or Aquarisol.

Does this sound right or could it be something else or should I try something else instead?

Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

-Peacockbetta

 

[Nidge]

Is there anyway you could post a picture of the marks?
If it has fuzz on it it sounds like a fungus. Get some medication to get rid of fungus and see if it clears it up.

 

[Angel Lady]

They are a product called betta max that does wonders for bettas...I have had very good luck in treating bettas with this stuff...It sounds like a fungus to me. Try adding a little salt...This works really well on fungus until you get something to better treat it with....

 

[peacockbetta]

Well, it's not really "white & cottony" as I've read fungus to be, but it may be gray (since his body is dark red/black and the spots are lighter) and patchy. I'll see if I can take a picture.

In the past couple of days before this betta incident, I have seen some tiny white hair-like (not clumpy hair, but individually seperate short hairs) stuff all around the edge of the tank (where the glass meets the water). I didn't think much about it because the water was otherwise clear.

I do add aquarium salt and aquasafe when i do water changes and I try to do it at leaste once a week.

Do I treat the male betta in his bowl AND also the females in the tank even though they don't have any symptoms? What about the snails and shrimps and plants?

Any links to step-by-step instructions on how to treat my first fish ailment?

 

[peacockbetta]

Went and got Melafix and Bettafix from my LPS. Found out that they both have the same active ingredient so will be returning Bettafix. Took some water samples from tank to test and the girl there said all was OK.

Treated my guy in his own seperate freshly cleaned salted spring water 2 GAL bowl with 1 drop of Melafix. There is a new blotch on his left side near his dorsal fin. He didn't eat that much yesterday, but seems to be getting back some appetite today.

Went ahead and gave the girls 4mL of Melafix after I cleanned their gravel and added fresh spring water, just in case.

I hope he will recover. I've grown attached.

 

[peacockbetta]

Thank you Nidge and Angel Lady for your help.

I'll try to get pictures up as soon as I find my darn camera.

 

[Angel Lady]

the product that I was talking about is called betta max. It is nothing like the betta fix. The betta max medicine is a lot better than the betta fix...If you have like white stringy things in the tank that is food that has been in thier too long more than likely..I sure wish I could see a picture of the fish and what you have it in..That way I could better tell you what to do...And thanks for the PM that was nice of you...

 

[christine]

my betta had some wierd spots on him too that were a little lighter... they seemed to go away.. but I also used bettamax.
Good Luck!

 

[peacockbetta]

After doing some research, I think those little white hairs are Planaria. I had to look closely to see that they were **indeed** moving.

Could the little parasites have a direct link to my male betta's sickness?

I will have to go back to my LPS to double check for Betta Max.

I didn't think it was possible to overfeed because I had a good size clean-up crew (snails and shrimps). Everyone just look so hungry all the time.

First Timers Anonymus: )
"This is my first tank and I am an Overfeeder."

 

[peacockbetta]

Not having any luck finding BettaMax. Took pictures but too hard to see the blotches. Actually pretty hard to see the blotches in person anyway.

 

[Angel Lady]

If they are moving it is Planaria then..I have never had any trouble at all of that before. But I have heard people say that you kill them the same way you do ich. But I dont have a clue on that.