could this be velvet?

[mm_simb]

I am not 100% sure what's wrong with Rye. His symptoms would be lack of appetite, lethargic, and he occassionally looks like he's rubbing up on something. He also seems to have gotten this gold color on him for the past few days. I read something on velvet and I think it might be that but I'm not really certain. If it is, what should I treat it with? He's in a 10 gallon by himself and it gets weekly water changes. He's about a year old and he use to be a piggy when it came to food...now he only eats like once or nothing a day.

He use to have blue or green on his body and fins and now it looks gold or yellow. I just don't know what's really wrong and I'm going to the store tomorrow so it would be great to know what I should get and what I can get. Thanks

 

[Bettabelieveit]

Well, if you don't already have a heater, get one. And some aquarium salt. Yeah, his color does look a little funny to me. Maybe try switching up his diet some. Some frozen or live food may be good for him.

Try him with some salt and his temp around 85... he should start looking better. If he doesn't have little white bumps, though, I highly doubt it's velvet. Some heat and aquarium salt can never hurt though...

Keep us updated.

 

[mm_simb]

He has a heater and I'll raise the temp up more. He has salt in there already. Should I be putting in the amount for stress or the amount for healing?
He wont really eat. I feed him pellets and a pea sometimes but he wont take the peas anymore and he only wants to eat once a day now. I tried frozen bloodworms and all he did was ignore them. I guess I'll try giving him something else but the way he's going, I really don't think he'll want anything . He also stopped bubblenesting even with the blackwater in there.

 

[BettaMomma]

Yep.
That definitely looks like velvet.

Here are the main symptoms of it:
# Scratchs against hard objects
# Fish is lethargic
# Loss of appetite and weight loss
# Rapid, labored breathing
# Fins clamped against body
# Fine yellow or rusty colored film on skin

You'll want to treat him with something like Maracide (versus Coppersafe, cuz CS is much harsher on them). Jack up the temp to over 80 if you can - that speeds up the cycle of it. The darker you can keep his tank the better. You always want to give them 2 doses of meds (back to back) for velvet. And the aquarium salt is a great thing! Put in a rounded tablespoon. You can add a bit more than that if you want to, but that should be great. (you might wanna dissolve it in water before adding to the tank - I've had times when I put the crystals right into the water, and the fish went and laid in the crystals)

Anyway - give him a good water change and then start medicating asap. Take out the carbon in his tank or the meds will be rendered ineffective.

good luck!

 

[cation]

If he doesn't have little white bumps, though, I highly doubt it's velvet.

Maybe you're thinging of ich. Velvet is a gold, powdery looking substance, not white. Velvet particles are smaller then ich grains as well, and don't really look like bumps - usually the whole fish looks like they've been dusted in gold powder.

And BettaMomma - I have used both Maracide and copper based meds for velvet, and have never lost a fish using either of the treatments. I don't know if I agree with one being "harsher" or not. Never seen any evidence of it with my fish. Have you lost a bunch using it or something?

 

[BettaMomma]

Nope - just read that in several places, and heard it from a few people on here. I haven't lost any fish to it either.

I think it was kind of correlated with something along the lines of maracyn versus tetracycline in terms of one being harsher (maybe harsher should be replaced with *stronger*, I dunno) than another.

But all in all, they both work just fine, and I've used both.

 

[cation]

Hmmm, interesting. I'll keep it in mind.

This thread is starting to remind me of a previous discussion on CopperSafe - but the discussion in that case was chelated copper vs unchelated copper in the meds. Interesting, if you're into that kinda stuff....let me see if I can find it (I know, off-topic, but I know you love reading all the weird old threads... )


Okay here you go...http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=55484&hl=chelated&st=64

 

[ManyFISH4Me]

I was doing a daily feeding/wellness check just now. I think my little Steel HM, may have velvet. He looked a little clamped, so I grabbed the flashlight. It almost looks like he has pollen an his body. It doesn't look like a film, or gold dust.
Like I said, the best way I can describe it is pollen, but tiny particles. Other than that, and clamped fins, he doesn't have any other symptoms. (no rubbing, and is eating fine) Is that what it is, or could it be something else. My fiance went to work, so I have no car. Will he be fine, If I can't get home with meds until tomorrow afternoon?
THANKS

 

[mm_simb]

I was doing a daily feeding/wellness check just now. I think my little Steel HM, may have velvet. He looked a little clamped, so I grabbed the flashlight. It almost looks like he has pollen an his body. It doesn't look like a film, or gold dust.
Like I said, the best way I can describe it is pollen, but tiny particles. Other than that, and clamped fins, he doesn't have any other symptoms. (no rubbing, and is eating fine) Is that what it is, or could it be something else. My fiance went to work, so I have no car. Will he be fine, If I can't get home with meds until tomorrow afternoon?
THANKS

It could be ick.
Here's a description of it from the website that I used to see if mine had velvet

SYMPTOMS: Betta has white dots (looks like he was sprinkled with salt) all over his body and head, even eyes. He may be less active, may have stopped eating, fins may be clumped.

from here: Betta Diseases





I guess I'll get the meds today. He does have labored breathing. I just never really noticed it until I started staring at him today. I'll do a water change when I get home and start the meds. So I should do the Maracide treatment twice back to back right? Thank you so much.

 

[ManyFISH4Me]

It's gotta be velvet, it is at least yellowish dust. Definately smaller, and not white.

That website above said to use: Aquarisol
Has anyone ever used it? What did you think?

 

[mm_simb]

Yea, I read that too. I've never even heard of it. Although, it says that if you put it in the water everyday with salt your betta will never get velvet or ick or some other things. I guess it could also be used as a preventive measure.

 

[mm_simb]

Ok, just wanted to update a little.
I gave him a water change a while ago and barely started the meds right now. I bought maracide and maracyn. I put both together because it said so on some paper. Maybe they just wanted me to buy more meds from the same company but eitherway he needed it for the fin rot. So they both went in the tank with some salt. He was just laying at the bottom until I came home. He started swimming around but apparently he didn't want to eat anything. I guess we'll see how it goes.

 

[BettaMomma]

Those two together should do wonders for your little guy.
Watch him closely - I usually recommend treating twice for the velvet, but you can decide when the treatment has ended the first time around.

Good luck!

 

[mm_simb]

I think I will treat him twice for it. Just to be certain. I've seen what it's done to his behavior and it seems to be a horrible disease and I would hate to have him go through it again. He seems to be feeling a little better. He made a little bubblenest during the night but he still wont eat. He hasn't ate since yesterday morning and I just really hope he makes it.
Now he has this weird looking stuff on his head. It looks like peeling skin in a way.

Still only laying at the bottom and sometimes going up for air.