Disease, or paranoia?

[OrkyBetta]

Before adding Merlin to my new divided 30 gallon, I shone a flashlight on him to make sure he had no signs of ANY abnormality.. Well, it looks like he kind of has dust on him. I never really looked at him under a bright light, but sure enough it almost looks like microscopic bubbles or something on him. Am I just paranoid, or is something wrong?

 

[Kiarra]

If it's just microscopic bubbles and you've recently changed the tank water he's in, then he's probably fine. Is there any discoloration on him at all? Small yellow dust-like particles would be something to be concerned about.

 

[OrkyBetta]

He's due for a change today. He was in the divided tank with sky for less than a minute before i noticed the stuff on him and put him back in his bowl. If it is something like velvet, should I treat Sky too?

 

[Kiarra]

Not unless Sky shows symptoms. Does it LOOK like velvet, then?

 

[OrkyBetta]

it SORT of looks like velvet, but the particles are grayish, and mostly on his fins and back.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

Does it look anything like this?

If so it could be velvet. I just noticed the gold sprinkling on my angel. All the gold on his fins does not belong. Does he act funny? Does he shimmer and shake in the tank like he is itchy? These are all signs of velvet and or other external parasites.

Treating velvet is the same as treating ich, antiparasite medication is needed.

 

[Kiarra]

Hmmm.... How very unusual.

It COULD just be coloration. But if he is showing any strange behavioral symptoms like trying to scratch on things, or if he's particularly lethargic and behaving funny, then it could be velvet. But velvet is usually gold or whitish.

 

[OrkyBetta]

It looks kind of like your angel, only a lot less extreme, sort of like its inbetween the scales. I have a few meds I could use on him, should I use Rid Ich, Melafix, Pimafix, or this stuff I got for Orchid called fungus and bacteria cure?

 

[OrkyBetta]

he is acting OK for the most part, eating, swimming like normal. I will see if I can get him to flare.

 

[Kiarra]

If you need to treat him, use RidIch. None of the others you have on hand will help.

Edit: If he's acting fine, it honestly may not be Velvet. Velvet usually manifests itself in behavioral changes, like trying to scratch himself on anything he can get to, and looking somewhat like he's having seizures. Velvet irritates the tissues of his body, and makes him itch terribly.

 

[OrkyBetta]

No, it doesn't look like he is doing anything abnormal. I am starting to wonder if there is anything wrong with him, or if I just never noticed that he had that. You can't see it unless he is under bright light. I will do a water change and keep an eye on him I guess.

 

[Kiarra]

Sounds like a good idea. Also, add some aquarium salt to his water...it's good in preventing and treating parasites. 1/2 teaspoon per gallon dosage.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Now I'm worrying about Sky. Merlin couldnt have been in there for even a minute before I scooped him out. Should I put salt or something in Sky's tank too?

 

[Kiarra]

Couldn't do any harm to add some salt for him.

 

[AlexsDaddy]

The bettas that I have had that have gotten velvet all acted fine at first. It wasn't untill they had it for a couple weeks that they started getting lathargic, loose coloration, or started scratching. I never had good luck getting rid of it though so I'm not going to try giving advice on that. There's a lot of velvet threads on here though so if you try a search you would probably come up with a lot of ideas. Good luck with him!