Female Betta

[Elisabeth83]

Ok..I've been having bad problems with my female bettas for the past 3 weeks. They all had besides 1 very frayed/shredded fins. I thought it was fin rot so started treating for fin rot using JBL furanol. Today was the last day on treatment number 3 (4 days per treatment) and I wasn't seeing any improvements. I was feeling very discouranged and thought about trying a different brand of medication. Then I noticed my darkest female had these tiny white things on her but I couldn't see what they were so I got out my magnifying glass that has a flashlight in it and I shined it on her. My stomach dropped as I saw 3 white worms just like bloozoo2's female betta had that passed away

So I'm now treating the whole tank with JBL Punktol which is for parasites and I've added salt to the tank. I've also upped the temp in the tank to about 28 like it said on the mecdication directions.

I just went back and read through bloozoo2's thread about her girl and her female also had torn/frayed fins. I am wondering if the frayed fins can be put down to the parasites or what? It seems it isn't a bacterial fin rot as I've treated for that for 12 days with no improvements.

I'm wondering what I should do about the frayed/shredded fins? Just wait it out or what? They are looking awful.

Does anyone know exactly what these white worms are? How they get into a tank? I'm so worried about my girls

edit: here is the link to bloozoo2'd thread : http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=103200

 

[WILDER]

Yes secondary infections are very common with parasites, what med is it as some completely wipe out the bacteria colony in your tank as they are powerful meds, does the worms have a forked tail, have you added any plants recently to the tank.

 

[WILDER]

Just looked it up for whitespots and other parasites, i don't no if i will be powerful enough, try some salt baths on the fish.

 

[WILDER]

http/www.webdezine.freeserve.co.uk/parasites.htm

 

[Elisabeth83]

The med I was using before Furanol does wipe out the whole bacterial colony but there was nothing I could do about that as all the fish besides 1 have frayed/shredded fins.

The worms are exactly what bloozoo2's female had..if you look at the pic of her betta mine has about 3 of those weird hair like worms

You don't think the punktol will be powerful enough? I've added salt to the tank already. Should I still do salt baths if I already have salt in the tank?

Here's what the paper inside the medication box says it treats: Ichthyophthirius, Cryptocarion, Costis (Ichthyobodo), Heteropolaris colisarum, Chilodonella, Brooklynella, Tetrahymena, Uronema, Trichodina and Glossatella (Apiosoma).

 

[WILDER]

I think you need more of a anti crustacean med, but they are powerful, but if you could issolate her that would be good.

 

[Elisabeth83]

What is an anti-crustacean med? To me I'd think the worms were some kind of parasite?

I don't really want to isolate her as the rest of them are acting the same way..I'd think it would make sense to leave her in there and just treat the tank?

The tank is a 14.5 gallon with just 7 female bettas.

edit: It's hard to see these worms..I think the others may have them as well it's just the one female I can see them on for sure is the darkest colored one so it's easier.

 

[WILDER]

When i put a search in four hair like worms all i fetch up is anchor worm, can you describe them are they white.

 

[WILDER]

Here is the med, but it will wipe the bacteria colony out as it a strong med.

No 12 Anti Crustacean & Parasite 100ml
ANTI CRUSTACEAN PARASITE No 12 : Eliminates anchor
worm, fish lice, gill maggots and leeches.

Larger higher level parasites can be introduced into the aquarium on new fish or plants. They cause life-threatening damage and should be eradicated quickly.

Crustacean parasites are very difficult to eradicate so this treatment is powerful. Therefore, take care to carefully follow all instructions and note all warnings

For use with coldwater and tropical fish in marine and freshwater systems

WARNING: This treatment negatively affects biological filtration.
Damages Plants
Do not use with UV filters
Do not use below pH 6.5
For Marines, use only in separate treatment aquarium
Use only if sure of diagnosis

 

[Elisabeth83]

Did you take a look at the picture of bloozoo2's female betta? That's exactly what they look like..the same exact little white hair/worm things. On my female I can only see 3 of these hair/worm things though. She isn't covered in them.

I can only get JBL, Waterlife and Tetra medications here. I have some Waterlife Sterazin..maybe that's better? None of my fish are flicking or flashing though like you'd think they would be with parasites.

 

[WILDER]

Potassium permanganate powder Treatment of extrenal parasites, external lesions, bacteria on
the skin. Fungi, protozoa, monogenea, hirudinea ( leeches ) crustacea (
argulus, lernaea.) 22.8 grams to 4 oz. Of water. The use 2 drops per gallon=5ppm. Should be used only in ph range of 7 or above.
Warning:::: PP should never be used on small discus under 3 inch in total size. If you use enough to kill the parasites you will also burn the fish gills of small discus

 

[WILDER]

Take a look here.
http/www.soton.ac.uk/~ceb/Diagnosis/Vol1.htm

 

[Elisabeth83]

Ok so should I switch to Sterazin then? How should I go about that as I just used the Punktol today. Do a 50% water change tomorrow and add the Sterazin or ?

 

[WILDER]

give the other med sometime to work, fingers crossed, still looking for you, but same as last time can't really find anything.

 

[Elisabeth83]

alright...I'll wait and see if the other medication works. I really hope it does. At least I'm one step closer to figuring out why their fins have been so frayed and shredded for so long.

Thanks for helping me out I would of though there would of been more people but at least your here