fungus? it killed my betta - with pic

[Meggy]

my betta went in his bowl again after getting pale in my 10-gal. community tank, and got either 'cotton wool' or columnaris, i think. i treated him for fungus and the 'cotton wool' went away, but the bad area on his back remained and he got more pale.

a few hours later i found him totally flushed with color, almost black with all the blue, and dead. that was the weirdest thing i had ever encountered. the tank is doing fine, but i have seen this before and never had success taking care of it. this pic was taken after the 'cotton wool' receded.

thanks so much for any help. this fish was very healthy for about a month, very lively, etc. after a week of seeming fine in the tank, the paleness began, and you know the rest.

meggy

 

[fishmom]

I don't know what the fish could have gotten that he died with such a weird color. Could it have been velvet? Sorry about your fish though I know how hard it is to lose fish. They do have personalities of their own, don't they?

 

[SRC]

Fungus; Body Fungus (True Fungus)
Saprolegnia

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Description:
This is the most common type of fungus, and it will kill quickly so it's important to medicate as soon as possible. Fungal spores are always present in a tank. Fish are commonly infected with fungus as a secondary disease due to becoming weak and susceptible following some other disease or problem (such as physical damage).

Diagnosis:
The fish will have fuzzy patches of white or gray matter on its body or gills, usually grayish to white in color, or sometimes darker. A white slimy, flattish patch can appear which will seem to have replaced a part of the fish's skin.

Fungus is easy to confuse with Columnaris. Note that when examined very closely, fungus has distinct hair-like filaments which shoot out, whereas columnaris is more like fuzz or lint.

Treatments include:
Place affected fish in an isolated tank for treatment; it is not necessary to treat the entire tank. This is because spores like these are always present... and only when there is something causing the fish to be susceptible will it contract this or any other problem. You can treat with malachite green, salt, increased heat, methylene blue, formalin, or even hydrogen peroxide (when applied directly to area, be *very* careful that this does not touch the gills as can be deadly).

Most importantly, identify the cause of stress to the fish and remedy the situation. Whatever it is should explain the fish's loss of immune system to allow the disease to take control. This may be physical stress caused by poor water conditions, elevated levels of ammonia or others, or maybe even aggressive fish bullying others.

Photos:

sorry about your fish.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Looks like columnaris to me. I'd steralize everything and monitor any othe fish you have, because columnaris is rarely cureable and spreads like nobody's business. If you catch it early enough, some people have had luck with maracyn two.

 

[Meggy]

that was a big help. i'd read about that but for some reason was convinced it was columnaris. however, the info you provided was much more specific and i feel sure it was saprolegnia.