Help! Can I Use Maracyn 1 To Treat This? Is It Fungus?

[Cyphus]

Chef Boyardee is covered with a thin layer of white hairs.. o.0 I'm assuming it is fungus (maybe columnaris, maybe body fungus?), it's the closest match to the descriptions on this bettafish page: http/www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm

He lives in a 2.5g tank, heated but unfiltered. I don't know what temperature it is, but it feels cooler to the touch, but not freezing, but not warm either.......... yes.. I do really need to get a thermometer!! There is nothing else in his tank other than a couple IALs, b/c I had put him in the tank initially to heal finrot? He has only 1/2 his tail left~ not sure whether it's due to finrot or tail biting! TBH.. I'm not sitting in front of him for long enough periods to tell..!

Here are some photos, can anyone give me a diagnosis?

http/i785.photobucket.com/albums/y...4/IMG_0068.jpg
http/i785.photobucket.com/albums/y...4/IMG_0067.jpg
http/i785.photobucket.com/albums/y...4/IMG_0071.jpg
http/i785.photobucket.com/albums/y...4/IMG_0064.jpg

 

[Luimeril]

the pics are gone. moved/deleted.

are the hairs like stringy cotton stuck on your betta?

 

[Cyphus]

the pics are gone. moved/deleted.

are the hairs like stringy cotton stuck on your betta?

Yes! it looks like he had rolled on the carpet, and there're white fibers all over him o.o

the pics are gone. moved/deleted.

are the hairs like stringy cotton stuck on your betta?

Yes! it looks like he had rolled on the carpet, and there're white fibers all over him o.o

 

[Cyphus]

Sorry~ I'll post the photos within a 1/2 hr!

 

[Luimeril]

something like this:

or different?

 

[Cyphus]

http/img62.imageshack.us/img62/798/img0064mr.jpg
http/img155.imageshack.us/img155/1118/img0067ku.jpg
http/img404.imageshack.us/img404/5674/img0068oh.jpg
http/img363.imageshack.us/img363/1894/img0071lq.jpg

 

[Cyphus]

I think it is the same thing~! Maybe my fish's illness isn't as advanced?

thx, I'd appreciate any help you can give me

 

[Luimeril]

well, i feel funny linking you to another forum site, but here's where i got that pic:

http/www.#121###.com/index.php?showtopic=44996

that topic should help you not only ID what it is, but cure it as well.

 

[BethK]

well, i feel funny linking you to another forum site, but here's where i got that pic:

http/www.#121###.com/index.php?showtopic=44996

that topic should help you not only ID what it is, but cure it as well.

This site won't allow you to link through to another site btw

 

[Kieren_1992]

It sounds and looks like cotton wool fungus... Its very easily treated and can be done. Only problem if you have to be careful because your dealing with a betta. Use half the amount you should use or try a betta safe med to cure it.

Good luck

 

[Luimeril]

xd okay. i didn't know. ._.; strange, though.


from what the pics look like, and from what the Columnaris Treatment sheet on UB says, it does look kinda like Columnaris.... try this, taken directly from the sheet, and see if it helps any:

Placement of the afflicted fish in a hospital tank that can be easily kept clean and medicated should initiate treatment; personally, I suggest fully disinfecting the original tank while the fish is in treatment.

The hospital tank should be heated to approx. 74-75 degrees. 76 and above is the ideal breeding temperature for columnaris. Please note that cooling the tank is somewhat disputed. The theory behind it is that columnaris is such a rapidly progressing disease that reducing temperature may slow the spread sufficiently for the antibiotic to have time to work before too much damage is done. Keeping a betta below 74 degrees, however, is not reccomended as its own metabolic rates - and thus immune response - will be slowed as temperatures cool. Regardless of what temperature you keep your fish at, it MUST be stable.

The hospital tank should also be dosed with aquarium salt at a concentration of 1/2 tsp per gallon. The use of salt is sometimes questioned in fishkeeping circles, as the validity of its purported effect on a pathogen's osmotic balance is disputed. However, columnaris prefers a low salinity environment, and research in channel catfish shows increasing survivorship when columnaris-infected fish are dosed with salt.

An anti-biotic appropriate for gram negative pathogens should be utilized. Several are available on the market. Kanamycin, Nitrofurazone, Minocycline, and others have all been shown to be effective in treating columnaris.

If possible, feed an anti-bacterial food, as columnaris typically causes both internal and external damage. GelTek manufactures several foods appropriate for gram negative organisms.

Finally, be religious with treatment and maintenence. Pristine and stable water conditions, full course anti-biotics, a low-stress environment, and high quality diet will all help your fish to overcome this deadly disease.

keep us updated on the little guy, and i hope he feels better soon!

 

[Cyphus]

TYVM!!!! I read on bettafish.com that someone medicated their fish by:

1) diluting a packet of maracyn 1 and a packet of maracyn 2 in 10 tablespoons of water.

2) then they added 1 tablespoon of that concoction to each new gallon of treated water during each daily waterchange~

I hope that that is diluted enough/doesnt hurt the lil one! On the package, it says: 1 page : 10gallons of water~

TYVM Luimeril, Kieren and BethK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel somewhat better that I've made at least a right diagnosis! I did jump ahead of the gun a little, his first day of treatment was yesterday XD I hope he does get better ASAP! TYVM and I will keep you posted

 

[JoshuaA]

Any update on the fish health?

Would be interested to see how easily treatable these conditions are with Bettas/

 

[Cyphus]

Any update on the fish health?

Would be interested to see how easily treatable these conditions are with Bettas/

!!!!!!!!!! Sorry for not posting this earlier!!!!!!!!!

*update on Chef Boyardee's health*

About 4 days after my last post (and 4 days of treatment- maracyn 1 & 2 + aquarium salt), all of the fine white fuzz had fallen off of the betta fish. On the 6th day, I could see that his fins were starting to grow back, and getting those odd little spikes at the end (which makes me believe he's a VT/CT betta) Throughout the treatment, he always acted healthy, and was always rambunctiously eating!!!!!!!!!

I think the key to be able to give bettas a long and healthy life is to:

1) Change water regularly! At least every 3 days (or twice a week). Also: don't overfeed, & no freeze-dried foods!

2) Keep a small arsenal of medicine. I would think the essentials would be: aquarium salt (for finrot etc), epsom salt (in case betta is bloated/constipated), Maracyn 1 & 2, bettafix etc etc..... Always have something on hand. I've found it extremely useful to look for information online, and help diagnose our little wet friends!!!! You guys gave me much more confidence in myself & what I was doing..

AND VOILA!!!!! Chef is still alive and happy!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!! He's the first fish that I've managed to help heal!!!

3) I think the key to treating any betta is to PAY ATTENTION TO THEM. Every time you feed them, spend a couple moments examining their body/behaviour. I lost my fav. betta (a tiny female, who was a fantastic jumper- could lift her 1.5x her body out of the water!!!!!) because of my inattentiveness.. I had thought she'd look a wee bit fat.. within 2 days, she stopped eating/ had dropsy and then 5 days after that, died....

I'm sorry, I don't have new pics........... but you can be assured he's in good health MUCH THANKS AGAIN!

 

[fry_forever!]

That's great. Though I would like to see an updated picture.