I have had Sushi for about two months and until this week he was doing well. He lives in a 2 gallon tank in my office -- no filter or heater but it does have a light and aerator. When I bought him I was told I didn't really need to change his water -- just suction out the yucky stuff from the bottom and add dechlorinated water when the tank got low. I have since learned that was a HUGE mistake and I promise I will change my ways.
Anyway, last Wednesday I added some water to his tank (that had been treated with Stress Coat) and he seemed to do just fine with it. On Monday when I got into the office I noticed some algae on a decorative tunnel in his tank that had not been there previously. And when I tried to feed Sushi he refused to eat. I had been feeding him pellets (three or four twice a day) and he always ate everything I gave him. On Monday he just spit it out. Not like him at all! On Tuesday he did eat a few pellets, but still not his normal appetite. Yesterday he tried to eat in the morning but ended up spitting the pellet out as soon as it was in his mouth. By yesterday evening I noticed some discoloration on his head. He is a very vibrant cobalt blue color with some tinges of red, but last night he seemed to have a greenish/grayish spot near one of his eyes. He also has a few very tiny white spots right on his back before the fin starts. He refused to eat at all last night.
I went to the pet store today and the owner told me it sounded like he had fungus and also possibly ich. I bought a new 2 gallon bowl and the owner told me to treat the water with Stress Coat, and add aquarium salt and Rid Ich, which I did. I made sure the water temperature felt the same as his old tank and moved him to the new bowl around 12:30 this afternoon. He seems to be a bit more chipper to me this afternoon, but perhaps that's just wishful thinking??? I also bought freeze dried bloodworms for him -- I broke up two of the worms into small pieces and he ate them (slowly, but he did eat them). I was told to change 25% of the water (and re-treat with the Rid Ich) every day until he is better.
Does it sound like he has a fungus and/or ich? Everything I'm reading about fungus describes it as white patches, and the discoloration on his head is definitely not white. Am I doing the right things for his bowl? Is the Rid Ich enough or should I be giving him an antibiotic like Maracyn and/or Maracyn Two (and are those safe to use with the Rid Ich)? Also, can he eat just the bloodworms, or should I try to go back to the pellets at some point? How many bloodworms should he be eating each day? He is a rather large betta -- his body is about 2 inches in length. And finally, how long should I be treating the water with Rid Ich or other meds?
I am rather attached to this little guy and really want him to get well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Susan
Anyway, last Wednesday I added some water to his tank (that had been treated with Stress Coat) and he seemed to do just fine with it. On Monday when I got into the office I noticed some algae on a decorative tunnel in his tank that had not been there previously. And when I tried to feed Sushi he refused to eat. I had been feeding him pellets (three or four twice a day) and he always ate everything I gave him. On Monday he just spit it out. Not like him at all! On Tuesday he did eat a few pellets, but still not his normal appetite. Yesterday he tried to eat in the morning but ended up spitting the pellet out as soon as it was in his mouth. By yesterday evening I noticed some discoloration on his head. He is a very vibrant cobalt blue color with some tinges of red, but last night he seemed to have a greenish/grayish spot near one of his eyes. He also has a few very tiny white spots right on his back before the fin starts. He refused to eat at all last night.
I went to the pet store today and the owner told me it sounded like he had fungus and also possibly ich. I bought a new 2 gallon bowl and the owner told me to treat the water with Stress Coat, and add aquarium salt and Rid Ich, which I did. I made sure the water temperature felt the same as his old tank and moved him to the new bowl around 12:30 this afternoon. He seems to be a bit more chipper to me this afternoon, but perhaps that's just wishful thinking??? I also bought freeze dried bloodworms for him -- I broke up two of the worms into small pieces and he ate them (slowly, but he did eat them). I was told to change 25% of the water (and re-treat with the Rid Ich) every day until he is better.
Does it sound like he has a fungus and/or ich? Everything I'm reading about fungus describes it as white patches, and the discoloration on his head is definitely not white. Am I doing the right things for his bowl? Is the Rid Ich enough or should I be giving him an antibiotic like Maracyn and/or Maracyn Two (and are those safe to use with the Rid Ich)? Also, can he eat just the bloodworms, or should I try to go back to the pellets at some point? How many bloodworms should he be eating each day? He is a rather large betta -- his body is about 2 inches in length. And finally, how long should I be treating the water with Rid Ich or other meds?
I am rather attached to this little guy and really want him to get well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Susan