Please Help.

[OneOnion]

My betta has been going steadily downhill over a few months since I got him. Before, he had a great blue color, his fins were flawless and he could spread them to 180. Over time his color's faded, he can barely open his fins, and the back fins are half gone. Just today I saw he had some strange stuff sticking out of her butt. Please help I don't know what to do.

 

[Angelmama]

okay first off how old is your betta and can you supply a picture

try to answer these questions as best you can.

1. Water parameters. (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, PH, temp', Hardness etc)
2. A full description of the fishes symptoms.
3. How often you do water changes and how much.
4. Any chemicals and treatments you add to the water.
5. What tank mates are in the tank.
6. Tank size & tank temp:
7. Finally Have you recently added any new fish?

 

[loraxchick]

could you elaborate on the "strange things" coming out of the fish? might be helpful in determining what if anything is wrong. a pic would be very helpful as well.
cheers

 

[OneOnion]

The strange things might have been poop, because it is gone now, but the poop didn't look normal. He looks very dull, faint stress stripes, fins 'cramped' I think is the word, so much that the dorsal fin is 2 rays thick.I haven't been paying attention, not changing the water much, I've been busy with other stuff and tbh probably haven't changed it in 3 weeks plus(not the cause of bad fins though). No chemicals or treatments. Tank size 10 gallon, divided down middle, him on one side and another betta on the other side. Both fish's back fins are torn, but this one's is worse(I have tried everything, they never heal). Shrimp that recently died from other fish biting it. Temp 79. No recent additions. I know what you're going to say first, which is do a water change. I'm going to do that right now.

 

[loraxchick]

well keep up with those water changes and see if that helps over the course of the week.

 

[OneOnion]

Update, He seems to have a small growth on the back of his anal fin. It's close to the body, and is a small white lump. About 1 mm. Larger than ich, but still small.

 

[loraxchick]

do you have a pic of the lump? google lymphocystis. it is viral and no cure. it will clear on its own. is only contagious to fish of similar species. will not outrightly kill the fish. looks sort of like a whitish "bubble" for lack of better description if it is lymphocysits.
all the best
cheers

 

[OneOnion]

The lump disappeared yesterday lol. I don't know what's going on, everything seems to be coming and going lol

 

[fluffycabbage]

still need some pics? and some water test results

 

[OneOnion]

Done a LOT of water changes, first every other day, 2 days in a row sometimes, and since 5 days ago, every single day, but no change at all. I'm going to try an epsom salt bath, I can get water test results then, and some pics too.

EDIT
Picture:
http/img9.imageshack.us/i/screenshot20101027at809.png/
Water test results:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
pH: 7.9

 

[BettaCrazy7]

He looks really stressed and thin. What's your feeding schedule for him? I think his weight, clamped fins, and stress stripes are from an internal parasite.

 

[Bettawhisperer]

Fin rot and parasites from being in dirty water for so long. Get a jar of crushed garlic from the store. Add garlic juice to the tank water. You can even crush the garlic up smaller and feed some to him. Garlic is great for getting rid of parasites. Also every time you change the water which should be at least twice a week add a small amount of aquarium salt to the water along with dechlorinator.

 

[OneOnion]

Ok thanks, is aquarium salt the same as sea salt, like the one used for marine tanks?

 

[Bettawhisperer]

No it is not the same.

 

[fluffycabbage]

Oh he looks terrible to be honest Whats he being fed on? Whats ur cleaning regime? Is he in with any other fish? Whats the tank size?