Think My Betta Is Dying

[Athena]

Don't underestimate what Aquarium salts can do either there fairly cheap and very effective.

Yes, they are good. I think Jonathan has already tried the salt baths earlier this week and has added salt to the tank, if I remember rightly.

Athena

 

[Athena]

Jonathan

I think that as you've alredy done 2 of the 3 day dosage of Protozin with just one more dose on day 6 (I think!!) you might as well see it through just to rule out fungal issues.

The thing is, because we can't see inside him we can only go on what symptoms we see displayed to give us a diagnosis - and some of his symptoms are seen with a few different illnesses. It's not like he has something obvious, like Ich, or dropsy or a popeye or worms hanging off him... all we can see is a dramatic change in colouration, listlessness/sitting at the bottom not swimming much, some markings (patches/spots) on his gills, heavy breathing...that's about it.

These things can often be seen in fungal disease, but also with flukes and bacterial diseases...and then again, plain old depression can produce similar effects - so it's tough knowing 100% what's wrong.

Let us know how he's looking next week. Hope there's some improvement!

Regards, Athena

 

[jonnyuk]

Hope there's some improvement!

me too, your advice makes sense, no point in stopping treatment half way through. with every bodies help at least i'm going in the right direction and have a few things to try. fingers crossed. thanks for your help, much appreciated
Jonathan

 

[WILDER]

It sounds like a bacterial infection to me. So don't get why you are using a parasite med.

Melafix is only good once fins are healing.

 

[Athena]

It sounds like a bacterial infection to me. So don't get why you are using a parasite med.

Melafix is only good once fins are healing.

Just what I said, Wilder - but I think his LFS might suspect it's a fungal disease and sold him Protozin (which Protozin can be used for), so he's trying that first. It also treats Velvet.

I was going along the lines of bacterial, then having seen the photos where the gills are looking in a state with a few white spots, it made me wonder if there were gill flukes perhaps? Of course, it's possible for it to have both ailments. When they get one disease they often end up with secondary illnesses.

Either way he's not looking too hunky-dory right now so I hope Jonathan can find a cure soon.

Athena

 

[WILDER]

If the fish is not flicking and rubbing, darting, erratic swimming, excess mucas on gills or body, inflamed gills, or bleeding gills, swimming in a jerky movement it dosn't sound like gill flukes.

Fish can heavy breath with bacterial infections.
Fish can gets spots on the gills but they don't always mean parasites.
Make sure the gills don't look mottled, red and white.
The spots on the gills any redness or pink areas on them.

Gills
----Pale gill color (viral or bacterial infection, parasites, toxins, internal bleeding)
----Spots on gills (lymphocystis, bacteria, parasites, dinoflagellates)
----Gill lamellae/filaments fused (bacteria, lymphocystis, hyperplasia)
----Gill lamellae/filaments eroded (bacteria, lymphocystis, parasites)

 

[jonnyuk]

the gills do like white comparde with the rest of him. he is heavy breathing and generally not active at all. when he does swim he swims normally. he does look abit better tonight thats not saying much.


things have got worse tonight though in my main tank. one of my tetra's has eyes on stalks, lost its colour and was upside side down breathing heavy, i have no more tanks and don't want to put him in with my betta so he is in a jug having a salt bath. he looked ok this morning.

my other fish all seem ok, eating swimming etc.

the main problem i have is i can't use most meds in my main tank as i have lots of mts and shrimp in the tank, i can't add salt to the main tank either because i have 2 corries in it.

i'm going to a big water change but what else can i do?

am i going to loose my entire tank?

 

[WILDER]

Remove the shrimp. Or you will have to add the med with them in the tank.
I would add a bacterial med to the tank.

 

[jonnyuk]

well the tetra died tonight, i have added waterlife myxazin to the main tank, the ingredients don't contain copper so my shrimp should be ok. i have noticed another tetra starting to look abit ropy, eyes are starting to bulge, swimming very eratic.

on another note my betta has got worse today, nothing i can do now until wednesday when i can start another med.

time will tell if my main tank/betta gets any better.

i have this sinking feeling that i'm gonna loose the lot.

 

[WILDER]

Bless Him.
R.I.P.


Myxazin by waterlife more of an external med than internal.
You really need an internal bacteria med.


There is a small amount of m green in myxazin, so keep an eye on the shrimp.

 

[jonnyuk]

There is a small amount of m green in myxazin, so keep an eye on the shrimp.

.

thanks for the warning, in what way will i see problems in my shrimp?

my main tank is looking better today, fish have carmed down, my betta has eaten today but still spends most of his time on the bottom

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
The problem is myxazin only an external med. You really need an internal med.

 

[Bettawhisperer]

DO NOT use Melafix on Betta!!!!

Melafix is dangerously toxic to Bettas so I beg of you that any of you who are now treating your Bettas with Melafix do an immediate 90% water change and watch for signs of floating, acting unconcious, or dopey.* This has caused deaths in Bettas or other Labyrinth fishes.* Melafix is a great medication for all fishes having nothing but gill breathing systems, but for some reason causes a death by overdosage at normal levels when given to fish with Labyrinth organs.* Please begin immediately to use Bettafix in its place for all tanks of under 10 gallons and while I would cut the dosage considerably it is said that Melafix is still safe for 10 gallons and above.* We are talking perhaps no more than 1/4 dosage strength and then constant supervision of fish for adverse effects.

 

[Athena]

Hmm...I wouldn't say never to use Melafix on a Betta because I have used it successfully myself when I had a male betta whose fins had been ripped off by a female - after treatment his fins grew back fully without any complications or ill-health and he lived another couple of years. I did slightly underdose, though, on someone's recommendation. It was a 5 gallon tank, too.

As for Waterlife Myxazin, that is one med that I have used a few times in the past with great success for treating pop eye, fin rot, ulcers etc. Has always worked for me so that's one anti-bac treatment I recommend as I don't recommend things I've not tried and tested. Obviously there are lots of meds to choose from, some stronger than others.

Jonathan, if you are now losing fish in your main tank where the betta originally was homed (and the fish that died had bacterial disease) I think it's a sign that all's not well in that tank. My first thought was that you were overstocked in a 40 litre tank and although your stats didn't show up any dangerous levels of ammonia/nitrite, the stress of being in cramped conditions is enough to cause bacterial disease in a fish.

Could you perhaps rehome some of the fish or shrimp? Would your LFS take any back from you? Or do you have a friend with room in their tank?

If things are left as they are, I think you may find you could lose another few fish in the coming weeks.

Regards - Athena

 

[loraxchick]

im also in the NO melafix for bettas club. had disastrous results with an otherwise very healthy fish(slight bit of fin damage- thought the stuff would help-killed him outright!) so id never ever recommend melafix. by saying underdose the stuff obviously there are issues with bettas and that med. just saying. there are other meds one could use and in the context melafix is generally used clean water does the same thing so why risk it?
just putting in my two cents on that issue.
and i agree with Wilder-this sounds bacterial. I definitely would stop the fungal treatment and get some internal bac meds. even sprinkling some of the external med on some wet food before feeding-just to make sure they ingest some.
again my thoughts.
best of luck to the OP. its tough when your fish is sick and you are trying your best.
cheers