If you have ever been to a fish store, you've probably seen small, colorful fish in plastic cups.The Siamese Fighting Fish is a wonderful aquarium fish.In unsanitary conditions, these fish are often shipped from their native countries.Your Betta may be at risk of several harmful diseases due to all this stress.The diseases can be treated and cared for quickly.
Step 1: If your fish's fins are clumpy, he is not as active as he usually is.
It is possible that your Betta has a paler hue than normal patches on his body.These are signs of a disease.Fungus can grow in tanks that are not treated with salt and Aquarisol.The fungus can be spread quickly from one fish to the other so it should be treated immediately.
Step 2: If one eye or both eyes are missing from your Betta fish's head, inspect his eyes.
This is a symptom of a disease called popeye.Your fish may have developed popeye due to dirty tank water or a more serious illness.Tuberculosis is fatal for Betta fish.Tuberculosis can cause curved spine, not to be confused with the natural hump that older bettas develop.
Step 3: If your fish has scales, check them out.
There are symptoms of dropsy in your fish.It can cause problems with the kidneys.Poor water conditions or contaminated food can cause weakened fish.As a result of fluid build up, your fish will die.It is possible to prevent your fish from contracting dropsy by not feeding him live worms.Medicines can help draw out fluid in the aquarium salt baths.Euthanizing is acceptable since it's hard to know what medicine is right for you.
Step 4: If your fish is covered in white specks or spots that look like salt or sand, note it.
It's a sign of fish ick.The spots may be slightly raised and your fish will scratch against objects in the tank due to irritation and itchy skin.Your fish may gasp at the surface of the tank water due to respiratory issues.Ick attacks fish that are stressed because of irregular water temperature and pH fluctuations.
Step 5: If your fish's tail or fins are faded, you should look for it.
The fins, tail and mouth of your fish can rot from abacterial infections.The most common causes of fin rot in fish are being bullied by other fish in the tank or being injured by a fin-nipping tank mate.The development of fin rot can be caused by a poor tank environment.It is normal for a crowntail fish to have a shredded fin.If fin rot is treated in time, most Betta fish can regrowth their tail and fins.Your Betta fish's tail and fins may not be as vibrant as they used to be.A case of regular fin rot can cause some Betta fish to contract advanced body and fins rot.As the rot progresses, your fish may lose his fins and body tissue.It can be difficult to cure advanced fin rot if it eats your fish's body tissues.
Step 6: To see if his body is gold or rusty, shine a flashlight on his Betta.
This is a symptom of a disease called velvet.If your Betta has velvet, he may start to lose his color, have a lack of appetite, and scratch against the sides of the tank.If one fish shows signs of velvet, you should treat the rest of the fish in your tank.
Step 7: If your fish isn't moving at the bottom of the tank, it's probably floating on one side.
Swim bladder disorder is a common illness among Betta fish.A swollen swim bladder that causes your fish to float on one side or lie at the bottom of the tank is caused by overfeeding your Betta fish.It could be a sign of ammonia poisoning, which is caused by ammonia in the water.You don't need to worry about your fish dying because swim bladder is easy to treat and does not hurt them.
Step 8: There are threads on the skin of your fish.
anchor worms are small crustaceans that burrow into your fish's skin and enter his muscles.Damage to your fish can be caused by the release of eggs before they die.Betta can contract an external parasites like anchor worms from exposure at the pet store, from his food, or from fish who are introduced to his tank.The points where the anchor worms are attached to your fish may be swollen if you try to remove them.
Step 9: Quarantine.
Use a clean Betta fish net to remove him from the tank and place him in a smaller tank with the necessary filters.This will allow you to treat the water without harming your fish.The water temperature for your Betta should be between 78 degrees and 80 degrees.
Step 10: Salt baths can be used to treat me.
Salt baths can be done online.After salt baths don't work, medication is only used.If your tank is over five gallons, you can raise the temperature of it.If your tank is less than five gallons, you should not raise the temperature.If you want to avoid shocking your Betta until it reaches 85 degrees, raise the tank temperature in large tank in stages.This could help to kill the parasites.If you want to kill any remaining parasites in your Betta fish, you can raise the temperature of the water to 85 degrees and move it to a temporary container.You can keep the water temperature consistent by cleaning the tank weekly.
Step 11: If you want to eliminate fungus, use Ampicillin or Tetracycline.
Betta can develop more fungus that can cause fin and tail rot if it is not killed off by these medications.You should also change the water in the tank.The water should be treated with ampicillin or tetracycline.You will need to change 50% of the water for a week to kill the fungus.If your Betta fish is no longer losing tissue on his tail or fins, you can resume your regular tank cleaning schedule.Popeye can be treated with ampicillin in your betta.Add ampicillin with every water change and a tank cleaning.Popeye symptoms should go away within a week.
Step 12: If you want to kill external parasites, apply BettaZing to the tank.
If you have live plants, you can add a tiny bit of salt to the water.If your fish shows any signs of an external parasites such as anchor worms or velvet, you should change out at least 50% of the tank water.You will need to treat the remaining water with BettaZing to kill parasites and their eggs.BettaZing can be purchased at your local pet store.
Step 13: Swim bladder disorder is caused by overfeeding your Betta.
For 15 minutes, soak your betta's pellets.Within two minutes of being fed, your Betta should be able to eat all the food in his tank.Poor water quality and Betta susceptibility to disease can be caused by excess food in your fish tank.You should feed your Betta a varied diet.Betta approved foods can be found at your local pet store.
Step 14: A betta first aid kit is needed.
It is possible your betta will contract a disease at some point in his life span, so be prepared by having medications on hand to treat your Betta quickly and efficiently.When your betta has a disease or an issue that requires medication, you should only use it if you have confirmed it.Medicine for fish can be found at your pet store.The first aid kit should have the following drugs in it: BettaZing orBettamax.They are useful for a lot of issues.If you are trying to get a Betta used to a new environment or if you want to prevent it from coming back, you can use this medication.Kanamycin can be found in fish stores and pet stores.It can be used to treat serious infections.Antibiotics are used to treat less serious infections.This antibiotic is useful for treating popeye and other infections.Specialty fish stores and online carry this antibiotic.The Jungle Fungus Eliminator is useful to keep on hand as a Betta fish owner because it works on several fungus infections.These medications can be used to treat mild infections like fin and tail rot.The are not as effective as other drugs to treat more serious infections.
Step 15: To keep your betta from being stressed, do a water change once a week.
Excess food, dead leaves, and roots from plants will be removed with the help of this.A small water change a week will clean the water and keep it clean.Aquarium plants and decorations should not be removed from the tank or bowl.The goodbacteria that have been in your tank can be killed by removing or cleaning these items.If you do a partial water change, you don't need to remove your fish from the tank or bowl.This could cause stress out your fish.If you want to suck up gunk in the decorations, you can use a siphon.If you want to remove the water from the tank, you should use an algae scraper.If you don't have a filter, start with clean water and test daily for ammonia.It's time for a water change when the kit says ammonia.A top cover for the bowl can reduce the amount of water you need to change and protect your fish from getting a disease.Make sure the water is not cloudy, foamy, or smelly by checking it once a day.You may have to do multiple 50% water changes if these are signs of a bloom.If you do this, your Betta won't develop diseases or infections.
Step 16: Add a small amount of aquarium salt.
Keeping up with weekly water changes can help prevent infections like fin and tail rot.Unlike table salt, aquarium salt does not have any Additives.Don't use table salt.If your tank includes aquatic or corydoras, you should not use aquarium salt or copper-based medicines.Even though nerite snails are salt tolerant, they won't be able to handle copper.Follow the instructions on the package.Aquarium salt isn't for long term use.It is only for baths.