Sick Betta (Help!)

[BaBeL FiSh]

Hello,

I have a new betta (two weeks purchased from aquarium shop) who started out
being a rich light blue with a black head. He is in a large community tank
and they all seem to get along fine. Over the last few days he has been
hiding in one of the aquarium ornaments. Today when I got home I found him
lying on the bottom of the tank in a corner breathing, but not moving. I
checked this site: http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm and have done
as it says and have quarantined him. When I netted him, he tried to get
away but kind of gave in with not too much bother. Now he is on his own, he
is still lying on the bottom and comes to the top every so often for a
breath of fresh air, rapidly followed by him moving back down to the bottom.
I cannot see anything on him that matches any symptoms mentioned at the
above site. The only difference in him I can see is that he has a bronze
tint to the top of his head. Other than that, I have nothing to go on.

He's obviously ill with something and I just need to figure it out before
it's too late. We kept a betta for a long, long time and he died just
recently. We had no problems with him (apart from ich once which was
treated with no problems) and I guess he just succumbed to old age. I don't
want to lose another one so soon!

Sorry for cross post, but would be grateful for any useful help, tips, etc.

Many thanks.

[BaBeL FiSh]

"BaBeL FiSh" > wrote in message
. uk...
> Hello,
>
> I have a new betta (two weeks purchased from aquarium shop) who started
> out being a rich light blue with a black head. He is in a large community
> tank and they all seem to get along fine. Over the last few days he has
> been hiding in one of the aquarium ornaments. Today when I got home I
> found him lying on the bottom of the tank in a corner breathing, but not
> moving. I checked this site: http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm
> and have done as it says and have quarantined him. When I netted him, he
> tried to get away but kind of gave in with not too much bother. Now he is
> on his own, he is still lying on the bottom and comes to the top every so
> often for a breath of fresh air, rapidly followed by him moving back down
> to the bottom. I cannot see anything on him that matches any symptoms
> mentioned at the above site. The only difference in him I can see is that
> he has a bronze tint to the top of his head. Other than that, I have
> nothing to go on.
>
> He's obviously ill with something and I just need to figure it out before
> it's too late. We kept a betta for a long, long time and he died just
> recently. We had no problems with him (apart from ich once which was
> treated with no problems) and I guess he just succumbed to old age. I
> don't want to lose another one so soon!
>
> Sorry for cross post, but would be grateful for any useful help, tips,
> etc.
>
> Many thanks.

Further browsing leads me to believe this may well be velvet. Any treatment
tips anyone?

[Elaine T]

BaBeL FiSh wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have a new betta (two weeks purchased from aquarium shop) who started out
> being a rich light blue with a black head. He is in a large community tank
> and they all seem to get along fine. Over the last few days he has been
> hiding in one of the aquarium ornaments. Today when I got home I found him
> lying on the bottom of the tank in a corner breathing, but not moving. I
> checked this site: http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm and have done
> as it says and have quarantined him. When I netted him, he tried to get
> away but kind of gave in with not too much bother. Now he is on his own, he
> is still lying on the bottom and comes to the top every so often for a
> breath of fresh air, rapidly followed by him moving back down to the bottom.
> I cannot see anything on him that matches any symptoms mentioned at the
> above site. The only difference in him I can see is that he has a bronze
> tint to the top of his head. Other than that, I have nothing to go on.
>
> He's obviously ill with something and I just need to figure it out before
> it's too late. We kept a betta for a long, long time and he died just
> recently. We had no problems with him (apart from ich once which was
> treated with no problems) and I guess he just succumbed to old age. I don't
> want to lose another one so soon!
>
> Sorry for cross post, but would be grateful for any useful help, tips, etc.
>
> Many thanks.
>
>
Look up velvet. Faith mentiones it on her page you referenced and there
should be other info online. The parasites can take on a golden or
bronzy appearance and it's really common on bettas. What I don't know
is whether it causes such obvious behavioral signs.

If what you read on velvet fits, you've got a lot of treatment option.
Like ich, it's sensitive to copper, salt, formalin/malachite, and
acriflavine. Velvet is also photosynthetic, so darken his bowl or tank
during whatever treatment you choose.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[BaBeL FiSh]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
. ..
> BaBeL FiSh wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a new betta (two weeks purchased from aquarium shop) who started
>> out being a rich light blue with a black head. He is in a large
>> community tank and they all seem to get along fine. Over the last few
>> days he has been hiding in one of the aquarium ornaments. Today when I
>> got home I found him lying on the bottom of the tank in a corner
>> breathing, but not moving. I checked this site:
>> http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm and have done as it says and
>> have quarantined him. When I netted him, he tried to get away but kind
>> of gave in with not too much bother. Now he is on his own, he is still
>> lying on the bottom and comes to the top every so often for a breath of
>> fresh air, rapidly followed by him moving back down to the bottom. I
>> cannot see anything on him that matches any symptoms mentioned at the
>> above site. The only difference in him I can see is that he has a bronze
>> tint to the top of his head. Other than that, I have nothing to go on.
>>
>> He's obviously ill with something and I just need to figure it out before
>> it's too late. We kept a betta for a long, long time and he died just
>> recently. We had no problems with him (apart from ich once which was
>> treated with no problems) and I guess he just succumbed to old age. I
>> don't want to lose another one so soon!
>>
>> Sorry for cross post, but would be grateful for any useful help, tips,
>> etc.
>>
>> Many thanks.
> Look up velvet. Faith mentiones it on her page you referenced and there
> should be other info online. The parasites can take on a golden or bronzy
> appearance and it's really common on bettas. What I don't know is whether
> it causes such obvious behavioral signs.
>
> If what you read on velvet fits, you've got a lot of treatment option.
> Like ich, it's sensitive to copper, salt, formalin/malachite, and
> acriflavine. Velvet is also photosynthetic, so darken his bowl or tank
> during whatever treatment you choose.
>

Thanks. I will get some velvet treatment from LFS tomorrow and try and save
him!

[BaBeL FiSh]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
. ..

> Look up velvet. Faith mentiones it on her page you referenced and there
> should be other info online. The parasites can take on a golden or bronzy
> appearance and it's really common on bettas. What I don't know is whether
> it causes such obvious behavioral signs.
>
> If what you read on velvet fits, you've got a lot of treatment option.
> Like ich, it's sensitive to copper, salt, formalin/malachite, and
> acriflavine. Velvet is also photosynthetic, so darken his bowl or tank
> during whatever treatment you choose.

Should I treat the community tank the betta was secluded from? The fish in
there are showing no signs of illness, but now I have some velvet control
treatment, I wondered if I should use it anyway just to be sure. Don't want
to stress the fish in there unnecessarily though.

Advice appreciated.

Thanks.

[Elaine T]

BaBeL FiSh wrote:
> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
> . ..
>
>
>>Look up velvet. Faith mentiones it on her page you referenced and there
>>should be other info online. The parasites can take on a golden or bronzy
>>appearance and it's really common on bettas. What I don't know is whether
>>it causes such obvious behavioral signs.
>>
>>If what you read on velvet fits, you've got a lot of treatment option.
>>Like ich, it's sensitive to copper, salt, formalin/malachite, and
>>acriflavine. Velvet is also photosynthetic, so darken his bowl or tank
>>during whatever treatment you choose.
>
>
> Should I treat the community tank the betta was secluded from? The fish in
> there are showing no signs of illness, but now I have some velvet control
> treatment, I wondered if I should use it anyway just to be sure. Don't want
> to stress the fish in there unnecessarily though.
>
> Advice appreciated.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
Yes, treat the tank and darken it for a couple of days. It's reasonably
likely you have velvet spores in the main tank. They have a quick
lifecycle of only a few days, so you don't need to treat for weeks as
with ich.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[BaBeL FiSh]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
. ..
> BaBeL FiSh wrote:
>> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
>> . ..
>>
>>
>>>Look up velvet. Faith mentiones it on her page you referenced and there
>>>should be other info online. The parasites can take on a golden or
>>>bronzy appearance and it's really common on bettas. What I don't know is
>>>whether it causes such obvious behavioral signs.
>>>
>>>If what you read on velvet fits, you've got a lot of treatment option.
>>>Like ich, it's sensitive to copper, salt, formalin/malachite, and
>>>acriflavine. Velvet is also photosynthetic, so darken his bowl or tank
>>>during whatever treatment you choose.
>>
>>
>> Should I treat the community tank the betta was secluded from? The fish
>> in there are showing no signs of illness, but now I have some velvet
>> control treatment, I wondered if I should use it anyway just to be sure.
>> Don't want to stress the fish in there unnecessarily though.
>>
>> Advice appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks.
> Yes, treat the tank and darken it for a couple of days. It's reasonably
> likely you have velvet spores in the main tank. They have a quick
> lifecycle of only a few days, so you don't need to treat for weeks as with
> ich.

I have treated the tank and darkened it by draping a towel over the front of
it as you suggest. Thanks for your help.

[IDzine01]

I would be inclined to not treat the whole community tank but it's up
to you. Velvet medication can be pretty harsh on some fish and some
sensitive species can die from it. (Including invertebrates and many
aquarium plants). It can also upset your biological cycle, which has
repercussions. Generally, the velvet parasites are opportunistic so if
your community fish are healthy, they may not become pray to them at
all. On the other hand, it could infect others in your tank, especially
if your fish aren't in the best condition.

http://www.nippyfish.net/velvet.html

Good luck with the little guy. I hope he comes out of this ok.
C

[Elaine T]

IDzine01 wrote:
> I would be inclined to not treat the whole community tank but it's up
> to you. Velvet medication can be pretty harsh on some fish and some
> sensitive species can die from it. (Including invertebrates and many
> aquarium plants). It can also upset your biological cycle, which has
> repercussions. Generally, the velvet parasites are opportunistic so if
> your community fish are healthy, they may not become pray to them at
> all. On the other hand, it could infect others in your tank, especially
> if your fish aren't in the best condition.
>
> http://www.nippyfish.net/velvet.html
>
> Good luck with the little guy. I hope he comes out of this ok.
> C
>
Funny, I've never had plants, filter or fish die from a single dose of
typical velvet remedies with some mix of copper, formalin, or malachite
green. You do have to be more careful with loaches and tetras when
using malachite green for extended periods, but I've still never lost
plants or filtration. Did you get a remedy that had methylene blue in
it by mistake maybe?

Velvet can be a pain to cure, thus my leaning toward prevention.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com