First casulty! Strange death?

Ok so I have had my first casualty in my tank today, here is a rundown
of events leading to the death of my male betta.

8:00 Dec 12 - Livestock count and health check.
1 male betta, check. (looks good)
other fish, check (everyone looks good)


10:00 Dec 12 - Male betta seems to be swimming different. Movements
seem out of character. Cant really point out any particular movement
that is strange, perhaps just my imagination. Dont think much of it.


14:00 Dec 12 - Male betta is flaring his gills for no apparent reason,
in fact they seem to just stay flared all the time even when staying
still. Bettas are strange.

16:00 Dec 12 - Male bettas "beard seems to be just hanging out. Is that
some kinda growth under his "chin" between his gill covers?

19:00 Dec 12 - Yup that is some kinda growth. Betta darts to top for
air, then darts towards the middle of tank and then just "coasts" to the
bottom where he sits there laying on the gravel for awhile and then
darts up for more air.. (rinse, and repeat).

21:00 Dec 12 - That growth is getting bigger. Looks kinda like
cauliflower (kinda bubbly). Hope he will be ok. Strange movements
continue.

23:00 Dec 12 - Growth is now about the sice of a small pea. Still
darting up for air then coasting to bottom where he sits and his gills
"pulsate" almost like he is breathing. Perhaps in the morning i will
put him back into a bowl and do some research to figure out what his
problem is.


06:30 Dec 13 - Male betta upside down dead at bottom of tank today.
Growth seems to have kinda popped if you will. It was a bubbly looking
thing and the top centre "bubbles" seem to be popped.


Any ideas on what happened here? Whatever the heck he had progressed
fast. Do you think what he had was contagious? I have done preliminary
search and could only turn up Lymphocystis, a viral infection.
http://www.australianbettaclub.com/f.../lymphocy.html but
does this usually progress this fast? Are my other fish going to be ok?
Water conditions all look good.

Will someone reduce MY stress?? lol

James

James Roberge wrote:
Ok so I have had my first casualty in my tank today, here is a rundown
of events leading to the death of my male betta.

8:00 Dec 12 - Livestock count and health check.
1 male betta, check. (looks good)
other fish, check (everyone looks good)


10:00 Dec 12 - Male betta seems to be swimming different. Movements
seem out of character. Cant really point out any particular movement
that is strange, perhaps just my imagination. Dont think much of it.


14:00 Dec 12 - Male betta is flaring his gills for no apparent reason,
in fact they seem to just stay flared all the time even when staying
still. Bettas are strange.

16:00 Dec 12 - Male bettas "beard seems to be just hanging out. Is that
some kinda growth under his "chin" between his gill covers?

19:00 Dec 12 - Yup that is some kinda growth. Betta darts to top for
air, then darts towards the middle of tank and then just "coasts" to the
bottom where he sits there laying on the gravel for awhile and then
darts up for more air.. (rinse, and repeat).

21:00 Dec 12 - That growth is getting bigger. Looks kinda like
cauliflower (kinda bubbly). Hope he will be ok. Strange movements
continue.

23:00 Dec 12 - Growth is now about the sice of a small pea. Still
darting up for air then coasting to bottom where he sits and his gills
"pulsate" almost like he is breathing. Perhaps in the morning i will
put him back into a bowl and do some research to figure out what his
problem is.


06:30 Dec 13 - Male betta upside down dead at bottom of tank today.
Growth seems to have kinda popped if you will. It was a bubbly looking
thing and the top centre "bubbles" seem to be popped.


Any ideas on what happened here? Whatever the heck he had progressed
fast. Do you think what he had was contagious? I have done preliminary
search and could only turn up Lymphocystis, a viral infection.
http://www.australianbettaclub.com/f.../lymphocy.html but
does this usually progress this fast? Are my other fish going to be ok?
Water conditions all look good.

Will someone reduce MY stress?? lol

James

I have seen Lymphocystis in my aquarium maintenance business many
times, but I have never seen Lymphocystis progress that fast, in fact
with healthy tank conditions, the fish often survived this viral
infection.
As I was reading your time line (a very good one too), I was thinking
parasite. I have seen parasites that have been growing unseen internaly
suddenly burst thru the skin (or gills) and kill the fish rapidly, even
if the fish was acting normal less than 24 hours earlier.
I would suggest a water change and maybe a treatment with Quick Cure
(or even Clout if you do not have fish sensitive to this product).

For more mediccation info, please seee this article:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts....edication.html

Carl