Fishies-for-me

For the last week and a half I have been fighting what I am pretty sure is velvet on Floyd. I have had him for about 2 weeks. At 1st I thought it might be ick ( I have never seen velvet before) and treated him for that. It only made him sicker. For 2 days I thought he was going to die. He looked so pathetic trying to wedge himself on top of the thermometer so he could lay at the top of the water and breath. I pushed the thermometer down 1/4 inch so he could get up there easier. He never stopped eating tho and I have been feeding him very small meals ( I have the very tiny pellets ) every time he was interested I tried to feed him 2 or 3 pellets to keep up his strength and he attacked them like he was starving even if he could barely make it off of the bottom of the tank. I cannot see spots on him unless I use a magnifier and then his tail and fins were covered in very tiny "ick" like spots. To the best of my abbility I have determined it was velvet as bettas I guess are very prone to it. I have used coppersafe for the velvet ( it seems to be working) but he is still flashing a lot. He swims around now and when he rests it isn't that crashed into the gravel and to exhausted to move kinda rest. He spent days laying on his side or wedged ontop of the thermometer so that is a big improvement . He has started to flare at his reflection . I also have stresscoat in his water and I have bought garlic guard. I am not sure what to do with the garlic tho. I tried soaking his food in it but he would not eat that. I have put a couple of drops in his water and I can't get vitamins here for him...How much garlic should I put in a 5 gallon tank. Also how long does it take for a betta to get over velvet. How long do I use the coppersafe for and do I have to add more every few days or just replace what I take out during water changes?? Sorry for the long story and million questions but I would really like to save this guy if I can. Thanks for any help...S

Shawnie

Im sorry your Floyd is sick...velvet disease is a massive crazy contagious evil thing..I lost an entire 55 gallon of lionhead goldfish before I even knew what it was...its fast and very sickening...heres some tips I read when I finally found out what it was...the biggest thing to do right now, is major water changes to keep very clean water ....
heres some more tips...
Raise water temperature to 82f..it speeds up the life cycle

Dim lights for several days_ this disease thrives on lites

Treat with copper sulphate for ten days_(not sure on betta's with this so hopefully someone will come in on that)

Discontinue carbon filtration during treatment

Because Velvet is highly contagious and usually far advanced before being diagnosed, it is important to take steps to treat it as soon as possible. Treatment is targeted at the free-swimming stage of the parasite.

Goodluck and I surely hope floyd makes it!!!!!!!

Fishies-for-me

Thank you. He is doing a lot better . I just want to make sure he stays that way. I can hardly see any spots on him any more so I am sure the treatment is working. The bottle says the meds stay in the water for a month so I guess after 10 days I can stop replacing the med that is removed during water changes. I guess in here people can understand how we can pay 5 or 6 dollars for a fish and feel right in spending another 40 dollars in meds to heal it rather than destroy it and get another one...lol. He seems to be flashing less and less. Sooo fingers crossed...lol. Thanks again.

joycey1221

Glad he is better

Fishies-for-me

Wow that coppersafe is amazing stuff. I hate using meds on my fish as I never have had any luck. But this stuff has literally brought Floyd back from the brink of death. He hardly has any spots ( if any ) and has stopped flashing. He had a strong will to live and never stopped eating like a pig...lol even when he was so sick. I have had very bad results with quick cure for ick. Does anyone know if coppersafe works for ick to?? It says it will on the package ( but we all know what the pack says and what happens isn't always the same...lol) It seems to be much easier on the fish than quick cure is. ( lost almost all of my cherry barbs to quick cure). How hard is coppersafe to clear out of the tank after treatment ( so I can put invertebrates in there ( some shrimp or a snail or 2) Thanks ...S