Minnow

Sorry I haven't been active lately, I have a lot going on at the moment.

I think I've posted about this before, but now I have pictures.

Delta, my lovely orange betta boy, has a mystery tail disease. I saw the same thing on the tail of a fish I looked after for a neighbor, and that betta eventually died.

The symptoms are a thick blue edge that slowly eats away at the tail, and a loss of coloration at the tip of the tail.

I don't know how to treat it, because I don't know what it is. A fungus? Some sort of tumor? I don't want to do the wrong thing, so for now I've just been cleaning the tank and keeping an eye on him.

Right now he has the whole 10g tank to himself; Beta died a few weeks ago (), and I haven't gotten a new betta because I think Delta's disease is contagious (since he probably got it from sharing equipment with my neighbor's betta).

Here are the pictures:

Martinismommy

Your boy is suffering from an advanced case of finrot...I would use Jungle fungus clear right away and keep his water VERY clean before it reaches the base of his body..

Red1313

Huh.... when you said it's easting away at his tail my first thought is fin-rot. Once the tails gone does it move onto the body? If so then it's a varient of fin-rot called body rot...
However it doesn't really look that way in the pics. The blue seems really iridescent to be a fungus.
If it's contagious (as you seem to believe) then it's unlikely to be a tumor. Could be a virus or bacterial infection... I would guess bacterial but I've never seen anything like it. Hopefully someone else will come alone who's more familiar with fish diagnosis then me.
<HUGS>

EDIT: by MM

Martinismommy

I've seen this before and it is a form of finrot...It will eventually work it's way all the way up to the body and then the fish is in grave danger....

Minnow

Thanks for the replies, I'll do a water change today and get Jungle fungus clear as soon as I can. Is there still time to save him? I wish I had done something sooner...

Red, the rot does start on the body once the tail is gone. I'll have to make sure it doesn't get that far.

Red1313

<hugs>
get those meds on him stat and he should be ok. Don't beat yourself up over it he's still got a pretty good chunk of tail left.

Martinismommy

He should recover if you treat it ASAP.....Just keep his water clean......

Minnow

Thanks, you two! I just did a 50% water change, and I think I can get out to the pet store tomorrow for the meds.

pamd

I'm so hesitant to medicate my own fish and avoid antibiotics whenever possible. I'm even more cautious about advising anybody else. But if this were my fish, I'd use Triple Sulfa (a broad-spectrum antibiotic) in addition to Jungle Fungus Clear. Also, if you can get some Vita-Chem (a vitamin supplement), this will help his healing. AFAIK, all these can be used simultaneously.

Good luck with Delta, and be sure to keep us posted.

Minnow

Thanks, Pam! I have Vitachem, I'll give him some of that. I think I may also have Triple Sulfa...

I'll let you know how things go. I cleaned the tank pretty well yesterday, but I wasn't able to get to the store for Fungus Clear. I'll see if I can stop by after school or something tomorrow.

Minnow

I don't have Triple Sulfa, but I have Maracyn 2. Will that work?

aquarist48

Hello Minnow! Sorry to hear your Betta isn't feeling up to par.
Best of luck for a speedy recovery!
Ken

chickadee

If the box lists fin and tail infections as treatable then go for it with the Maracyn 2 but I have the best luck with the Sulfa or MaracynPlus. BUT the main thing above all else is the complete cleanliness of the tank and water. If they are not maintained all the meds in the world will not help. I have seen clean water and conditions take care of it alone as long as the problem is not fungal in nature. If it is then you will need a med that handles fungal infections. It would be helpful to have something like Fish Protector to help keep him calm but it is a calming agent not a med. And do not under any circumstances let any pet store employee talk you into Melafix, Pimafix, or Bettafix. They are toxic to bettas and other Labyrinth organ fishes.

Rose

Minnow

I think I'll go ahead with the Maracyn 2. He's not looking good this morning; he's lying in a corner of the tank, and it looks like he's having trouble swimming away. I'm worried about him.

Minnow

It looks like I was too late with the medicine. Delta was dead when I got home from school today.

Red1313

Oh no!
<hugs>
I so sorry minnow.

COBettaCouple

I'm sorry you lost him.

Minnow

Thanks for your sympathy

I've decided not to get another betta until I have enough time to care for one. I've been so busy with schoolwork, I hardly have time for my poor fishes. Hopefully the workload will get a little more manageable as the year wears on.

aquarist48

Hello Minnow. So sorry to hear that you lost him.
Ken

Martinismommy

I'm sorry for your loss.....

chickadee

You have my deepest sympathies. I do know that it hurts to lose a betta or any fish that you get close to. Perhaps when you do decide to get another one Delta will be your inspiration for the purchase and I can promise you will never forget him.

I am sorry for your loss.

Rose

Minnow

Thanks, everyone. It's depressing seeing the empty tank, but I think I'll leave it set up for when I get my next betta. I wish I could get one now, but it's wiser to wait until I have more free time.

COBettaCouple

Without an ammonia source, the cycle will break down in that tank. I hope it won't be a real long time before you'll be able to bring another betta into your life.

Minnow

I'll be sure to cycle it again before getting a new betta. I can always prepare a new sponge in one of my other filters to speed things up a little.

COBettaCouple

Ya, that's the best thing. All of our tanks have filters stuffed with extra media to be available for when a new tank needs set up.