rinneh

I have a betta fish that was given to my niece for a birthday present, but they haven't been able to really take care of him so I adopted him instead (was kept in a typical fish bowl). I've had him for a while now, in a 1 gallon tank with a filter, gravel and fake plants - not a fancy setup. I'm new to all this and a week ago, I noticed that he had a white discoloration on his abdomen, underneath his gills and the discoloration reaches higher up on his other side (almost to his spine). His tails clumpy and losing color, and it seems that they're getting shorter. I've looked around the 'net and was wondering if it's fin/tail rot? Or if it's something else. He is eating and swimming normally and is active. I do a full water change every week.


Can someone help me to diagnose what he's got? I don't want him to die!

Red1313

Hi and welcome!
It's possible that he does have fin rot (other's who know more about that will be along I positive.) However with stuff like this you need to look to find out the cause. Betta's usually get sick (especially with fin rot) when they're stressed. Since betta's are tropical fish they really do need a heater. You're on the right track with the filter, the "real tank", and the water changes but if you can upgrade him to at least 2.5 gals you could safely add a heater. Also do you have a water test kit? Water quality also plays an issue with fin rot.
You've come to the right spot and I hope someone can better help you identify if it's fin rot for sure. However clean water, garlic gaurd, stress coat, and vita chem will help him out. Heating his tank will allow his immune system to work at full capasity.
Good Luck,
Red

Lucy

Hi welcome to Fish Lore
Poor little guy, what's his name?

The first thing to do to help him along is get him into a proper set up.
IMO a betta should be kept in at least a 5 gallon heated, filtered tank. Several members have had luck keeping them in 2.5g
Once he's in a nice warm tank (approx 79-80F) he'll probably start to feel better.
To help his immune system and heal his fins I'd recommend Fish Protector, Garlic Guard (or a drop or two of garlic juice) and Vita-chem.
Here's our Betta Care Guide

You'll also have to be very careful of ammonia building up in his tank.
Here's an explanation of Nitrogen Cycle

Since his new tank isn't going to be cycled (that can take up to a month) you'll need to do 50% daily water changes to keep the ammonia levels down. Not only because it's toxic to your betta but to help prevent further infection.
Use prime as your water conditioner, it'll help detoxify the ammonia for 24 hours between water changes.

At this point, I wouldn't jump to medication, lets get him in a nice warm tank and see how he does first.
He's a pretty boy , I hope he heals up quickly for you.
Good luck

aquarist48

Good morning. I'm sorry to hear that your fish is ill. Congrats on the rescue and everything you are trying to do for him. You've been given great information above so I just want to Welcome you to Fish Lore.
Best of luck with your Beta and enjoy the site.
Ken

rinneh

Thank you all for the wealth of information! Will be sure to try those out, going to get him a nice 5 gal tank and heater either today or tomorrow. My niece named him Rainbow, he's got greenish-rainbow scales near his tails and they shine like so when he's near a light, and I've stuck with that. I use Splendid Betta Water Conditioner when I do a water change, not sure how well that works tho. When I look closer at him now, he's got those upper tail that's separate from his main ones and they looked ragged and there's only two pieces of them, I've wondered if it was always meant to be like that or a product of being kept in small 3 cup container from Wal-Mart (where they bought him). Thanks again for all the advice and the welcome! =)

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!!!!!!! great advice from everyone.....and what a beautiful boy!!!!!! I would find some stress coat+ and do small 20% daily water changes for 2 weeks to help him heal up ...the white looks like it could be part of his coloring and his finnage regrowing ...but im not positive...I wouldnt medicate either just yet........if you can find some vita chem and fish protector, that would help also....put in 1 drop of fresh garlic juice once a week to entice and help his immune system...you will be amazed at what a couple weeks with daily water changes and stress coat will do for his fins..goodluck rainbow and mommy!!!!!!

Lucy

I'm so happy to hear Rainbow will be in a proper home soon.
Does he look a little bloated or is that just the way the pic looks?
Those darn cups sure do some damage on these poor babies.
Remember, not everything marked for bettas is the best for them.
Good luck and keep us posted.

rinneh

He's bloated. I don't think I overfeed him, but there's been times before where the white abdomen comes and goes and it looks like he's bloated like in the picture. He was all blue before too He had a much more flowing tail, but still looked like they were odd fresh from wal-mart. Like they were droopy? All the betta I've seen being sold there looks like that. Just changed his water about 50% and he's being active right now =) Went to say hello and he flared up at me

Shawnie

I would fast him tomorrow and then feed him a small piece of thawed, shelled frozen pea the size of his eye...do that once in the morning and once at night for 2 days...then his regular meals to see if that helps..and small water changes with some stress coat every day..im glad hes looking up a bit and feeling somewhat better!

Lucy

Sounds like he's feeling better already.
Those poor bettas in the cups are droopy because they're cramped cold and not feeling well. It was a happy day for me when the walmarts around me stop selling bettas. I created quite a stink over a very sick little guy.
Called, wrote e-mails to the company about their conditions.

What are you feeding him?

Edit: Good advice from Shawnie!

rinneh

Finally got a 10 gallon tank with filter (aquatech) + heater (50w Tetra's) for Rainbow Going to get him more tank accessories for hiding places tomorrow along with the ammonia/pH test kits.

A couple more questions: when would be the best time to introduce him to his new home? I added his old gravel in the new tank and added the water treatment liquid (or should I have turned off the filter first?). Is there any other fish that I would be able to add to the tank without them fighting? I will be buying the test kits tomorrow, would I have to wait a while till the kit says it's all good or will it be safe to add him and do daily 20-50% water change?

Lucy: I'm feeding him Tetra-Min and Wardley Essentials Betta, he came with the tetra-min one and I bought him the Wardley Betta pellets (which he didn't seem to like, he would usually ignore it and they'd just end up becoming wasted) Going to be trying the peas thing tomorrow, thanks Shawnie The wal-mart "supercentres" here have stopped selling fishes~ They do sell them still at the older stores tho, sadly.



Thanks again everyone Can't wait to move him to his new home!

Red1313

I think that you're little guy will love at ten gal. However tank-mates are risky with betta's because it all depends on the betta's temperment. I had a boy that I kept with Cory's for months without a problem then suddenly one day he started to pick on him and I had to remove him.

If you really want to try once Rainbow is healed up you'll have to take him out of his tank and "redecorate" then add his new room-mates. Wait a little while till they're settled then add him back. However always have a back up plan.

Some tank-mates people have had success with are Cory's and Otto's. However someone will be along soon with more experiance with tank-mates.

Congrats on upgrading!