3 Sick Bettas

??? What am I doing wrong? I have been treating BambI for ick for almost 2 weeks and the white spots by her gill are still there. Her water is just where it should be, ammonia is at 0, nitrite is 0, and nitrate is at 20. Her water temp is at 85 and has been for quite a while. I am treating her with Furon 2 and Quick Cure, and doing water changes as the Furon 2 directions advise. By the way, all 4 ottos that were in her tank died as a result of the meds. One day they were fine and the next day they were dead. BambI is all alone in her 10 gallon tank.

BenjI is still being treated for fin rot with no improval, although it is not getting worse either. He has gone through treatments of Fungus Eliminator, Furon 2 and he is now being treated with T.C. Capsules. I just started him on the T.C. today. He is in a 5 gallon Q tank by himself.

Barney also has fin rot. I already tried treating him with Fungus Eliminator. He now has a few white spots on his head and face and he has a swollen gill on his right side. I started him on T.C. capsules today. Can I add Quick Cure, in case he has ick, to the T.C. Capsules? His white spots are bigger than sprinkles of salt. He is also in a 5 gallon Q tank, by himself.

My community tank is fine. It is only the 3 bettas that are sick. Belle, who was sharing a divided tank with Barney is in apparent good health.

Both of the boy's tanks have temps around 84. All water perameters are the same as Bambi's.

I have been trying to do this on my own, and it is a full time job to keep up with all the meds and water changes!

CherryRose ???

 

I don't think you're doing anything wrong - just fighting some stubborn fish disease but I get the feeling you & your bettas will be more stubborn & beat the stuff. Is Fungus Eliminator like the Fungus Clear tablets?

Sorry to hear about the Otos and I wish I had something to add to what you're doing, but it sounds like you're doing all the right stuff - just gotta out-stubborn the ick & finrot and soon enough your babies will be back to great health. Good luck to you with them and we pray a speedy victory for you & Bambi, BenjI & Barney.

 

Those little catfish types are startlingly delicate. I'm actually reluctant to ever own any. I don't get it...is it something in the water? When I was a kid and a lot more careless for some reason I kept corydoras for about 4 years before they finally started to die off. Now it seems like I can't keep them to save their lives, as it were. Same thing as you btw: put in some meds and they die.

I'm not sure to be honest what else you can do. I hope and pray your bettas will be strong enough to respond well to treatment.

 

Benji's and Barney's tanks both have a lot of foam on top of the water. I added T.C. capsules to both of their tanks yesterday. Is this normal?

CherryRose

 

Is it foam or bubblenest? If foam it could be a chemical reaction--maybe do a water test to be on the safe side but it might just be to the meds.

 

It is the meds causing the foam. I read the back of the package and it says that it will cause foam on top of the water. I don't know why I missed that before. (--sigh--) I went to work this am with a bad cold and laryngitus and was sent back home with a temp of 100+. I think my brain is fried. LOL

CherryRose :

 

It is the meds causing the foam. I read the back of the package and it says that it will cause foam on top of the water. I don't know why I missed that before. (--sigh--) I went to work this am with a bad cold and laryngitus and was sent back home with a temp of 100+. I think my brain is fried. LOL

CherryRose :

That stinks, wish we were next door so we could help nurse your babies back to health as you work on nursing yourself back to health. Take care & I hope you & you Bettas are all over the crud very soon.

 

Thank you, FLBettaCouple. I just gave all 3 bettas the second dose of their respective meds. Thank goodness I don't have to do a 25% water change until tomorrow!

I am exhausted even though I have been sleeping a lot today. Hopefully I will be better tomorrow. My doctor is so busy that he couldn't get me in to see him today, but he did phone a perscription in for me. So now I am on meds too.

CherryRose

 

Those little catfish types are startlingly delicate. I'm actually reluctant to ever own any.

I actually want to get a few glass catfish for my 30 gallon tank. Have you ever seen any? They're so beautiful All catfish are But yes, they need good water.

Cherryrose, any improvements with the Bettas?

 

Thank you, FLBettaCouple. I just gave all 3 bettas the second dose of their respective meds. Thank goodness I don't have to do a 25% water change until tomorrow!

I am exhausted even though I have been sleeping a lot today. Hopefully I will be better tomorrow. My doctor is so busy that he couldn't get me in to see him today, but he did phone a perscription in for me. So now I am on meds too.

CherryRose

Talk about being a Betta mommy! - even having sympathy illness. Glad you're getting sleep & meds, best way to knock that stuff out. We're looking forward to hearing a good report on everyone there in a few days.

 

I actually want to get a few glass catfish for my 30 gallon tank. Have you ever seen any? They're so beautiful All catfish are But yes, they need good water.
Cherryrose, any improvements with the Bettas?

Those are some pretty cats - I love their color. Where'd you buy yours? The local Petco has NEVER had any of those beauties here.

 

I hope you are feeling better, I had the flu last week. ICK!
Sounds like you have your hands full with your bettas. I hope everyone gets better soon!

 

I can talk better today than yesterday. I think my temperature is down but I still don't have much energy.

I have to do a 25% water change for all my sick bettas in their three tanks this evening. They are all still hanging in there, eating like they have been starving. I am also going to give them a pea treat tonight. BambI looks a little bloated. Or maybe I should fast them all tonight, and give them a pea treat tomorrow. Any suggestions?

CherryRose

 

All three of my previously sick bettas are now on a medicine break. Barney's and Benji's fins are looking better and I think there is regrowth starting. I will continue to monitor them closely.

Barney still has an inflamed gill on his left side. The meds didn't even phase it. Any ideas on what I should try next for his gill.

BambI no longer has any white spots on her body, but the original white spots by both gills are the same. I guess it must be a part of her coloring. I will also be keeping a close eye on her.

Belle is still fine even though she shared a divided tank with Barney before I quarantined him. I am hoping that my bettas will remain healthy.

CherryRose

 

How are you doing now? Sounds like things are calming down there, aside from Barney's inflamed gill.. how about Bambi? did the pea treat get rid of her bloating?

Is the inflamed gill red? Does Barney seem to be breathing normally? Maybe a pic of his gill, if possible would help. It might be ammonia poisoning, but i'm not at all sure on that one - has the ammonia level for him been high any recently? It could also be an inflammation that an OTC antibiotic is listed as a cure for. If it's something else, maybe another member here knows of other causes for an inflamed gill.

 

I used Maracyn-Two to treat Karma when I first got her and she had a very serious gill infection. It saved her life! Don't know if you've tried that yet but it may help. Triple Sulfa also is a strong med used to treat external infections like a gill infection. You could try that or Maracyn-Two.

 

Thanks. The pea treat worked great for Bambi. She is her normal slI'm self now. Not too slI'm though. LOL

I have been trying to get a pic of Barney's gill but he hardly ever lets me see the right side of him. I guess he's making sure I get a picture of his best side. LOL

I think I will try the triple sulfa on Barney after a couple of days off meds. He has nice clean warm water and is eating like a pig. The ammonia level is 0, so it's not ammonia poisoning. I am going to check his nitrate level as one site I checked on said that it could be a sign of Nitrate poisoning. I haven't checked his nitrate level lately although I can't see how it could be high when I am changing his water as required. There is no rapid breathing, and his gill doesn't look red it is just sticking way out on the right side. Could he have caught it on something and pulled it out? I don't know what he would have caught it on though. Also, Belle was in the same divided tank as him and doesn't have an inflamed gill.

CherryRose :-\

 

I'm not sure on this, but he might have 'pulled a muscle' in his flaring gill.. our Betta Aslan flared some early when we got him and for a while couldn't get the one side to go out, but now it's fine.. maybe this is the same, just stuck out instead of in.

 

Lava has the same thing. His one gill is sticking out further than the other. Not sure if it's related to his infected kidney or something else. The Triple Sulfa should take care of Barney's gill if it is infected.

 

Thanks for the replys. I hope that Barney has just 'pulled a muscle' in his gill and it is just stuck out as he sure doesn't seem sick. I will start him on the Triple Sulfa tomorrow and see how it goes. I will be going into Portland Wednesday and will pick up some Maracynn Two at that time. Even if it clears up I want to have the Maracyn Two on hand for the next time I have a sick betta. Hopefully there won't be a next time, but with 4 bettas I don't intend to count on it.

CherryRose

 

Barney and BenjI both still have fin rot. I thought they had beat it but I guess not. They are both being medicated again with Triple Sulfa for BenjI and T.C. Capsules for Barney. Neither one of my girls have fin rot and never have. I don't understand why the boys can't shake it and yet the girls never seem to be affected by it.

Barney's gill still looks the same and he still eats like a pig as does Benji. At least there's nothing wrong with their appetites. I love the way all my bettas come to the front of the tank when they see me. I can just hear them pleading "feed me, feed me, feed me. I'm starving, I haven't eaten all day." As if I didn't know better. LOL

CherryRose ;D

 

Barney and BenjI both still have fin rot. I thought they had beat it but I guess not. They are both being medicated again with Triple Sulfa for BenjI and T.C. Capsules for Barney. Neither one of my girls have fin rot and never have. I don't understand why the boys can't shake it and yet the girls never seem to be affected by it.

Barney's gill still looks the same and he still eats like a pig as does Benji. At least there's nothing wrong with their appetites. I love the way all my bettas come to the front of the tank when they see me. I can just hear them pleading "feed me, feed me, feed me. I'm starving, I haven't eaten all day." As if I didn't know better. LOL

CherryRose ;D

LOL.. Don't you love how they encourage you by being Betta-ish even when fighting off something like finrot? Ours like to make us think that they NEVER have eaten before - NEVER, EVER! - each time they see the food container. Our little female Angel is becoming the worst, when she sees me, she tries to lead me to the top by slowly swimming up as I talk to her.

I'm sorry they still have the fin rot.. I hate that stuff, we're hoping Aslan is over it now (if he had it & wasn't self-nipping) because we're seeing regrowth areas all along his tail fin now. I'm with you - wish we could figure out why it's like that with male & female bettas - maybe it's just because of the big fins we love - more chances to get tears & finrot than the females.

Hopefully this next round of meds will finally knock it out for good, then you can go to NovAqua to strengthen their slime coating & help the fins regrow. Barney's gill sounds like something to watch, but not be concerned with probably - it does sound like it's "stuck" but if it were infected, then like Phloxface said, the TS outta fix that.

Good luck with your babies & looking forward to good news on them soon.

 

I finally got a picture of Barney's gill so you could see how it is sticking out. You can also see the fin rot. I feel so bad for him. The water is colored from the T.C. capsules.

CherryRose

 

I finally got a picture of Barney's gill so you could see how it is sticking out. You can also see the fin rot. I feel so bad for him. The water is colored from the T.C. capsules.

CherryRose

Poor little guy, I hate seeing these bettas sick.. yea, I don't know if it's stuck or a sign of infection.. but you're treating him so that should give the answer. i'm glad for him feeling like himself and hopefully his health problems will clear up soon. You'll BOTH be happy when that happens. He'll make it, he's a tough guy - just ask him.