Betta not swimming, losing color

[plekythepleco]

Our betta, Wolverine, suddenly started having trouble swimming. It got to the point where he was staying in one spot close to the surface & taking gulps of air when he needs it. Now he has lost all his color, is barely coming up for water, & seems to have some kind of ulcer. We’ve been using Melafix but truly can’t tell if it’s helping or what to do moving forward. We love him lots please help us save our boy

 

[V1K]

Please provide more information on his life conditions: tank volume, maintenance routine and its frequency, water parameters, feeding schedule, amounts, products.

 

[Rose of Sharon]

I agree with V1K that more info is needed. Here is the link to the emergency template. Please copy and paste, and answer each item as best as you can.

Aquatic Emergency Template

The one thing that I can recommend at this point without knowing more is that you can start doing some freqent water changes. Pristine water is always important when treating any type of fish illness.

 

[plekythepleco]

Sadly Wolverine passed earlier today </3.. Out of the water you could see the ulcer clearly & god that must’ve hurt him. Posting this to inform but also hopefully pinpoint what exactly it was. We had just learned of hole in the head disease a few hours before and suspect that maybe. Trigger warning for the pic, it’s quite grotesque.

 

[Rose of Sharon]

Oh my gosh, poor baby!!! So sorry for your loss!!!

If it's not hith (hexamita - parasite), I would say some other form of bacterial infection of some sort, like maybe an injury that got really infected.

Again, so very sorry! He was beautiful!