Betta with white spots on head

Tank
What is the water volume of the tank? 10 gallons.
How long has the tank been running? 8 months.
Does it have a filter? yes.
Does it have a heater? no but I am getting one asap.
What is the water temperature? 76
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.) 1 male plakat betta and one or two nerate snails

Maintenance
How often do you change the water? once a week
How much of the water do you change? 50%
What do you use to treat your water? seachem prime
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water? substrate once a month.

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish? yes
What do you use to test the water? API master test kit
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite:
Nitrate: 0 ppm
pH:

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish? every day except Wednesdays.
How much do you feed your fish? 5+ pellets (they are small)
What brand of food do you feed your fish? fluval bug bites tropical, some kind of flakes, and another kind of fluval bug bites pellets made for bettas.
Do you feed frozen? yes frozen blood worms
Do you feed freeze-dried foods? not really although I do have some freeze dried blood worms.

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish? not 100% sure but about 4-5 months
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms? 1 month ago
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms? small white patches on head
Have you started any treatment for the illness? yes
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase? no
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? not really.

Explain your emergency situation in detail.
(Please give a clear explanation of what is going on, include details from the beginning of the illness leading up to now)
I have been adding aquarium salt and not seeing improvement

Tank
What is the water volume of the tank?
How long has the tank been running?
Does it have a filter?
Does it have a heater?
What is the water temperature?
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.)

Maintenance
How often do you change the water?
How much of the water do you change?
What do you use to treat your water?
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water?

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish?
What do you use to test the water?
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish?
How much do you feed your fish?
What brand of food do you feed your fish?
Do you feed frozen?
Do you feed freeze-dried foods?

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish?
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms?
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms?
Have you started any treatment for the illness?
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase?
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all?

Explain your emergency situation in detail.
(Please give a clear explanation of what is going on, include details from the beginning of the illness leading up to now)
I have been adding aquarium salt not seeing improvement although it has not gotten any worse. pretty much it is just these white patches they are not raised, fuzzy or slimy though and he acts normal and is black so it is easier to see.

thanks! and I will get the parameters tested and try to get a picture.

 

That sounds like a fungal illness. Daily small water changes should work. If they don't after few days, then try meds.

 

That sounds like a fungal illness. Daily small water changes should work. If they don't after few days, then try meds.

I was considering that as well. can definitely do some extra water changes though!

also any idea what would have caused it?

 

Hey betta06,

Sorry you are having problems with your betta!!!

I don't know if you can get this in Canada, but you could give him a few methylene blue fish baths or dips if you can buy that. I think that I might try that first before the anitbiotics. Just be careful not to spill it on anything because it stains everything. Use a disposable container and some tank water. Methylene blue has been around forever, and I have had success with it when dealing with injuries and various fin issues. I would not use it along with antibiotics, though, as it can become toxic when used with some antibiotics.

I can't say for sure what caused it, but I would step up the vacuuming of the substrate to maybe every other week, just in case.

I hope he gets better!!!!

 

Hey betta06,

Sorry you are having problems with your betta!!!

I don't know if you can get this in Canada, but you could give him a few methylene blue fish baths or dips if you can buy that. I think that I might try that first before the anitbiotics. Just be careful not to spill it on anything because it stains everything. Use a disposable container and some tank water. Methylene blue has been around forever, and I have had success with it when dealing with injuries and various fin issues. I would not use it along with antibiotics, though, as it can become toxic when used with some antibiotics.

I can't say for sure what caused it, but I would step up the vacuuming of the substrate to maybe every other week, just in case.

I hope he gets better!!!!

sadly I don't think you can get it easily in Canada... I wanted for something before and couldn't find it anywhere I will take a look at what I have right now though.


I don't really have anything if it is fungal... aquarium salt, stress guard, cupramine and E.M. erythromycin. I will do a water change and clean his substrate but if I am not noticing improvements by Monday I will try and get something for him. would you guess fungal as well Rose of Sharon?


he wouldn't stop moving so I got some videos instead. it is really hard to see since my phone is horrible at up close pictures but you can see the biggest spot if you look carefully.

 

He does swim fast, but it is my inclination that it is fungal from what I can see. It is a shame that you can't get methylene blue. I don't guess you will be able to get anything with malachite green, either.

So it sounds like you can get some Seachem products, but not everything.

I think that I have heard of using hydrogen peroxide to fight off some fungal infections. You can do a search and see what you can come up with.

When I did a quick search, I found an article about a study in Canada that involves using peroxide on rainbow trout eggs.

Here's a link that to web site, if you can get to it. I have also read something a while ago here that it is ok to use hydrogen peroxide for fungus in a fish bath.

https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/1003206

And here is a link to a thread by David1978 about using hydrogen peroxide for fungus. If you do an advanced search under his name and put in Hydrogen Peroxide, you will find a few threads that might be useful. This is where I found out about using it for various betta issues.

In your opinion, best fungal medication?​

I hope this helps!!!

 

He does swim fast, but it is my inclination that it is fungal from what I can see. It is a shame that you can't get methylene blue. I don't guess you will be able to get anything with malachite green, either.

So it sounds like you can get some Seachem products, but not everything.

I think that I have heard of using hydrogen peroxide to fight off some fungal infections. You can do a search and see what you can come up with.

When I did a quick search, I found an article about a study in Canada that involves using peroxide on rainbow trout eggs.

Here's a link that to web site, if you can get to it. I have also read something a while ago here that it is ok to use hydrogen peroxide for fungus in a fish bath.

USGS Publications Warehouse

And here is a link to a thread by David1978 about using hydrogen peroxide for fungus. If you do an advanced search under his name and put in Hydrogen Peroxide, you will find a few threads that might be useful. This is where I found out about using it for various betta issues.

In your opinion, best fungal medication?​

I hope this helps!!!

we do have hydrogen peroxide so I could do that. and thanks for the thread and article!

 

I finally found the thread that I was looking for. Posted the link below.

In this thread, David says 1 to 2 ml per 10 gallons, but that's putting it directly into the tank. In the thread he says 1ml per gallon if absolutely needed. I think that I might try it in a bath, and do maybe the 1ml per gallon of water, or if you want to be safe, try half of that per gallon.



Peroxide How To | Freshwater Fish Disease 382067

 

I finally found the thread that I was looking for. Posted the link below.

In this thread, David says 1 to 2 ml per 10 gallons, but that's putting it directly into the tank. In the thread he says 1ml per gallon if absolutely needed. I think that I might try it in a bath, and do maybe the 1ml per gallon of water, or if you want to be safe, try half of that per gallon.



Peroxide How To | Freshwater Fish Disease 382067

thank you so much for finding that!! I really appreciate all your help!

 

update! so I have not done the hydrogen hydrogen peroxide yet as after several small water changes it looked possible better. yesterday I did a 75% water change and gravel vacuumed and it looks better still! he still has the spots but they are lighter (like harder to see) and look smaller.

I really hope it keeps improving, its just crazy how much some clean water will do!

here is a pic of him in enjoying his clean tank and new cave decoration! (I know I need to clean the glass will do that today)