I rescued a sick female betta. Help me treat her :(

[Shmoolerizzle]

Hi there,

I rescued this betta one month ago from an ad on kijiji. He gave her to me in a green garbage bag in freezing cold water. We are in winter here and she was in the temperature of cold tap water.
The tank she came from was not cycled and one gallon. He gave her fish flakes. No filter or heater. That is all I know about her past.

(To note: my other bettas are perfectly healthy in 5 gallon setups with heaters filters plants and all the bells and whistles)
The tank she is currently in is a 2.5 gallon quarantine tank that has been cycled for just under one year. I use this tank as its easier for me to control how much medicine I’m using(I’m in Canada and we have no access to meds, will explain below) She floated in my tank for a good hour and I added water to her cup slowly until she was acclimatized. It has a filter and heater, in addition to an added airstone. She was receiving catappa leaves until I ran out yesterday. Just waiting for some more to arrive. I have been using stresscoat as the chosen water conditioner as she has apparent slime coat issues. That is the only thing that is improving. Her slime coat. She has also received the proper dose of vitachem and supratect. (I have prime, salt, supratect, stability, bio support, stresscoat, ammoguard) I started with help on Facebook in my fish groups, but it’s not helping.

I am not sure how old she is or what her issues started out as. I am sort of picking up where this mans neglect left off. I do however know she came to me presenting some sort of white fungus on her body and apparent fin rot. She has lots of energy. A huge appetite and so much personality. I’d love to get to the bottom of this. I followed all instructions with all meds to a T.

Her parameters are perfect today, but have been hard to chase with the medications. I’ve had to do 25-50 percent water changes a few days along the way, but not too often. Her cycle is still active, not crashed don’t worry. PH is at 7.8, ammonia was 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates 5.0. Her water temperature is at 80 today, usually about 81 but it’s chilly in the apartment today. She has a small filter pad added in as well to control ammonia. I can’t remember but seapora makes the green and silver filter media(sponge like) as an additive. Hopefully you guys know what I’m talking about.

I am in Canada and do not have access to any fish medications. I was given medications from a man who moved into a retirement home and his daughter. They gave me furan 2, kanaplex, general cure, general parasite cure, ich x, betta revive, primafix, bettafix. I know the fix meds are frowned upon, but they are here incase of emergency and last resort. I have tried furan 2 + kanaplex combo. I have also tried ich x. I tried betta revive and even the dreaded primafix as she was presenting supposed “fungus”. I was going back and fourth with either fungus, bacterial or just full on columnaris. Someone mentioned skin cancer. I hope not. Either way, I’ve supposedly treated all my suspicions. The only thing I haven’t used is the general cure. If I do have to go back and try a medication I’ve already used for a longer period of time, can someone please educate me on how to safely continue meds for longer than indicated on the box. I will do a water change and leave her water to cycle past meds out if necessary. Furan and kanaplex are specific to three of four treatments, for example.

Let’s go fish doctors

PNWBettas - I hope you see this post. I tried real hard and created an account for you lol.

 

[FoldedCheese]

I've only had success treating fungus that developed on my male betta after he scrapped off a scale, and it was not nearly as bad as her current condition. My first recommendation would be to try aquarium salt and keep her water as pristine as possible. I would also add some hides to the QT tank so she can feel safe during her recovery. Ime salt is usually very effective against fungus, and it should also help heal her fins. Unless someone more experienced with medications jumps in, I would start there. I'm also in Canada and they sell the salt at pet stores.

 

[Shmoolerizzle]

I've only had success treating fungus that developed on my male betta after he scrapped a scale, and it was not nearly as bad as her current condition. My first recommendation would be to try aquarium salt and keep her water pristine. Salt is usually very effective against fungus, and it should also help heal her fins. Unless someone more experienced with medications jumps in, I would start there. I'm also in Canada and they sell the salt at pet stores.

Thank you so much for taking the time to try and help. I’ve been using the salt, but I can definitely try no meds and clean water if that suggestion comes up again

 

[FoldedCheese]

Thank you so much for taking the time to try and help. I’ve been using the salt, but I can definitely try no meds and clean water if that suggestion comes up again

No problem. Thank you for rescuing her and trying to do everything in your power to help her through this. Hopefully someone else can give you other suggestions that may help.

 

[StarGirl]

I agree with the clean water. I would do 1/2 every 2-3 days. If she is eating and has energy just keep her water clean. Its the best thing.

 

[PNWBettas]

They almost look like tumorous growths to me. Are they raised at all or is that just the lighting deceiving me? Generally tumor growths will look raised and textured.

 

[NotSoAggressiveAquatics]

I agree, the spots seem to be raised up. Can you get a picture from a top angle.

 

[Fae]

I'm also in Canada and I just want to drop that if you search for aqua tronics, you'll find a website that exclusively sells them (they are very high quality meds, more pure with good instructions) out of Oregon. They ship to Canada

 

[Shmoolerizzle]

They almost look like tumorous growths to me. Are they raised at all or is that just the lighting deceiving me? Generally tumor growths will look raised and textured.

For sure! You’re probably right. The reason I thought that it was fungal is because the other white spots(not including the largest one) are not outward. And there are multiple as you said. Not raised or textured. They are just patches of white that completely line up with her scales and look normal, just very white. The large one is ABSOLUTELY raised and textured as you say, two scales are slightly flaked outwards or up and mildly away from the regular body. Maybe it’s growing? I was hoping it was perhaps really bad fungus and I could heal it but the more I look at it I think you’re 100% right. The other white patches are concerning to me though. If she does have this one large one, are the other ones maybe a form of skin cancer as well and she is “breaking out” all over? Advanced as you’d say? Have you seen multiple tumors like this before? None of my bettas have ever been ill like this. Has anyone ever stopped a tumor from growing further(minus surgery) because you’re like miss incredible l(fish edition) and I can’t do that lol or could it be non cancerous and just tumor growths? I’m sorry, I will feel terrible if she came to me too late. I’m sort of sitting here wondering if pristine water will reverse any damage or rapidly slow it down. She’s just so sweet. She’s fighting. She is still showing me that she is feeling 100%. Eating and active. Huge personality. How long can she live with a cancerous tumor?

She says “thank you more than anything for your time, my name is Ruby and you’re making me more comfortable.” Lol

I'm also in Canada and I just want to drop that if you search for aqua tronics, you'll find a website that exclusively sells them (they are very high quality meds, more pure with good instructions) out of Oregon. They ship to Canada

WOW THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT IS SO HELPFUL!!!

 

[Shmoolerizzle]

I agree with PNWBettas the spots seem to be raised up. Can you get a picture from a top angle.

I can try to get a photograph but just the one larger spot is raised.

 

[PNWBettas]

It’s possible the larger one is just farther along. Normally when I have experienced fungal grows they really look fuzzy, almost spiky. some bacterial infections can also look like fungus but tend to look more cottony. If it’s just discoloration and the one raised one my best guess would be early tumor growths. There isn’t much you can do about them, just make tank accommodations once they start effecting swimming. Fish can live a long while with tumors but it just depends how fast they are growing.