Lethargic Betta With Grayish-white Mouth

My betta seemed very lethargic today and was only coming up for air. I raised her as a baby and she is normally very active. I also noticed that her bottom lip is kinda puffy and grayishwhite. Can someone appoint me to a medicine to treat her with? I don’t have a spare tank so she’s in a chinese food container with Indian almond leaves, close to a heat source. Please help ASAP I can’t afford to lose her.

Edit: I suspect it came from two guppies that I recently added two days. (She’s able to tolerate tankmates). I should have realized that the guppies weren’t healthy, when one died a day later.

EDIT: ITS IN HER GILLS NOW. I SCARED PLS HELP

Update: She’s gone now.

 

Can you post a picture? Sorry to hear about your betta.

 

It sounds like it may be mouth rot [columnaris]. But as Aqua59 said, a picture could always help with a more solid diagnosis. Mouth rot is bacterial, so some general anti-bacterial medications should work well. If it's more severe, an antibiotic can be used. Sulfathiazole, KanaPlex, Furan-2 and Paraguard are all good medications to keep in mind.

My suggestion would be to do daily [or twice-daily] water changes. If you don't have any spare tanks on hand, really large tupperware do just as well as hospital tanks, with a HOB or sponge filter and a heater. It's important, as with everything, that the water parameters are all tidied and in order.

So sorry about your betta! I really hope she recovers soon.

 

It sounds like it may be mouth rot [columnaris]. But as Aqua59 said, a picture could always help with a more solid diagnosis. Mouth rot is bacterial, so some general anti-bacterial medications should work well. If it's more severe, an antibiotic can be used. Sulfathiazole, KanaPlex, Furan-2 and Paraguard are all good medications to keep in mind.

My suggestion would be to do daily [or twice-daily] water changes. If you don't have any spare tanks on hand, really large tupperware do just as well as hospital tanks, with a HOB or sponge filter and a heater. It's important, as with everything, that the water parameters are all tidied and in order.

So sorry about your betta! I really hope she recovers soon.

Would aquarium salt be effective? Bc that’s all I can access right now

Can you post a picture? Sorry to hear about your betta.

I wish I could but I was in a rush to leave today and couldn’t get a photo

 

Would aquarium salt be effective? Bc that’s all I can access right now

Yes, aquarium salt can be used a treatment when medication isn't available! FishLore has a really good, comprehensive article about columnaris that includes aquarium salt treatment and the details on how to use it, so I would definitely check that out:

Columnaris Symptoms And Treatment

 

Oof this sounds like an advanced case make sure you have super clean water can we get parameters? Always make sure you quarantine any new tank mates time to call the more advanced Goldiemom Fanatic Gypsy13 Rtessy

 

I can't help you without a picture sorry

 

I have to agree with Sarah73. Without a pic I’m not about to start shooting in the dark and recommending meds. Get us a pic ASAP and we can go from there. Sorry your baby is sick and glad to help when we have something to look at. She’s just in the Chinese container as a QT tank, right? Be sure to change the water daily and add Prime since it isn’t cycled. Then we can do more after pic.

 

I have to agree with Sarah73. Without a pic I’m not about to start shooting in the dark and recommending meds. Get us a pic ASAP and we can go from there. Sorry your baby is sick and glad to help when we have something to look at. She’s just in the Chinese container as a QT tank, right? Be sure to change the water daily and add Prime since it isn’t cycled. Then we can do more after pic.

I can't help you without a picture sorry

I’ll be getting a pic in a couple of minutes, I’m also gonna try to find my spare 1 gallon

Photos

 

Ok I can slightly see the white bump. Is it fuzzy?

 

It looks like white fluff on there, is that correct?

 

It looks like white fluff on there, is that correct?

So the OP needs an anti-fungal med to get rid of this.

 

So the OP needs an anti-fungal med to get rid of this.

If it is white fluff, it could be Flexibacter columnaris which will need Maracyn and Maracyn 2 together.

 

Ok I can slightly see the white bump. Is it fuzzy?

It is fuzzy and it’s coming out of his gills now

 

The pic is not real clear and water appears cloudy.

 

The pic is not real clear and water appears cloudy.

Agree. Thought it was just me Haha! Is it moving? Fungus can spread very quickly.

 

I got some clearer photos from my 1 gallon qt. What medicine should I get?

The white stuffy looks like it’s dangling and the white stuff on her mouth is spreading. I’m heart broken

 

The reason she is lethargic is because she is struggling to breathe.

 

The pic is not real clear and water appears cloudy.

Since mouth columnaris is bacterial, any bacterial med treatment should do the trick.

The reason she is lethargic is because she is struggling to breathe.

You may want to add an air stone for now to help with oxygen. Definitely go with the Maracyn and Maracyn 2 combined if it is growing that fast.

 

Since mouth columnaris is bacterial, any bacterial med treatment should do the trick.

Would aquarium salt and Melafix do the trick? It’s all they have at petco. How long do I have before it takes her?

 

Don’t ever use Melafix on a betta. It can kill them.

Do they have Kanaplex and Furan-2?

 

Don’t ever use Melafix on a betta. It can kill them.

Can I use aquarium salt?

 

Can I use aquarium salt?

No, aquarium salt does more harm than good.

 

It may help him breath a little easier but it won’t treat the columnaris. You need something that treats bacterial infections.

 

Will this work?

 

I have heard bettafix works but haven't tried it.

 

Pic?

 

I meant this, sorry I’m panicking I have never battled disease before in my entire year

 

Can I see the ingredients? On the back

 

What about pimafix?

 

Will this work?

I meant this, sorry I’m panicking I have never battled disease before in my entire year

You need kanaplex and furan2 if they have it.

 

If it’s all they have but wish they had something stronger than herbal. They should have Kanaplex or General Cure??? If not, get that.

 

Can I see the ingredients? On the back

It doesn’t have an ingredient list. What is this product

If it’s all they have but wish they had something stronger than herbal. They should have Kanaplex or General Cure??? If not, get that.

No Kanaplex

 

It doesn’t have an ingredient list. What is this product

I have never heard or seen it. If it has no ingredients then IMO I would just leave it.

 

Lol don't curse on here. I have never heard or seen it. If it has no ingredients then IMO I would just leave it.

They don’t seem to have anything here except dead fish, that’s petco for u. They only have pimafix and melafix

 

Sorry my bad. They don’t seem to have anything here except dead fish, that’s petco for u. They only have pimafix and melafix

Even methylene blue better than that! Where is this Petco?

 

They don’t seem to have anything here except dead fish, that’s petco for u. They only have pimafix and melafix

Yup sure is. Just like Wal-Mart. Anyway I am trying to think because you can't really help the betta without meds. Doing water changes will just slow down the speed and feeding properly.

 

Try Walmart! They carry fish meds and see what they have. If s a PetSmart around they Carry API products which is the Maracyn and General Cure. Don’t panic, once we get meds this can be treated.

 

Even methylene blue better than that! Where is this Petco?

Little Neck plaza

Try Walmart! They carry fish meds and see what they have. If s a PetSmart around they Carry APO products which is the Maracyn and General Cure. Don’t panic, once we get meds this can be treated.

Okay thanks, I’m heading to another fish store now

 

Now I’m panicking...lol! I meant if you can get to PetSmart they carry API Products which is what we need. Furan-2, General Cure, and I saw Kanaplex there the other day. If no Petsmart, try Walmart. They usually have Erythromycin or General Cure at least. Slow down and calm down. Don’t get hurt. We’re here.

 

Now I’m panicking...lol! I meant if you can get to PetSmart they carry API Products which is what we need. Furan-2, General Cure, and I saw Kanaplex there the other day. If no Petsmart, try Walmart. They usually have Erythromycin or General Cure at least. Slow down and calm down. Don’t get hurt. We’re here.

I feel bad making my dad drive me around. And I feel guilty not treating my betta earlier today because I was out doing errands. Sorry for causing anyone else to panick.

 

I feel bad making my dad drive me around. And I feel guilty not treating my betta earlier today because I was out doing errands. Sorry for causing anyone else to panick.

Slow down. Doing what you can. Dad loves you. Hang in there.

 

How long do I have until she passes? Should I also treat my tank? I have three guppies, nerite snail, rescued cherry barb and tons of rams horn snail in my 10 gallon. It’s also heavily planted

 

That s what Kanaplex looks like...

We have time if we get meds.

 

Do you have Amazon prime?

 

You will need to treat the tank. Sarah/Gypsy do you agree on treating tank?

 

Yes. Fungus can easily be spread within the community.

 

Is Kanaplex better or general cure. This store has both

 

Any of these...

 

Is Kanaplex better or general cure. This store has both

Sweet! I would get both just in case of of your other fish gets it.