Cazrea
Member
Hi! I acquired a Betta a few weeks ago from a mall pet store. The store really pushed me to get him, and gave me a smaller tank, used media to seed, tons of water, and extra plants if I got him. Despite being in the dirtiest cup, he looked healthy and so decided to put him in the new tank, planted it, and forgo quarantine medications. Apart from seeding it with the used media, I took some from my established tank as well. I had a spike the first few days though I didn't worry because I had Prime, and it stabilized quickly.
Of course, not medicating was the worst move I could've made but he didn't have clamped fins, ate a lot, and was even fighting his reflection. Normal healthy betta behavior, I assumed. I added feeder shrimp in his tank, which I also fed to my other fish without issue, but he didn't eat them. He spooked the shrimp from time to time, but there were only 2 casualties. Shrimps are still alive and thriving.
A week later, his head color still didn't fill in like his body did so I wasn't sure if he had something or if it was just his color. I asked multiple places, and most of them (even breeders) have said that there was nothing to worry about and it was his color. I had already moved him into a quarantine tank ready to medicate, but didn't push through and kept him there cause he seemed happier in the QT with his Indian Almond Leaves and I don't think it was right to move him back and forth. He hurt his lip fighting his reflection prior to moving him, and I was recommended to use Seachem Stress Guard or API Stress Coat to help with his wound. I got Stress Coat since my LFS didn't have Stress Guard.
A few days ago, he started growing a lump on his head. I contacted a breeder and he said it can range from some form of infection to cancerous tumor. I started dousing the QT with Methylene Blue and Aquarium Salt in the hopes that it'll help slow down infection. Yesterday, he developed Popeye. He ate fine in the morning, but at the evening I initially thought he wasn't interested in eating but turns out he had a hard time seeing the smaller bits I often fed him, so I put bigger flakes that I had to assist to stay in place for him to eat. He isn't lethargic, but I lessened his water to 1G (he's in a 2.5G QT), just enough for him to rest on an IAL and breathe without swimming. He still has space to swim if he wanted to. He also started clamping his fins last night, but this morning he swam to me when he saw me and around his tank while I was there.
I've googled and scoured the internet for what he has. The only thread I've found is this:
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfi...s-bump-on-head-and-possible-mouth-rot.276268/
He has this, however instead of white dots and holes, his came with Popeye on one eye. The lump on his head has actually looks like it's pine coned, and I'm pretty worried about it. He doesn't have dropsy, though; it's just the lump on his head. I have since stopped Stress Coat, because someone said it inhibits Methylene Blue's Fungal properties. The thread wasn't concluded, so I guess I wanna know if should I go out to buy the meds listed. Should I get all Kanaplex, Maracyn-2, and Nitrofurazone, or which is best to pick up?
I'm not sure what meds my LFS has and can't get meds until tomorrow. I'm in the Philippines and it's currently Easter, so my LFS (and I assume other stores) is closed. It's also my mom's birthday, so my day is booked even though I wanna look for meds today. Hopefully the current meds will help him for another day, cause I've really come to love this fish. He's super personable, and he's easily become my favorite fish to watch. I'm pretty bummed this happened, and that I should've 1) never skipped quarantine medicating, 2) listened to my gut instincts, 3) buy a fish I actually didn't plan on getting in the first place.
Water Parameters:
Tank Size: 2.5G, but only 1G of water.
Temperature: 25C-26C.
Filter: Mechanical only Hang On Back Filter, it's high so when the water drops, it also creates air.
PH: 7.0-7.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 0
WC: 50% daily due to the very small amount of water.
Added into the water:
Indian Almond Leaves
Methylene Blue (5 drops per 1g)
Aquarium Salt (Mixed in a 5 gallon bucket; 1tbsp per 5g)
Prime to condition water, 2x dose just in case of an nitrogen spike before WC since Methylene Blue kills BB.
Sorry for the really long post, but thanks in advance for the help!
Of course, not medicating was the worst move I could've made but he didn't have clamped fins, ate a lot, and was even fighting his reflection. Normal healthy betta behavior, I assumed. I added feeder shrimp in his tank, which I also fed to my other fish without issue, but he didn't eat them. He spooked the shrimp from time to time, but there were only 2 casualties. Shrimps are still alive and thriving.
A week later, his head color still didn't fill in like his body did so I wasn't sure if he had something or if it was just his color. I asked multiple places, and most of them (even breeders) have said that there was nothing to worry about and it was his color. I had already moved him into a quarantine tank ready to medicate, but didn't push through and kept him there cause he seemed happier in the QT with his Indian Almond Leaves and I don't think it was right to move him back and forth. He hurt his lip fighting his reflection prior to moving him, and I was recommended to use Seachem Stress Guard or API Stress Coat to help with his wound. I got Stress Coat since my LFS didn't have Stress Guard.
A few days ago, he started growing a lump on his head. I contacted a breeder and he said it can range from some form of infection to cancerous tumor. I started dousing the QT with Methylene Blue and Aquarium Salt in the hopes that it'll help slow down infection. Yesterday, he developed Popeye. He ate fine in the morning, but at the evening I initially thought he wasn't interested in eating but turns out he had a hard time seeing the smaller bits I often fed him, so I put bigger flakes that I had to assist to stay in place for him to eat. He isn't lethargic, but I lessened his water to 1G (he's in a 2.5G QT), just enough for him to rest on an IAL and breathe without swimming. He still has space to swim if he wanted to. He also started clamping his fins last night, but this morning he swam to me when he saw me and around his tank while I was there.
I've googled and scoured the internet for what he has. The only thread I've found is this:
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfi...s-bump-on-head-and-possible-mouth-rot.276268/
He has this, however instead of white dots and holes, his came with Popeye on one eye. The lump on his head has actually looks like it's pine coned, and I'm pretty worried about it. He doesn't have dropsy, though; it's just the lump on his head. I have since stopped Stress Coat, because someone said it inhibits Methylene Blue's Fungal properties. The thread wasn't concluded, so I guess I wanna know if should I go out to buy the meds listed. Should I get all Kanaplex, Maracyn-2, and Nitrofurazone, or which is best to pick up?
I'm not sure what meds my LFS has and can't get meds until tomorrow. I'm in the Philippines and it's currently Easter, so my LFS (and I assume other stores) is closed. It's also my mom's birthday, so my day is booked even though I wanna look for meds today. Hopefully the current meds will help him for another day, cause I've really come to love this fish. He's super personable, and he's easily become my favorite fish to watch. I'm pretty bummed this happened, and that I should've 1) never skipped quarantine medicating, 2) listened to my gut instincts, 3) buy a fish I actually didn't plan on getting in the first place.
Water Parameters:
Tank Size: 2.5G, but only 1G of water.
Temperature: 25C-26C.
Filter: Mechanical only Hang On Back Filter, it's high so when the water drops, it also creates air.
PH: 7.0-7.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 0
WC: 50% daily due to the very small amount of water.
Added into the water:
Indian Almond Leaves
Methylene Blue (5 drops per 1g)
Aquarium Salt (Mixed in a 5 gallon bucket; 1tbsp per 5g)
Prime to condition water, 2x dose just in case of an nitrogen spike before WC since Methylene Blue kills BB.
Sorry for the really long post, but thanks in advance for the help!
