Saddleback:(

My last Betta is suffering from saddleback

She was the only one out of all of my Bettas to miss November’s epidemic and I’m trying to save her. Being unable to find fungas guard anywhere, I was treating with kanaplex only

I now have the fungas guard, salt. And Betta revive. I found a store that has a great stock of meds- if something will help her, I’ll buy it

As of now I have discontinued kanaplex...she saw no improvement after 3treatments. I’m doing daily water changes instead . I have added a bath dose of Betta revive to half a tank, before I finish filling it to a normal dosage level


Advice is welcome

I’m on my way out, and have just finished water changes....so little point testing—-I’d only be giving you the tap stats. Normal for me is ammonia (it’s sometimes in the tap)0-.25/0/10

 

Please tell me you have a filter and a heater.

 

Yes, she’s filtered and heated. It’s only a 2.5 gallon but she gets a 1/2 gallon water change every day or two normally. Today I did a 90% water change, to remove the Kanaplex. The tank has been up since July, when she was removed from the Sorority-she was incompatible with the other girls. The epidemic I refer to was columnaris-like symptoms in both of my other tanks, and it wiped out all of my other bettas, but didn't touch my khulis or pleco. I treated at the time with Kanaplex/fungas guard, over a 3 weeek period....but still lost all of the girls.

I believe that the catalyst was a couple of weeks ago, when my daughter, who knows nothing of mixing chemicals, dipped a jug into the main (previously infected) tank, and used that water to refill the betta's tank. I can't be sure, as nothing in the main tank has been ill since November, after the treatments...but my research tended to indicate that once columnaris was present in a tank, it was permanently there?

 

Yes, she’s filtered and heated. It’s only a 2.5 gallon but she gets a 1/2 gallon water change every day or two normally. Today I did a 90% water change, to remove the Kanaplex. The tank has been up since July, when she was removed from the Sorority-she was incompatible with the other girls. The epidemic I refer to was columnaris-like symptoms in both of my other tanks, and it wiped out all of my other bettas, but didn't touch my khulis or pleco. I treated at the time with Kanaplex/fungas guard, over a 3 weeek period....but still lost all of the girls.

I believe that the catalyst was a couple of weeks ago, when my daughter, who knows nothing of mixing chemicals, dipped a jug into the main (previously infected) tank, and used that water to refill the betta's tank. I can't be sure, as nothing in the main tank has been ill since November, after the treatments...but my research tended to indicate that once columnaris was present in a tank, it was permanently there?

Go to the website in the columnaris section and read the treatment page, there are lots of steps but the success rate is pretty high if you follow the instructions.

 

I’ve been and have read

I’ve started treatment and she’s more lively today, though weak. She was pulled into the filter intake so I have put here into a breeding box where she can remain filtered and heated but not pushed around

I’m also going to get some fresh blood worms to help her strength

 

I’ve been and have read

I’ve started treatment and she’s more lively today, though weak. She was pulled into the filter intake so I have put here into a breeding box where she can remain filtered and heated but not pushed around

I’m also going to get some fresh blood worms to help her strength

I am glad she is responding to treatment, continue for longer than you think so she doesn’t relapse. Good quality food and goo tank conditioner also help so she is on her road to recovery.

 

I just moved her to the 5 gallon so that I can dose kanaplex and fungas cure.

While she’s still more active than when I first posted, I see fungal growth and her fins don’t look good. The 5 just became available now that the fry is big enough to join the others, and it’s easier and safer to dose a bigger tank that the cats don’t drink from

I left her in the breeder box for now- I’m seeding a sponge filter in there, but right now I’m running an aquaclear 30, which in her weakened state would blow her around.

 

 

Looks good today. Second day in the 5 gallon and she’s strong enough that I let her out of the box. I’m feeding blood worms and shrimp based food to get her strength back up. Still have the rash but she is improving

 

—-Kicker is coming along nicely

The rash is gone now and I think I will keep her in the 5 gallon. I doubt that the 2.5 is still cycled now and the cats are using it as a water bowl anyways so they can keep it lol

 

Looks good today. Second day in the 5 gallon and she’s strong enough that I let her out of the box. I’m feeding blood worms and shrimp based food to get her strength back up. Still have the rash but she is improving

She’s going to be so spoiled!

 

I'm glad to spoil her- she's my last survivor out of 12 bettas that fell to columnaris. I'd love to see her live a full, happy life

She's back to her radiant blue today, and I can see regrowth on her fins, plus shes dancing for food when I see her. I think I will move her out of the corner...that tank was a QT/grow-out for a baby guppy and was tossed in the corner beside the 38 gallon for ease of access during water changes....but if its a permanent home for a social fish, it should be where she can see us, and I should plant it instead of the pink plastic plant things that offfered cover to the fry