Buzz
There are numerous signs that indicate a betta fish may be unwell, ranging from lethargic behavior to white spots on its body. If you suspect your betta fish is sick, it’s essential to isolate it from other fish immediately, as many illnesses are contagious. Additionally, you can purchase medication for betta fish at local pet stores. If unavailable in stores, online options are also viable.
Steps
Watch for signs that your betta fish is unwell
Observe if the fish’s color fades. When a betta fish is sick, its vibrant colors may dull or even disappear entirely.
Pay attention to the fish's fins. Healthy betta fish have intact fins, while sick betta fish may have torn or hole-ridden fins.
- Another sign of illness is when the fins appear clamped close to the body, meaning they don’t spread out as they normally would.
Observe the fish's lethargic behavior. If a betta fish is sick, its activity level will decrease, and it won’t be as lively as usual. Its movements will slow down.
- Another indicator is the fish spending more time at the bottom of the tank than usual.
- Lethargy can also be caused by water temperatures that are too high or too low, so ensure the water temperature is within the appropriate range.
Monitor the betta fish's eating habits. When suffering from certain illnesses, the fish may stop eating altogether. If your betta fish seems uninterested in food, it might be unwell.
Check for spots. Look for small white spots, especially around the head and mouth of the fish. This symptom could indicate a parasitic infection known as ich.
Detect respiratory issues in the fish. Checking for breathing problems might sound unusual, but if your betta fish frequently swims to the surface for air, it’s a sign of trouble.
- While betta fish occasionally surface to breathe, doing so constantly is abnormal.
Observe scratching or rubbing behavior in the fish. If you notice your betta fish rubbing against the tank walls, it could be a sign of trouble. Similarly, if the fish tries to rub against plants or decorations in the tank, it might be unwell.
Look for other physical symptoms. Bulging eyes can indicate illness. Check if the fish’s eyes appear swollen.
- Raised scales can also be a symptom of disease.
- Examine the gills. If the gills don’t close properly, they might be swollen, which is another sign of illness.
Addressing Constipation
Check for signs of bloating. If your betta fish suddenly appears swollen, it might be constipated. This condition needs to be treated promptly.
Feed the fish live food. After a few days, you can start feeding the fish again. However, it’s best to offer live food for a while.
- Live food options for betta fish include brine shrimp or bloodworms. A general rule is to provide enough food for the fish to consume within two minutes. Feed the fish twice a day.
Avoid overfeeding. Constipation is often a sign that you’re feeding your betta fish too much. Therefore, when the fish starts eating again, reduce the portion size.
Diagnosing Fin/Tail Rot and Fungal Infections
Watch for torn fins or tails. This condition may only affect the tail or fins, but it can make the fish look ragged.
- Note that some long-tailed breeds, like half-moon bettas, may nip their fins if they become too heavy. In such cases, look for other symptoms of illness besides torn fins.
- Additionally, pay attention to darkening at the edges of the tail.
Look for white fungal patches. This condition is often identifiable by white patches on the fish’s body. The fins may also appear clumped, or the fish may become less active than usual. Although fungal infections differ from fin rot, the treatment methods are similar.
Change the water. The first step is to replace the tank water. Of course, you’ll need to move the fish to another tank during this process. This disease often develops in dirty water, so providing clean water is essential. You should also clean the tank before reintroducing the fish.
- The best way to clean the tank is by using a bleach solution mixed with water at a 1:20 ratio. Let the bleach solution sit in the tank for an hour. You can soak artificial plants in the solution, but avoid soaking rocks or gravel, as they may absorb the bleach.
- Remember to rinse the tank thoroughly multiple times after cleaning with bleach.
- For rocks and gravel, bake them at 232°C for an hour. Let them cool before placing them back in the tank.
Use medication. Treat your betta fish with tetracycline or ampicillin added to the water. The amount of medication depends on the tank size; follow the instructions on the packaging.
- You’ll also need to use an antifungal medication. This will eliminate any fungal growth in the water.
- If the issue is solely a fungal infection, tetracycline or ampicillin won’t be necessary, but antifungal treatment is required.
Repeat the treatment process. Change the water at least every three days. Add medication after each water change. Only stop treatment when the fish’s fins show signs of regrowth; this process may take up to a month.
- For fungal infections, monitor whether the white patches and other symptoms have disappeared. Once they’re gone, you can treat the tank with Bettazing or Bettamax to eliminate any remaining fungus.
Treating Velvet Disease
Shine a flashlight on the fish. One way to detect velvet disease is by shining light on the fish. The light will reveal a yellowish or rusty shimmer on the scales caused by the disease. Betta fish may also exhibit other symptoms, such as lethargy, loss of appetite, and rubbing against tank walls or decorations. Their fins may also appear clamped.
- This parasite can be prevented by regularly adding aquarium salt and water conditioner to the tank. Use 1 teaspoon of salt per 10 liters of water. Add 1 drop of water conditioner per 4 liters of water, but always check the product instructions first. Only add salt during water changes, and do not add medication when topping off the water.
Use Bettazing. This is the most effective medication for treating velvet disease, as it contains two active ingredients that combat the illness. Add 12 drops per 4 liters of water.
- You can also use a medication called "Maracide."
- Continue treatment until the fish no longer shows symptoms.
Treat the entire tank. While the infected fish should be isolated, the entire tank must also be treated, as this disease is highly contagious.
- To isolate the sick fish, move it to a separate tank with clean water. Both tanks need to be treated.
Treating Ich Disease
Look for white salt-like spots covering the fish’s body. Ich is a parasite that causes these spots. You should also watch for clamped fins and lethargic behavior. The fish may also stop eating.
- Like velvet, this parasite can be prevented by properly treating the water. Add 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt per 10 liters of water. If using a water conditioner, add 1 drop per 4 liters of water, but always check the product instructions first.
Try raising the water temperature to treat ich. For larger tanks, increase the water temperature to 29.5°C to kill the parasites. However, be cautious with smaller tanks, as raising the temperature too high can harm or kill the fish.
Change the water and clean the tank. To treat ich, start by replacing the water. Additionally, clean the tank as described in the fin/tail rot and fungal infection treatment sections. For smaller tanks, you can move the fish to another tank, clean the original tank thoroughly, and raise the water temperature to 29.5°C before reintroducing the fish.
Treat the water. Remember to add aquarium salt and water conditioner to the tank before returning the fish. This step will prevent parasites from re-infecting the fish.
Use Aquarisol. Add 1 drop of this medication per 4 liters of water. Continue treatment daily until the fish recovers. The medication will eliminate the parasites.
- If Aquarisol is unavailable, you can use Bettazing as an alternative.
Treating Popeye Disease
Watch for bulging eyes in the fish. The primary symptom of this condition is the protrusion of the fish’s eyes. However, this can sometimes indicate another underlying illness.
- For example, bulging eyes may be a sign of tuberculosis. If tuberculosis is the cause, the fish is unlikely to recover on its own.
Change the water and clean the tank. For treating popeye in fish, ensure the fish has clean water as mentioned earlier. Additionally, thoroughly clean the tank.
Use ampicillin. Ampicillin can treat this condition if it’s not a symptom of a more severe illness. Add the medication to the tank during each water change and cleaning, repeating this process for three days. Continue the treatment for a week after symptoms disappear.
Tips
- Humane euthanasia is an option if you believe the fish is suffering. However, ensure it’s not just a minor illness before taking this step!
- Don’t worry if your betta fish changes color. This is called marbling and is common in betta splendens. Color changes are only a concern if the fish’s color fades suddenly (indicating stress) or if the tail becomes frayed and turns red or black due to fin rot.
- Torn fins can result from sharp rocks or plastic plants in the tank, so remove such items. Keep the water warm and clean, and the fish will heal on its own.
- If the fish often stays in one spot, it might have an infection. However, don’t rush to buy medication or antifungal treatments. First, ensure the fish isn’t bored, sad, or hungry before considering medication.
Warnings
- Some "symptoms" may not actually indicate illness. Lethargy in fish can result from cold water (without a heater), and torn fins might be due to fin nipping or sharp objects in the tank. Avoid using medication based on a single symptom! Consider other clues as well.
- Be cautious of tuberculosis (Mycobacterium marinum). This disease is contagious, fatal, and can spread to humans. Symptoms in fish include lethargy, bulging eyes, and skeletal deformities or spinal curvature. Symptoms in humans include swollen, red, cyst-like nodules, often at the site of bacterial entry (e.g., open wounds). If you suspect you’ve contracted tuberculosis from fish, inform your doctor about your fishkeeping activities to avoid misdiagnosis.
- Betta fish can contract other incurable diseases. For example, dropsy is a fatal condition that causes the fish’s abdomen to swell, and when viewed from above, the scales will appear raised. There is no cure for this disease, but you should isolate the affected fish if symptoms are observed.
