Betta
fish is an exotic, sensitive and aggressive fish. It is a tropical fish which
requires a moderate water temperature. The main criteria to breeding a Betta
fish is a spacious and clean fish tank with proper maintenance, avoid over
feeding and overcrowding. First Test Your Aquarium Water
Betta
fish is prone to the same diseases, much like all other fish but the treatment
methods are slightly different.
Below Are The Most 8 Common Betta Fish Disease And Treatments
1. WHITE SPOT DISEASE
How to treat white spot disease
in a betta fish?
Causes:
It
is caused by a protozoan called Ichthyophithiriusmultifilis (ICH ) which
thrives in bad water and is sometimes introduced by foods that contain the
parasite.
Treatment:
•
Like all other diseases, cleaning of the water tank, isolating the affected
fish and treating it with API Melafix and Aquarium salt is
the fundamental requirement, as the parasite resides under the skin of fish.
Add
aquarium salt to the tank at regular intervals, together with the medication
KORDON ICH INHIBITOR.
•
After three days, the tank must be thoroughly cleaned with malachite green to
eliminate the causative agent.
2. FLUKES / FIN ROT / PIMPLES
How to treat fin rot disease in
a betta fish?
The
fish starts to lose it sheen, colour and fins appear jagged. Sometimes fins or
tail begin to literally fall off or clamp to the body.
Causes:
•
Pseudomonas and other related bacteria.
Treatment:
•
Treat the whole tank with API Melafix and Aquarium salt,
but quarantine and treat the heavily infected fish.
•
Tetracycline should be added.
3. BLOAT / SWIM BLADDER
How to
treat bloating in a betta fish?
The
fish appears to be slightly bloated and struggles to balance itself sometimes
going ‘belly up’ due improper buoyancy.
Causes:
Most
common cause is the feeding of starchy foods to the fish which causes gas and
expulsion becomes difficult. Other causes include bacterial infections, damaged
swim bladder, congenital or development causes, sudden trauma or stress.
Treatment:
· Feed
fiber rich foods. The use of Lactobacilli acidophilus through gel foods helps
in removing the gas trapped in the GI tract. Fasting for a few days helps
remove the undigested foods from the intestinal tract.
· API Melafix and Aquarium salt should
be administered only if the root cause is properly diagnosed
4. MOUTH FUNGUS/ROT/DISEASE
How to
treat fungus disease in betta fish?
This
is characterized by small white fungal patches growing on the mouth and body of
fish, and the fish might start losing weight, because of difficulty in eating.
The fish might start gasping for air on the surface with its mouth open.
Causes:
•
It is caused by Saproglenia and other related bacteria.
Treatment:
•
Addition of Aquarium Salt or Jungle Labs Fungus Eliminator to the tank.
5. HOLE IN THE HEAD DISEASE
How to
treat hole in the head disease in a betta fish?
Causes:
•
It is highly contagious disease and the cause of this condition is Hexamita
Protozoa.
Symptoms:
•
Appearance of small, white pits and pimples on the head of the fish, with
mucous around them.
•
The fish loses weight, becomes lethargic, loses appetite, and will produce
white, stringy feaces.
Treatment:
Change the water frequently
adding Tetracycline 500mg and 1 x Dimetridazole 500mg with some Vitamins.
Adding API Melafix and Aquarium salt will
also help bring the infection under control.
Maintain
the temperature of the water and install an Oxygen
Stone
6. DROPSY
How to
treat dropsy in betta fish?
Dropsy
mainly affects the digestion system of fish.
Causes:
•
Bacterial infection, Poor water quality, Overcrowding, and Stress are the
common causes.
Symptoms:
•
The fish appears to be bloated with a low appetite and seems to be
stressed.
Treatment:
•
Avoid aquarium salt and use the prescribed medication.
7. AIR BLADDER DISEASE
How to
treat air bladder disease?
The
air bladder does not open which curtails the swimming activity of the fish. This
causes stress because of the incorrect position in swimming.
Causes:
•
Virus or a bacterial infection, along with fungus in fin, (caused due to bad
water) are main reason for this.
Treatment:
•
Antibiotics like Tetracycline API Melafix and Aquarium salt can
cure the problem.
8. VELVET DISEASE
How to
treat velvet disease in betta fish?
Fungus,
due to poor water quality is the main cause for this.
Symptoms:
•
The fish appear lethargic and stop swimming.
•
The fish keep pooping a sticky, long and white line which appears like a long
tail.
The
common causes areinternal parasites in the stomach, feeding live worms or
insects, high protein diet, and poor water conditions.
Treatment:
•
A solution of COPPER SULPHATE and CITRIC ACID added to the water in the desired
quantity can be an effective treatment.
WHITE
POOP
•
Use medications like Melafix and Aquarium salt for
treatment.
•
Do not feed the fish and quarantine it alone for three days with heater. Change
the water after 3 days and repeat the medication.
General
Treatment Guide
•
Remove all decorative articles and filters from tank.
•
Keep air circulating.
•
Maintain water temperature and cover the tank to avoid direct sunlight.
Change
water regularly.
•
Quarantine new or infected fish till there is no sign of infection.
•
Avoid cross-tank contamination.
