TOP 8 MOST COMMON BETTA FISH DISEASE AND TREATMENT

• fish diseases
• 16-07-2019

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. 

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