Betta Problems
My little Betta has been acting Very strange for about 2 weeks now. When I last changed his water I gave him a freeze dried blood worm (just in a little vial that I keep in the cupboard) They are about 2 years old. I hadn't fed them to him in at least 2 years. A day later I noticed red splotches on his body so I treated him in Betta Max, the spots went away but he never fully regained his appetite. Now he sits at the bottom of the tank, or by the heater and doesn't move or eat hardly at all. He doesn't respond to me any more. I can't see anything on his body But I know he NOT behaving normally. His gills pump really hard like he is out of breath and when he surfaces he takes 7 breaths of air at the same time. I can't get him to eat, I am afraid he sick and I don't know what to treat him with so he is going to die. What should I do? What does he have? I don't know if it is related to the Blood worm or not. He will be 2 years old in April. PLEASE help! Vanessa
>>Dear Vanessa; Hello. How big is his tank, is there a filter on it, and how often do you do water changes? Do you test your water? I recommend getting it tested at your Local Fish Store (LFS). Ask them to test ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates. They will tell you the readings. Ammonia should be zero, nitrite also zero, and nitrates hopefully around 20ppm, higher is okay, but not higher than 80ppm. If the test results are not what I mentioned, you will need to do some more water changes, everyday if the tests are high. If you cannot get your water tested, then just do water changes every day for about a week until you can see if the fish is becoming responsive or not. If the water quality is good, there is one other thing that could be wrong...how old is your Betta? The average life span in a bowl/small tank is around 2 years or so. Your Betta may be dying of old age. If so, regular water changes will help him live his last days in comfort. -Gwen>>

Betta with white film
I did just what you suggested- I took the Black Moor back and got a Betta.  I was out of the office yesterday, and now today one side of him is covered in white film, and he is acting funny.
<Hi Steph, I should have given you more info on the bettas in my last email.  You will have to move fast on the issue with the Betta, that white film isn't ich, that's a body fungus.  And it grows FAST on bettas.  I'm not sure why it seems to attack and spread on this fish so quickly but it does.  Bettas are shipped in horrible conditions, they are literally stuffed into 2x2 inch bags with just enough water to cover their bodies.  This really stresses the fish out, which in turn lowers the fishes immune system.  The problem is that your Betta's slime coat (which ever fish has) is not really great since it was shipped so bad.  What you will need to do is go and purchase some medicine to treat this fish.  I suggest you use Mardel's Maracyn tablets for your Betta.  I have always used it on my bettas and provided that you treat early enough it will cure the fish right up.  After the fish heals you might want to consider adding a water treatment that will help the fish build up his slime coat.>
  Is that what is considered 'Ick' on a fish? This tank is new, with just that darn goldfish in it.... I didn't think the water quality was that poor.  Can you help me figure what to do to get rid of this?
<Goldfish carry quite a bit of parasites and illness that probably was introduced when you had the black more in there.  It's not ich, but a fungus.  I would treat with the Maracyn and it should cure the fish (provided that you treat it early enough).  I can't stress enough that this will spread quickly on your Betta so it's best not to wait.  There are some great Betta forums online and I suggest you check out some of them. One I used previously was http://fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?showforum=5  That is how I learned most of my info about bettas, Also there are many books dealing with bettas.  Be sure to check one out Good luck, and if you need anything else let me know -Magnus>

Betta Problems? - 02/10/2004
Hi, my name is Megan.  
<Hi, Megan - Sabrina here, tonight!>
Last night I bought a Betta fish from a pet store.  I have had another Betta fish for about 1 year and 4 months now and have had no problems with it.  
<These are excellent fish.>
However, this new one seems to be sick.  I bought it a 1/2 gallon tank.  I used Betta Plus Bowl Conditioner in the water and have feed him Wardley Bette Food (pellets).  When I bought him he was a deep blue and black color.  Today, he is turning pink and on his stomach underneath his front fins/gills it is silver.  
<Sounds like he's stressed - do please check your water parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH); this new tank is probably cycling now, and ammonia and nitrite may be rising dangerously.  It would be a good idea to do a water change of 50% or greater; be sure to match the temperature of the new water to the water that he's in now.>
There is a black type thing coming out of his gills and underneath his mouth (I don't know what this is called, it looks like a sharks mouth) when he breaths.  
<This is part of his gill structure.... nothing to worry about.>
I have tried to get a picture of this, but it is difficult.  I am sending the picture that best shows him.  
<I'm afraid the picture did not make it through....>
Also, it seems as if it is difficult for him to eat the pellets.  He puts them in his mouth and just spits them back out.  Should I switch his food?  
<Heh, it sounds like he's being a picky eater....  give him a few days with this food, if he persists in not eating it, you might try freeze-dried bloodworms, or even frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp, just to get something in his tummy.  If he is hungry enough, he should eat the pellets.>
One more thing, when I fed him tonight, he ate one pellet and then a few minutes later he seemed to throw some of the food back up.  Please help me.  Thank you very much!!
<So far, the only step I can recommend is to test his water, and do a water change or two to keep ammonia and nitrite down....  please do continue keeping touch on the forums, as well, and we'll be sure to help you figure out your new Betta pal.  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Betta swollen on one side
Good Morning
I was pleased to find your web site as I have a problem with my Betta   
I purchased Thai last summer.  "Thai" lives alone in a 2 gal tank (actually it only takes about 1 1/2 gal of water).  He has two artificial plants.  I turn the light on about  1 1/2 hours in the am and the PM.  I feed him some BettaMin Tropical flakes  and Hikari multi vitamin enriched blood worms in the am and blood worms only at night.  I change the water about every month - using bottled spring water.  
Recently he seems to be spending more time at the bottom of the tank and has developed a lump on his right side.  It extends from the back of his fin to the "end of his torso (?) before the long part of the tail.  It  is quite large, considering his small size.  It looks sort of white behind his scales but I think that is just the separation of his skin due to the swelling.  The other side seems normal, but might be just a wee bit large.  Hard for me to be sure..  I changed the water when I noticed his spending less time swimming but that that did not change his behavior - I have no idea what this is or what to do.  He is still eating and continues to be very happy when I talk to him - but clearly something is wrong.  
I have read some of the other questions and answers but all are slightly different.  Never the less, it sounds less likely to be constipation - than a tumor.  But I am willing to try anything.   Does he maybe need a heated or filtered tank?  His tank is in the kitchen.  I keep the heat around 69=70 during the day, but turn it down at night.  I really don't see how that would cause this sort of problem, but going forward want to do whatever I can for him.   We would appreciate any assistance you can send our way.
Thank you very much.
Dear Joan, Allow me to confuse you even further :) The reason you read different responses is because it could be anything. Plus, there is more than one way to skin a cat. So, first, let's address the water changes....once a month is NOT nearly often enough. Try once a week, even twice is not too much! Your Betta is swimming in his own liquid waste. Not good! Once a month is asking for problems. And tap water is fine, as long as you dechlorinate it. Also, make sure, when doing water changes, that your water change water is the SAME temp as the tank! I can honestly tell you that 90% of fish disease could be avoided simply by doing proper water changes. Now, temperature. I know that bettas can live at Room Temp. However, they will fare MUCH better in winter if you use a heater. It would cost you very little to set up a 2.5 or a 5 gallon tank with a small heater in it. Set the temperature for 78F. You can add a small filter, if you like, but it's not necessary. A filter means you can go longer periods between water changes. If you really want to know how often to change the water, buy yourself some ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate test kits, and use them regularly :D On the down side, I am not sure if your Betta is going to survive. Clean up his water, and maybe he will pull through. You may add a bit of Melafix, if you can find it at your Local Fish Store. And add some Epsom salts, to help with any "constipation". One last thing...keep in mind bettas are pretty short-lived, usually only lasting two to three years. -Gwen

Swollen Betta
Dear Gwen,
Oh Thank You so much for responding!  
>>You are welcome :)<<
I got my Betta at Wal-Mart (felt so
sorry for them in these horrible little containers)  'Anyway, then I
"consulted" with a Pet Store - they are the ones that said clean the water
once a month - even once told me not to feed him more than once a day OR
LESS - so the tank didn't get so dirty.  I thought that was pretty absurd.
>>Actually, I agree with this info. Most people tend to way overfeed their fish, resulting in deterioration of water quality and dietary problems like fatty liver disease. Feed your Betta once a day, or every other day.<<
I will begin by changing the water today and then 1-2 times a week.  I did
know about the water being room temperature and I have been very careful
about that.  Also, I will look into getting a heated tank -
>>Excellent.<<
because even if Thai does not make it, I will "rescue" another Betta.  I sure wish I had
found your site when I bought him.  I actually did surf the web for some
basic info - but what I really needed to know - came from you.
So thank you once again for all your information - I do have two questions
1 - How do you dechlorinate water (I actually have a big water filtration
system which I am told removes most of the chlorine - but I don't know how
to check it.
>>You can buy dechlorinator at your local fish store. It is not expensive.<<
And finally, one you may not be able to answer - but could the fact that
the water was not cleaned often enough produce a tumor?
>>Correct. Water that is not changed often enough becomes more and more toxic over time. This can have detrimental effects on fish health, everything from fin rot to internal infections, to outright death. Regular partial water changes, done at the right temperature, can minimize health problems, and give your fish a much better chance at living a nice long life. -Gwen<<
> Good Morning
> I was pleased to find your web site as I have a problem with my Betta   
> I purchased Thai last summer.  "Thai" lives alone in a 2 gal tank
(actually it only takes about 1 1/2 gal of water).  He has two artificial
plants.  I turn the light on about  1 1/2 hours in the am and the PM.  I
feed him some BettaMin Tropical flakes  and Hikari multi vitamin enriched
blood worms in the am and blood worms only at night.  I change the water
about every month - using bottled spring water.  
> Recently he seems to be spending more time at the bottom of the tank and
has developed a lump on his right side.  It extends from the back of his
fin to the "end of his torso (?) before the long part of the tail.  It  is
quite large, considering his small size.  It looks sort of white behind his
scales but I think that is just the separation of his skin due to the
swelling.  The other side seems normal, but might be just a wee bit large.
Hard for me to be sure..  I changed the water when I noticed his spending
less time swimming but that that did not change his behavior - I have no
idea what this is or what to do.  He is still eating and continues to be
very happy when I talk to him - but clearly something is wrong.  
> I have read some of the other questions and answers but all are slightly
different.  Never the less, it sounds less likely to be constipation - than
a tumor.  But I am willing to try anything.   Does he maybe need a heated
or filtered tank?  His tank is in the kitchen.  I keep the heat around
69=70 during the day, but turn it down at night.  I really don't see how
that would cause this sort of problem, but going forward want to do
whatever I can for him.   We would appreciate any assistance you can send
our way.
> Thank you very much.
>> Dear Joan, Allow me to confuse you even further :) The reason you read
different responses is because it could be anything. Plus, there is more
than one way to skin a cat. So, first, let's address the water
changes....once a month is NOT nearly often enough. Try once a week, even
twice is not too much! Your Betta is swimming in his own liquid waste. Not
good! Once a month is asking for problems. And tap water is fine, as long
as you dechlorinate it. Also, make sure, when doing water changes, that your
water change water is the SAME temp as the tank! I can honestly tell you
that 90% of fish disease could be avoided simply by doing proper water
changes. Now, temperature. I know that bettas can live at Room Temp.
However, they will fare MUCH better in winter if you use a heater. It would
cost you very little to set up a 2.5 or a 5 gallon tank with a small heater
in it. Set the temperature for 78F. You can add a small filter, if you
like, but it's not necessary. A filter means you can go longer periods
between water changes. If you really want to know how often to change the
water, buy yourself some ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate test kits, and use
them regularly :D On the down side, I am not sure if your Betta is going to
survive. Clean up his water, and maybe he will pull through. You may add a
bit of Melafix, if you can find it at your Local Fish Store. And add some
Epsom salts, to help with any "constipation". One last thing...keep in mind
bettas are pretty short-lived, usually only lasting two to three years.
-Gwen<<

Betta Problem
Gwen,
Thank you for your response, however, Mr. Betta did not make it. I would have thought mo re of a guy who has a salt water tank:):):) He said "I just didn't think about it,,," Whatever, my poor little Mr. Betta is gone. Next time, I'll change the water myself!!!
Thank you.  Shelli
>>Shelli, sorry to hear :( Perhaps you should consider buying another Betta, and trying again. This time I will help you learn to care for him, so you should have no problems. I hope you will think about it. -Gwen

Betta Internal infection
Hi, thanks for the info. Mr. Fishes is eating still he seems to have good days and bad. The other day I got a flashlight and looked at him really close, he does seem to have a small bump on his chin, possibly a wound that is healing. He is still eating, he got really lethargic when I tried the pea for a couple of days so we have switched to blood worms he loves those! He swims up to the top on occasion to get a bit of fresh air. He doesn't seem quite as swollen but still very big at the tail end. I have also changed his water and filtration as you said. Unfortunately, I live in such a small remote area medicated food is going to be hard to find. Thanks Again!
>>You are welcome. I hope things go well. Keep doing the water changes, try to do them every second day or so. Keep the temperature stable when you do. Peas may or may not help, since bettas are not herbivores like goldfish and some cichlids, you could try daphnia instead. If you live in too remote an area, you may not be able to find that too easily, either. At any rate, I hope your Betta recovers. -Gwen<<>
> Hi, Sorry I hate to bug ya~ I read a lot of your info on Betta constipation and I did try to go to a suggested site ("bettastarz.com") it was unavailable, so here's my problem/question my Betta AKA: Mr. Fishes (adopted 7 mo ago from a tsp of h2o @ Wally world) has been happy until recently the area just before his tail fin is very swollen, it isn't like the pic's you have posted where the stomach area is enlarged this is the back half. It has gotten much worse in the span of two days. Just to fill ya in on his background he was a cup fish when we got him and made him into a vase guy, then we found he had a personality, (he is a ladies man he puffs up at guys but will eat from my hand) :>) so we got him his very own 2 gal. He was so happy he blew bubbles! Later my very sweet 6 yr old decided she wanted a lobster! Thanks a lot Wal-Mart! so Mr. Fishes and Katrina lived in some peace in a 29 gal octagon. We recently moved and had decided to move them last to avoid paint fumes etc. when I went over to visit and feed our extended family I found a very lopsided Mr. Fishes so I took him home and back to his vase I put in some stress coat because I think Katrina may have gotten at him in the chin
area since he is hanging on the bottom now. I just read one of the posted responses that they really don't care for air? until the octo he hadn't had heat or air. My darling other half was sent to feed them a few days ago but forgot to take the food with him so he confessed to feeding both my tanks SHREDDED WHEAT!!!!!!!!! frosted no less... because it was there. All of my other fish seem fine but not the Betta. Did my guy constipate my fish? He is getting around slowly, and laying at the bottom a lot he is getting so big. The area seems almost transparent it is so stretched out!!!! Please Help!>
> >>Hello Melissa :D It sounds to me like your Betta has an internal problem. Intestinal worms or bacterial infections will cause a fish to
bloat. Is he still eating? The shredded wheat will not hurt him, but it isn't good for the water quality. Do a water change, and change your carbon while you are at it. I would recommend feeding him some medicated food (You will need to check the shelves of your local fish store to see what they have) and see if he improves. Keep his water clean, do regular partial water changes, making sure the water is the same temperature. HTH-Gwen<<

"Mr. Fishes" has got a prob. (Betta)
Hi, Sorry I hate to bug ya~ I read a lot of your info on Betta constipation and I did try to go to a suggested site ("bettastarz.com") it was unavail. so here's my prob/question my Betta AKA: Mr. Fishes (adopted 7 mo ago from a tsp of h2o @ Wally world) has been happy until recently the area just before his tail fin is very swollen, it isn't like the pic's you have posted where the stomach area is enlarged this is the back half. It has gotten much worse in the span of two days. Just to fill ya in on his background he was a cup fish when we got him and made him into a vase guy, then we found he had a personality, (he is a ladies man he puffs up at guys but will eat from my hand)  :>) so we got him his very own 2 gal. He was so happy he blew bubbles! Later my very sweet 6 yr old decided she wanted a lobster! Thanks a lot Wal-Mart!  so Mr. Fishes and Katrina lived in some peace in a 29 gal octagon. We recently moved and had decided to move them last to avoid paint fumes etc. when I went over to visit and feed our extended family I found a very lopsided Mr. Fishes so I took him home and back to his vase I put in some stress coat because I think Katrina may have gotten at him in the chin area since he is hanging on the bottom now. I just read one of the posted responses that they really don't care for air? until the octo he hadn't had heat or air. My darling other half was sent to feed them a few days ago but forgot to take the food with him so he confessed to feeding both my tanks SHREDDED WHEAT!!!!!!!!! frosted no less... because it was there. All of my other fish seem fine but not the Betta. Did my guy constipate my fish? He is getting around slowly, and laying at the bottom a lot he is getting so big. The area seems almost transparent it is so stretched out!!!! Please Help!
>>Hello Melissa :D It sounds to me like your Betta has an internal problem. Intestinal worms or bacterial infections will cause a fish to bloat. Is he still eating? The shredded wheat will not hurt him, but it isn't good for the water quality. Do a water change, and change your carbon while you are at it. I would recommend feeding him some medicated food (You will need to check the shelves of your local fish store to see what they have) and see if he improves. Keep his water clean, do regular partial water changes, making sure the water is the same temperature.
HTH-Gwen

Betta Fungus
Thanks for the info - yes, we change the water weekly.  I took a really good look at him last night - I'm thinking it may be a fungus - it looks like white "fluff" on his fins and there's even some floating in the water (which I changed).  We do tend to keep our house cooler at night so the temperature changes may be affecting him - still the other one seems fine.
>>Fungus can be difficult to cure. Usually a broad-spectrum antibiotic is required, but you must realize that it is expensive to use, and there are no guarantees. Do your water changes twice a week, and make sure not to contaminate your other Betta. You can try your Local Fish Store and see what meds they carry to combat fungus. Also, try to keep your bettas a bit warmer, say, between 74-78F, and stable. A small tank with a heater might be best for him, in wintertime.
Good luck.
-Gwen

Betta with swollen belly
Dear Crew,
You have all been a great help to me in the past, and I really need you now, because my beloved Betta is sick and I have no idea what's wrong. I have a 12-gallon tank with three mollies in it besides my Betta. His belly is swollen
and he spends all his time either lying on or under the plants in the tank, or hanging around next to the heater. He has been doing this for about three days now. He was also acting irritable and aggressive with the other fish, which is very unusual for him, but now he's not even doing that. 
>>Hello, Melanie. Are his scales sticking out like a pinecone? If so, it is generally too late to save a fish in that state, he will require euthanasia. If not, you can remove him to a small tank or bowl, keep his water quality good, and hope he improves.  
The first day I saw him doing this, I thought he might be constipated, because I once read that that can happen due to overfeeding, and I do know that he tends to steal the food that I feed to the mollies, thus getting more than he ought to. So, I fasted him for the past two days, but it didn't help at all. His swollen belly has gone down and looks more normal, but his color has faded on his body (fins are still bright). He is still interested in eating (since I tried to feed my mollies this morning and, as usual, he tried to steal from them) but gets tired after trying to catch the food and goes limp, eventually drifting into a plant and lying still again. Besides overfeeding, the only other thing I can think of that could have harmed him is I adjusted the pH in the tank five days ago; it had risen to 7.5 because I had done a water change with unusually hard water, and I noticed this during my weekly pH test and adjusted it down to 7.3, which I've read livebearers prefer.
>>I must disagree with this information. Mollies prefer alkaline water with a high pH.  You would be better off to leave your pH as it is. PH swings can be harder on your fish than you may realize. Mollies can also be quite aggressive, which is why I recommend you remove your Betta until he recuperates, and if he does, keep him in his own home. Putting him back with the mollies could lead to more aggression problems down the road. 
Here's some other info about my tank and so forth that might help you figure out what's wrong: I feed him Hikari Betta bio-gold pellets, plus freeze-dried bloodworms and ocean plankton, and a tiny bit of Nature's Delica vitamin gel.
He also steals the TetraMin Pro flakes that I give to the mollies. My tank is, again, 12 gallons; it's an Eclipse System 12, and I keep it at 80 degrees. I've had it for 6 months, and my Betta has been in it for four months. He's probably about 9 months old total, and been in perfect health until now, with long crowntail fins and a huge appetite and lots of energy. The other fish in my tank are acting perfectly normal.  Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help my poor Betta. I'm very attached to him and I feel horrible that I might have done anything to hurt him!
Thank you very much for reading my letter,--Melanie
>>You are welcome. Please let us know how he fares. 
-Gwen

Betta laying on it's side
In August I purchased a beautiful blue Betta named Krispie. Krispie had the opportunity to be a guest at the head table on my wedding day!
<Quite an honor for Krispie.>
Unfortunately Krispie has not been doing to well this past week in January...I went to the Pet Shop today and the man was not too helpful with me.
<Sadly that seems to happen far too often in today's pet shops for my taste.>
I told him that Krispie has been lying on his side and constantly stays at the bottom of the 1.84 Litre or 1/2 U.S. Gal. Aquarium. He gave me BettaFix Remedy and I added 1.2 ml of it today. My water is also treated with Betta Plus Bowl Conditioner...Water temperature is at 79 F. Is there anything I could do?
<I have friends that have used the BettaFix and said that it had worked on curing their Betta with illness, though I haven't used it personally on any of my bettas.  The Water Conditioner is fine, and is needed if you water has high medals or chlorine additives.  If there isn't any physical signs of sickness, (i.e., white cottony fungus, swelling, eyes cloudy) then it's hard to diagnose what could be the problem.  One of the best things you can do is to make sure the fish has clean water, and perhaps use an additive that is designed to help with the fishes slime coating (which prevents bacterial infections).>
I heard about Epsom Salt...Is it the same thing that you would find in a Pharmacy....Should I use this in the bowl....Please Help...Krispie's Family
<I wouldn't add salt to his tank, keep using the BettaFix per the package's instructions.  If the fishes health doesn't improve I suggest you do a large water change, and then try treating the fish with something a little more potent.  I would try Maracide, which has worked many times on my bettas.  Also the other medicines offered by the Mardel company work, though you have to cut them up to use in such a small container.  Good luck with Krispie, hope he gets better. -Magnus>

Betta Problem
My son purchased a Betta about 1 month ago.  Seemed fine.  Living in tap water using drops.  For about the past week or so - the fish seems to stay on the bottom most of the time - but all of a sudden will start dashing around, jerking - almost like it's having seizures - then will settle back down to the bottom.  I don't see anything unusual on the fish itself like spots or anything.  We also have another Betta that we bought at the same time - it's in the same living conditions as the other one and it is fine.  Any ideas what may be wrong?
>>Sounds like it could be a parasite. Does the water temp change a great deal? What is the temp in the early morning? Do you do regular water changes, using water the same temperature? The problem with bettas in winter is generally fungus on the fins due to the cold room temperatures. But fluctuation can bring on ich. You can try using Quick Cure or any other anti-parasitic medication, and see how it goes. -Gwen

Sick Betta with swollen belly (1/23/04)
Dear Crew,
<Hi! Ananda here tonight...>
You have all been a great help to me in the past, and I really need you now, because my beloved Betta is sick and I have no idea what's wrong. I have a 12-gallon tank with three mollies in it besides my Betta.
<That's just a touch on the crowded side... I hope you have a good filter system if your mollies are as piggish as mine are!>
His belly is swollen and he spends all his time either lying on or under the plants in the tank, or hanging around next to the heater. He has been doing this for about three days
now. He was also acting irritable and aggressive with the other fish, which is very unusual for him, but now he's not even doing that. The first day I saw him doing this, I thought he might be constipated, because I once read that that can happen due to overfeeding, and I do know that he tends to steal the food that I feed to the mollies, thus getting more than he ought to. So, I fasted him for the past two days, but it didn't help at all.
<Hmmm. Have you tried feeding him some roughage, like frozen/thawed peas (soaked in clam juice or seafood broth something similar to make it more palatable)?>
His swollen belly has gone down and looks more normal, but his color has faded on his body (fins are still bright).
<Have you seen any feces in the last few days?>
He is still interested in eating (since I tried to feed my mollies this morning and, as usual, he tried to steal from them) but gets tired after trying to catch the food and goes limp, eventually drifting into a plant and lying still again.
<I wonder if perhaps your filtration is putting out too much current for him... it sounds like he just doesn't have as much energy as he should. Hmmm.>
Besides overfeeding, the only other thing I can think of that could have harmed him is I adjusted the pH in the tank five days ago; it had risen to 7.5 because I had done a water change with unusually hard water, and I noticed this during my weekly pH test and adjusted it down to 7.3, which I've read livebearers prefer.
<Shoot, mollies won't mind if it goes up to a pH of 8.3, which is typical of full-strength saltwater. But the Betta *should* do better in the 7.3.>
Here's some other info about my tank and so forth that might help you figure out what's wrong: I feed him Hikari Betta bio-gold pellets, plus freeze-dried bloodworms and ocean plankton, and a tiny bit of Nature's Delica vitamin gel. He also steals the TetraMin Pro flakes that I give to the mollies.
<Sounds like a healthy diet... but everything except the gel is dry food. Try giving him some frozen (thawed) bloodworms.>
My tank is, again, 12 gallons; it's an Eclipse System 12, and I keep it at 80 degrees.
I've had it for 6 months, and my Betta has been in it for four months. He's probably about 9 months old total, and been in perfect health until now, with long crowntail fins and a huge appetite and lots of energy. The other fish in my tank are acting perfectly normal.
<I do wonder if he perhaps has an internal problem, possibly protozoan or bacterial. If the change in diet does not help, do check out the WWM discussion boards at http://wetwebfotos.com/talk -- we've got a number of Betta fans (including a couple of breeders) on the boards and they'll all chip in to help figure out what's wrong.>
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help my poor Betta. I'm very attached to him and I feel horrible that I might have done anything to hurt him!
<Hang in there and check out the forums...>
Thank you very much for reading my letter,
--Melanie
<You're quite welcome. --Ananda>

Accidental Betta war! Will the loser recover? (1/23/04)
Hey there!
<Hey! Ananda here today>
My mother was cleaning out my brothers' two Betta fishes bowls and w/o knowing she placed them both into the same bowl. Less then a minute had gone by before I had entered the kitchen to eat lunch. That was when I saw her. I knew that two male fish could not be in the same bowl together so I ran to the bowl.
<Kudos on your quick thinking and action!>
Before I could separate the two fish, the blue one grabbed the red one's tail fin and pulled a chunk of it off. I just want to make sure that the red one will survive and not have any problems in the future.
<He should be fine. The tail will eventually regenerate.>
I don't think my mom will make that mistake again!
<Nope!>
By the way, after I saw the two Betta fishes beautiful colors and independent personalities I just had to get one! I ended up getting two and I got a tank with a divider in it. The divider is clear so the two fish (males) can still see each other. Will they be happy still?
<Yep. They'll probably flare away at each other, trying to show each other who's the big fish on the block.>
Or will I end up with two fish who become miserable because of no way to reach the other?
<Much, much better for them that they can't reach each other, as you found out with the Betta bowl war.>
Thanks for your time
Sincerely,
Jessica
<You're welcome, and change the bettas' water frequently! --Ananda>

Dory the striped Betta... (1/23/03)
Hi there,
<Hi! Ananda here today>
I've owned my Betta fish for about 3 months now. I just recently changed her from a small bowl into a bigger aquarium so I could keep the temperature consistent and make her happier.
<Good idea.>
I also just bought test strips to test her nitrite, nitrate, ph, and all that stuff. The only thing I've noticed is the PH is higher than some people recommend, but also people say that it's OK as long as its consistent...so I don't know what to think!
<We had Betta in water with a pH of 7.6 for 3 years... as long as you don't change the pH by more than 0.2 in one day, and keep it as steady as possible, your Betta can get used to higher pHs. Just keep the pH below 7.8 -- much higher than that, and they do start to suffer.>
Anyway, my main problem is that my fish has a white stripe from head to tail on both sides of her body, and I don't know what it's from. I thought maybe she was just adjusting, but it's been about 3 days now in her new tank, and the stripe hasn't gone away.
<Sounds like a stress stripe. You might need to do a water change -- check your tank pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, etc and see what they are. Did you cycle the larger tank first? If not, you may want to move her back into her bowl and continue water changes etc. in there while the new tank cycles.>
Is she constipated? I've noticed some poop in her tank, so I think she's OK, but I'm not sure.
<Doesn't sound like constipation.>
What should I do? I don't want her to be hurting....Thanks
<Keep her water quality good and the pH constant and under 7.8. If the pH of your tap water is higher than that, you'll need to do something to decrease it (slowly!). Please do post on the WWM discussion boards at http://wetwebfotos.com/talk , too -- we have several Betta fans on the boards. --Ananda>

Dory the Betta addendum
Hi there,
I asked a question about 2 days ago about my Betta, Dory, and haven't received any response yet? I see on the website that you've updated till the 23rd, and I've been checking daily~ did I miss it, or did you guys not receive the email?
Worried Betta owner!!!!
<Sorry about that. The person who initially had your question has had computer problems. --Ananda>

Dory the Betta II: getting the pH down (1/24/04)
Hi there Ananda,
<Hi!>
It's Dory's owner again! Firstly, what does cycle the tank mean?!
<When you start a tank, fish wastes are and become ammonia...bacteria grow and turn the ammonia into nitrites...more bacteria grow and turn the nitrites into nitrates...which you remove via water changes. All new tanks go through the cycle of ammonia/nitrites/nitrates. Ammonia and nitrites are very harmful to fish, and nitrates can be harmful in high concentrations.>
I'm guessing I didn't do that since I don't know what it means!
<Well, it's not something you do, but rather something the tank does -- though you can start the tank cycling without using fish. Do a search on the WWM main site and chat forums about "fishless cycling" for more info.>
Secondly, I think my PH is higher than 7.8, I'll double check again, but how do I begin
to decrease that PH? Does water filtration help? I do own a Brita filter and I could add filtered water to her bowl slowly if that'd help~
<The Brita filter won't help much, and is unlikely to change the pH.>
I don't know. Please let me know how to bring the PH down.
<You could use peat in a filter bag, or an "acid buffer" or "discus buffer" -- which depends on the size of your tank and what kind of filtration setup you have.>  
Thanks for the responses, I appreciate it.
<You're quite welcome. --Ananda>

Lucifer the Betta, feeling like the devil
Hi, my name is Sara and my bettas name is Lucifer.
<sounds like a cute Betta... hehe>
Over the past couple of days he has started to twitch a lot, like he is itchy.
<He might have a gill parasite, which you won't be able to see.>
I can't see any red or white bumps on him but this morning I woke up and his lower fin was shabby on the ends (it looks torn).
<Most likely he is rubbing himself on objects to try and scrape the parasite free (which he will not be able to do).  If he is seems to be at the surface breathing a lot then it might be Chilodonella. This is a dangerous parasite that effects fish. The symptoms are excessive rubbing of skin, laboured 'breathing', loss of appetite, lethargy, clouded skin and   fish spending too much time lying dormant on the aquarium floor. Chilodonella   is a dangerous parasite because it has a wide temperature range that it can   live in, and also because symptoms don't show up until late in the disease when   it may be to late to save the fish.  Parasite medications easily treat Chilodonella - just remember to remove any   activated carbon from filter.  There are other parasites that manifest the same symptoms in fish, you can visit our freshwater Parasite section on WetWebMedia.   http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwfshparasites.htm>
I got him from the pet shop two weeks ago. He is in a five pint vase which I have treated with complete water conditioner and I have changed half the water each week.
<Water changes are a must for these fish so they don't get a body fungus or other illness due to weakened immune systems.>
I feed him 1-2 freeze dried blood worms a day. The other day my partner fed him 2 mosquitoes (freshly swatted) he seemed to really like them.
<bettas are bug eaters in the wild.  They feast on mosquito larva and any other bugs they find in their ecosystem.>
The temperature here (Sydney Australia) has been quite warm lately as we are  in the middle of summer. He is in a warm sunny place. I thought he might have fin rot but I couldn't find anything that explained the twitching.
<Many times when the water gets warmer, the parasites and microfauna in the water start to breed faster, and this increase in the normal amount of bugs gets to much for the fishes immune system to handle.  I suggest you look at getting a larger tank for the fish, so you don't have to constantly be changing water.  Also, you can medicate the fish with Maracide or CopperSafe, Use Maracyn-Two, Maracyn, Tetracycline or TriSulfa to prevent secondary infections from bacteria>
I hope the information I have given you is helpful. thank you  for taking the time to help me. Sara.
<Good luck with the fish, hope he gets better.  -Magnus>

A Betta With "Salty" Spots (1/4/2004)
I really hope you can help me with my question. <I'll try. Steve Allen tonight.> We have had our Betta "Angel" for at least three months now and just recently I have noticed salty looking spots on her. <Uh Oh> She still seems pretty active <good>, but these spots do have me worried. She is my daughters fish, and my daughter and her are a great team, whenever my daughter comes to the tank Angel starts swimming as fast as she can back and forth, like she is showing off for my daughter. These spots have started to worry me though. They are small and greyish in color, like I said above, a salty look to them. Please help me out ASAP. Thanks, Melissa
<Well Melissa, it sounds to me like you might be dealing with a case of freshwater Ich. Start reading here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwich.htm
Read the article and all the FAQ & linked articles. If it does look like ich, the articles explain how to treat. You might also wan to look for the book "Manual of Fish Health" by Dr. Chris Andrews and associates. Hope this info helps.>

Betta with Buoyancy Issues
I have a Betta I have had him for a year. Up until now he has done fine. 2 days ago I changed his water and put him in a bigger bowl. I did the same as I always do. I treated his water with aqua safe, he was fine when I went to bed but when I got up the next morning he was laying on his side at the top of the water.
<Just a thought, here - did you match pH and temperature when you moved him?>
He looked dead by all appearances until I moved his bowl. Also he is still eating well and he will try to move around
<Eating is, of course, always a good sign.>
but every time he gets still then it appears that something is wrong with his fin or something because he always turns over on his side. He never did this before.
<Sounds like he's either constipated (what do you feed him?) or has possibly sustained damage to his swim bladder - did you have any difficulty in catching/moving him?>
I have another Betta that's about a yr. or so old and is fine after his water change. I'm not sure about the ph or any levels I do not have a water test kit but I am going to purchase one today.
<Definitely good - try to get kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH.  These are the most vital things to test for.>
Could you please give me some ideas as to what could be wrong with him?
<As above, possibly constipation - this sometimes causes buoyancy problems, especially in goldfish - this can be remedied by adding Epsom salts (about one-third teaspoon per gallon) and feeding with bits of pea or brine shrimp, or other foods of high roughage content.  Or possibly his problem is from damage to his swim bladder from netting/handling in the move to his new home.  If this is the case, there's really nothing that you can do, but maintain excellent water quality.  It might also be shock from drastically changing water conditions.>
I love my fish and do not want him to suffer or die.
<As long as you keep his water clean, and as long as he's accepting food, he could live an otherwise normal life with the buoyancy problem if it is damage to his swimbladder.>
I have looked a lot of places on the web and yours seem to be the most informative. Thank you in advance.
<And thank you very much for the kind words!  I do hope for the best for your little pal.  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Bloated Betta Belly (12/30/03)
<Hi! Ananda here tonight...>
I noticed about a month ago that my poor lil guys I guess stomach looked all swollen. It is clear and seems to be an even bloat.
<Sounds like dropsy, which can be a symptom of an internal bacterial infection.>
He is active and eats well and does not seem to be too affected by this. I have attached a couple of pictures. The first is a side view of him and the second is a back view. Any help as to what this might be and how or if I can take care of the problem would be great.
Thanks
<See if you can get him to eat some anti-bacterial food. Otherwise, you may want to treat him with a good, broad-spectrum antibiotic, like Spectrogram. You'll also want to keep his water quality high. --Ananda>

Constipated Betta
Hello,
<Hi Sandra, Sabrina here>
Is there anyone there who could lend me some advice on my constipated Betta? I posted the situation on the forum board here, but would appreciate any expert help your crew could offer.
<Well, since this email got put in my care, and I've already been communicating with you on the forums, I think you've pretty much got all I can tell you thus far.  For the benefit of our readers, though, and to have this archived for anyone else with similar issues to be able to search and find it, I am happy to go ahead and address this again - who knows, perhaps some tidbit that I forgot to mention on the thread will fall out of my head as I go.>
Here is my post:
<For reference, the thread can be found at:   http://wetwebfotos.com/talk/thread.jsp?forum=31&thread=15081&tstart=0&trange=15 .>
I have a 1-year old male Betta who is constipated. I first noticed this last week and immediately recognized the signs, as we lost a Betta to constipation earlier this year.
<I'm sorry to hear that.>
I am very careful not to over-feed, and I vary the diet as much as possible, but somehow Bernie still managed to become constipated.
<They are extremely easy to overfeed, with their humongous appetites and tiny little Betta tummies.  It may be possible that he's just plain fat - but the fact that your other bettas aren't bloated probably disproves that.>
Now he is swollen on his sides, and there is no poo in his tank. We have two other Bettas and they are both fine; the only thing I can think that might have caused this is that I was in mid-cycling of his tank and had not done any deep-cleaning on his gravel until a week or so ago. I'm wondering if he may have eaten bits of food that were stirred up when I cleaned his tank recently.
<I'm sure that's possible, but I think it unlikely.  Fish can get constipated for no apparent reason, sometimes; it can happen when they eat too much at once, or are offered an inappropriate diet (probably the reason we see this so much in goldfish).>
I don't want to lose another Betta to constipation; I had to watch as our first Betta suffered for several weeks and died a terrible death from it. I am resolved not to let him eat anything until I see improvement.
<Fasting, along with offering *only* foods of high roughage content (bits of pea, adult brine shrimp, daphnia) should help clear him up, along with adding Epsom salt to the water at a rate of 1 to 2 tablespoons per ten gallons water - that comes down to about 1/3 to 2/3 of a teaspoon per gallon, or a touch more.  The Epsom salt will help relieve pressure in him, and may help him pass any blockage in his gut.>
It is day 4 of fasting, and he is still pretty swollen.
<Try the Epsom salt, and keep fasting him - he can go quite a long time without food.>
I ordered Pepso food, which someone recommended to me because it contains cod liver oil. It should arrive today.
<I don't think I'd use Pepso food, as it contains medicines that I think are quite unnecessary in your Betta's case.>
I tried feeding him a bit of pea two days ago, but am nervous about it this since it seemed to make the constipation worse in Horatio (the Betta who died).
<If the pea doesn't/didn't help, perhaps try a brine shrimp or two.  Your local fish store would probably give you a couple, as these are usually sold by the ounce - which is a *lot* of little shrimp.  I'd try the Epsom salt first, see how that goes.>
Can anyone offer any other advice here? Am I correct in not feeding him for days or even weeks if necessary? This is bringing back awful memories, and I don't know what to do!!!
<I don't think he could go more than a couple weeks without eating, and even that might be a stretch - but many days is fine.>
I can't believe I'm going through this all over again; after Horatio died, I become almost obsessively careful about feeding, so I'm at a loss as to how this happened. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
<As above, it can "just happen".  And again, bettas are so easy to overfeed.  In any case, try the Epsom salt, and failing that, in another couple days or so, try offering him a brine shrimp or two, or a tiny bit of daphnia.>
Sandra
<Hope all goes well!  Wishing your Betta a speedy recovery,  -Sabrina>

Constipated Betta - II
Sabrina,
Thanks again so much for your help.  
<You bet, Sandra.  That's why we're here.>
I wanted to let you know that Bernie is still very bloated today; the swelling seemed a bit worse this morning, although he had not been fed anything.  This is day 5 of fasting.  
<You might want to consider other possibilities besides constipation.  There is the possibility that this is a tumor, and no amount of fasting can fix that.  Most importantly, are his scales sticking out, pinecone fashion?  This can be a sign of internal bacterial infection.>
I went ahead and did a 40%+/- water change with about 3/4 teaspoon of Epsom salts added. When I do a water change, should I add the recommended dosage for the gallon of water that I replace, or put enough salt for the full 2.5 gallons in his tank?
<I believe you can do another full dose a few days after the first one, and after a good water change.>
He is swimming normally, his color is good, and I gave him 2 very small bits of pea this morning (how much do you recommend feeding?  
<Not much at all - just a tiny bit.  Perhaps about half the size of a pin head or smaller?>
Also, is thawing a frozen pea sufficient, or better to microwave first?  I nuked it for a few seconds).  
<Either way will work.>
He ate this readily.
<Mmmm....  peas....  Really though, I am quite impressed that he's eating them.  I've had bettas turn their noses up at far yummier things than peas.>
As for the brine shrimp, I don't have any at my disposal.  What I do have, though, is Nature's Delica preserved foods, in both Daphnia and Brine Shrimp.  Will this work just as well?
<Possibly, if you rinse the "goo" off of a shrimp or two.  You might want to see if frozen brine shrimp are available.  Even most large chain pet stores carry them now.>
Many thanks again; I will keep you posted.  
<Yes, please do!>
In your experience, how long does it sometimes take for a Betta to fully recover from a bad case of constipation?  
<Gosh.  That's a tough one.  It can be as little as a day, or as much as a few weeks.  Keep up with the Epsom salts, and feed extremely sparingly with the foods we've discussed, and hope for the best.  Beyond that, that's the best you can do.  If you begin to suspect bacterial infection, antibacterial flake food may be a good way to go.>
Happy holidays, Sandra
<And to you, as well.  -Sabrina>

Constipated Betta - III
Hi,
<Hi, Sandra!>
I may see if I can take a digital photo this weekend so you can view the swelling and see what you think.  
<That would be excellent.>
There definitely is no pine-coning; that's the first thing I checked.  
<Whew!>
What would be the other symptoms of a bacterial infection?  
<Stringy, white poo would strongly indicate internal bacterial infection, or internal parasites.>
How is it contracted?  
<If bacterial or parasitic, it could be something he's had all along, and has only become noticeable now.  I do feel that it's more likely constipation, though.>
What kind of food treats this?
<For internal bacterial nasties, I've had good luck with food medicated with Oxytetracycline; for internal parasites, like worms and such, Piperazine or Levamisole in food would be my suggestion.  Again, though, I think it more likely that your fellah is just constipated - though these other possibilities are, well, possible.>
The reason I believe(d) it to be constipation, is the lack of poo in the bottom of his tank, and the fact that he swelled up so much when I fed him the Pepso food.  
<Yeah, I really am thinking it's more likely constipation.>
Too, it started as a small bulge on the side in the exact same manner as our Horatio, who also suffered from constipation.  But the swelling has me concerned; I would think it should be diminishing by now.  Could it be because he's so young, and the swelling is just more noticeable on his small body?  
<That could be, perhaps.>
He is otherwise behaving normally now, but almost looks like a pregnant guppy.  :-(
<Yikes.>
I am glad he is eating the pea; I guess if they get hungry enough, they tend to be less picky, although Bern has always been the less finicky of the three.
<and therefore more likely to overeat, probably.  It seems those that tend to eat anything tend to get constipated more often.  I have one female Betta like that, but I honestly don't think she'd take peas!  I'm still amazed at that.>
Many thanks again,  Sandra
<You bet.  Best wishes,  -Sabrina>

Constipated Betta - IV
Hi,
Here are two pictures of Bernadotte that I took yesterday:
http://www.members.aol.com/nmmnp/Pets/sick_bernie1.jpg
http://www.members.aol.com/nmmnp/Pets/sick_bernie2.jpg
As you can see, the swelling is still very pronounced.  I am a little afraid to feed him the shrimp, given the bloating, and think maybe I should stick with the pea for now.  Do you agree?
<Either item will help, but do be extremely sparing in feeding.  Maybe feed a bit every few days.>
Do you think the bloating could possibly be weight gain?  
<This is possible indeed.  I have seen fatter, to be honest, from sheer overeating alone.>
There is no stringy white poo.  The other day after feeding pea, there was a single bit of poo that hung briefly from his anus, but it was not stringy and it was definitely brown.  
<Poo is a wonderful sign at this point!>
He is still swimming normally (actually, it is a little wobbly because of the bloating), active, color looks good.  
<A good sign, of course.>
I plan to do another partial water change this afternoon and add Epsom salt again.
<Seems like a sound plan, to me.>
Please let me know what you think of the pictures...
<He is pretty big, that's for sure.  Be extremely sparing in feeding.>
Thanks so much; have a good weekend,  Sandra
<You as well, thanks!  -Sabrina>

Constipated Betta - V
Sabrina,
Thanks; I am hoping some of the swelling is weight gain. It just seemed to come on so quickly.  One day he looked fine, and the next he had this little "bump" on his sides.  A day or so after that -- boom.  He had ballooned to the size you saw in the pictures, even though I had discontinued feeding by that time.  It was quite shocking.
<It can happen fairly quickly, that's for sure - but that also does not rule out the possibility of a tumor or bacterial issues.  Still sounds like constipation to me, though.>
Agreed; I need to be *very* careful with feeding at the point. The piece of pea I have been feeding him would fit on a pin head.  He's not very happy with his new restricted diet, but if it saves his life it will be worth it.
<Agreed, absolutely.>
One last thing:  Can you give me an opinion on this product?  I ordered the Freshwater formula, and am wondering if this would be a good thing to feed Bern once he is closer to recovery - or even now?   http://www.petdiscounters.com/aquarium/foods/misc/rs_zooplankton.html
<Though I haven't used this, I have heard good things about it.>
It contains daphnia, which I've always heard has a natural laxative effect.  Do you know if this is true?  
<The fact that daphnia are high in roughage (low in real nutritive value, kinda like eating popcorn) does make them a good laxative, of sorts.>
Do you think it would make a good supplement for my other Bettas as well, or can it be fed as a primary food?
<Absolutely a good supplement, yes.  You might like to try feeding this once a week as kind of a "clean out the fish" day.>
Many thanks, and best wishes for the New Year -Sandra
<And to you, as well!  Keeping my fingers crossed,  -Sabrina>

Constipated Betta - VI
Thanks.  It could be my imagination/paranoia, but the swelling almost seems worse today.  
<Yikes.>
I tried to take some pictures of him earlier this evening; they are very blurred, but maybe it will give a better idea of where he is with this swelling:
www.members.aol.com/nmmnp/Pets/sick_bernie3.jpg
www.members.aol.com/nmmnp/Pets/sick_bernie4.jpg
www.members.aol.com/nmmnp/Pets/sick_bernie5.jpg
www.members.aol.com/nmmnp/Pets/sick_bernie6.jpg
You can tell in one picture in particular, that his abdomen almost has a "see-thru" appearance when he swims against the light....like a balloon.  
<He is big, indeed.  I would begin to suspect a tumor, or an internal bacterial or parasitic infection.  Another person on the WWM forums ( http://wetwebfotos.com/talk/index.jsp ) had a very similar problem with her Betta, Mo, and had success once with treating with an antibacterial medicine.  Unfortunately, the fish did have a relapse months later and did not make it.  I think in your case I would try food medicated with Oxytetracycline, perhaps.>
Is there any possibility that this could be a tumor, and the tumor is causing the digestive troubles??
<This is perhaps possible, yes.>
Also...I'm almost afraid to ask this, but do you think Bernie is in any pain with this?
<That can be very, very difficult to answer, as I am not, nor have I ever been, a fish ;)  However, I think it is safe to say that if he's still eating and generally being himself, you should not give up on him.  If he's trying to keep going, it's worth trying to help him.  You'll know when he's too uncomfortable to go on.  It sounds to me like he's doing alright, for now.>
Sandra
<Tell Bernie I'm rootin' for him!  -Sabrina>

Constipated Betta - VII
Sabrina,
I just posted an update on the Wetwebmedia forum.  I tried sending a note to you the other day, but it came back saying to re-send with all the original correspondence, but I didn't have access to my Sent items at the time.   
<No problem.  It got to me, and I believe I just responded.>
Anyway, I feel that Bernie is really getting worse.  I posted more pictures to show the swelling....he looks like he's about to pop.  In desperation, I launched a dose of Spectrogram.  
<I have seen the pictures that you linked to in the previous email.  Spectrogram (Kanamycin and Nitrofurazone combination) may help, if this is a bacterial issue.  Oxytetracycline in food might be a better option, if you see no improvement with the Spectrogram.  Kanamycin and Nitrofurazone are both great antibiotics.>
I'm so worried that he is now in some discomfort, but it's impossible to know.  He is still quite active, but has to rest frequently.
<If he is active and not refusing food, I think it's safe to assume he's not feeling too bad.>
If the little guy doesn't pull through, is there anyone I can send his remains to have them autopsied?  I really want to know what this is, so that I might be able to prevent it from happening again.
<A good idea.  You might ask around at any very, very good local fish shops in your area if they have someone capable and knowledgeable to do so, or you might find out at any local colleges or universities if they have anyone in a biology department who is capable and would know what to look for.  A veterinarian may be able to do this, or help you find someone who will.  I have only just begun learning how to dissect - yucky and fascinating, all at once.>
Also.....I'm a little paranoid about my other two Bettas becoming infected.  They all used the same eye dropper (for water tests), same siphon and same algae cleaner.  I typically rinsed these items in warm water before re-use, but who knows if I was thorough enough.  At the time, I thought I had three very healthy Bettas.   
<For now, just keep your eyes open with the other two, and use any equipment used for Bernie as strictly "quarantine" equipment.  You may need to look into getting a second set of equipment for use with the healthy fish.>
Did I do the right thing, giving him the antibiotic?
<I think so, yes.  I might've used medicated food instead, but the Spectrogram may very well do the trick (provided it is bacterial and not just constipation, and not a tumor).>
Sandra
<Still (and always) hoping for the best,  -Sabrina>

Constipated Betta -  VIII
Thanks.  Is Tetra Medicated Food a good brand to use?  Its ingredients are listed as:
Tetra Medicated Food: bacterial and fungal
TETRACYCLINE HYDROCHLORIDE 50%
OXOLINIC ACID 5%
<I haven't used this, myself, but I spoke with Ananda, who has/uses the Tetra medicated flake.  She says it works pretty well; I think it's certainly worth a shot if he's not improving right now.>
I don't have access to a decent LFS, so anything I buy will have to be online.
<Understandable.>
If this is constipation, then feeding him anything is probably not a good idea, right?  
<Well, it seems you've been fasting him quite a while, been feeding with roughage-y foods, and tried Epsom salt; if that's not working, then it's certainly time to consider other things.  He may have issues that aren't constipation.>
Would you say to try the medicated food if 2 rounds of Spectrogram aren't effective?  
<Two rounds meaning, two doses, or two complete treatments of three doses each?  If you don't see any improvement whatsoever after the first three doses (one full treatment, as outlined on the package), I think I'd try the medicated food, if it were me.>
Should I plan to fast him the whole time he is being treated?
<I think feeding him very sparingly every few days is probably necessary at this point.  I fear that fasting him isn't going to help his situation any further.  I would suggest, though, to be very careful how much you give him, as I don't know if too much food might cause him farther harm at this point.>
(directions say to dose every other day for a total of 3 treatments; then wait 3 days and repeat the treatment if needed), with maybe a little pea between the two rounds?  
<A bit of food every few days is probably okay.  Just be very cautious - and of course, if it exacerbates his problem, stop.>
Also, do you know if I can use Epsom salt and Spectrogram together?  
<Should be safe.>
If so, does 1 tsp. for a 2.5 gallon tank still sound reasonable given his situation?
<tsp. = teaspoon, yes.>
I did a partial water change prior to adding the Spectrogram but did not add Epsom salt back in.  
<There shouldn't be any problem with the two together.>
Thanks; I'll let Bern know you are thinking about him.  He just keeps looking at me like, "Why aren't you feeding me?"  :-(  Sandra
<Poor fellah!  Hoping for the best,  -Sabrina>

Constipated Betta - IX
Hi,
I can't seem to get a hold of Florida Guppies-Plus; apparently they don't return calls or emails.  
<Might just have been out for the weekend....  I know one of our forum users had great customer service from them.>
I was hoping to place an order first thing this morning for those medicated flakes, but now it's another day wasted.  Do you know of any distributors I could contact for this product?
<In all honesty, I believe they manufacture them themselves....  Not positive, but I think so.>
Growing more frustrated by the minute.  Tetra medicated flakes have been discontinued.  
<Indeed they have.  I had thought/hoped that you already had some :( >
I found them listed on *one* website, but after calling the company (and actually getting a real person), they told me they no longer carry it.  
<*sigh*!>
I put a note at the end of my post asking if anyone who might have a sample of either product would be willing to share but I haven't heard anything back yet.  
<I have responded on the thread, as I'm sure a couple others will.  Don't fret, not yet!>
It was a long shot, but thought it was at least worth a try since I'm running out of options.  Getting the feeling that I'm fighting a losing battle here...  Bernie is going to die, I just know it.  
<Don't give up.  He's still acting well, yes?  If he hasn't given up yet, you've still got a chance, don't worry.>
Anyway, if you happen to think of any online sources that sell either product, can you let me know?  
<I will do some looking around and see what I can find.  You might try contacting Aquatronics  ( http://www.aquatronicsonline.com/contact.htm )  regarding their product "Oxymanna" (I'm not sure if it's still made or not), or try to find their product "Oxytetracycline" (should be available from many online sources), which is mixed into food and then fed to the fish; they have great instructions on the package to do this.  That's basically making your own medicated food.>
Thanks again for all of the help you have provided,  Sandra
<Any time, Sandra.  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Constipated Betta - X
Sabrina,
I stand corrected; FGP sent me a response last night, saying he had gotten in late and missed my message, but would post the flakes first thing in the morning and ship Priority for no additional cost.  
<Wow!>
I take back my comments; they are obviously very service-oriented.
<Indeed!  I am quite impressed.>
Anyway, I should have the flakes in a day or so, but appreciate your kind offer.  He's shipping from Florida, which isn't all that far from Indiana.  He is also sending another flake (I forget what it is) and said to mix the two and feed twice daily.   I might start out feeding once a day - a tiny amount - at first, and go from there.
<Mm, with antibiotics, in food or otherwise, it's really best to use as directed - too low of a dose can cause bacteria to grow an immunity to the med.  If you've been seeing any Betta poop coming out, I think you might be better off to go with a tiny amount twice a day.  Perhaps not as much as he would normally eat, but enough to get the meds in there.  Also, it might be a good idea to find out what the other medicated flake is - I'll wager a guess it is either Metronidazole or Levamisole and/or Piperazine - the first, Metronidazole, would probably not do anything for your Betta, as it is for protozoan parasites, but Levamisole and/or Piperazine would help with large-type parasites, if that's what's making his belly so huge.>
Bernie is still hanging in there.  
<Great!>
Last dose of Spectrogram (final in the round of 3), and I will do a large water change before starting the flakes.
<Sounds like a plan.  If you have trouble getting your Betta to accept them, try spritzing them with garlic juice or clam juice to make them more appealing.>
Thanks again,  Sandra
<Sure thing.  Hope all goes well,  -Sabrina>

Constipated Betta - XI
Sabrina,
When I got home from work this evening, I discovered that Bern had a long trail of stringy, light-colored poo.  This is the first time I've ever seen this.  
<Excellent that you've got a symptom to go off of, now!>
Thinking this might in fact point to parasites, I gave him a tiny bit of the Pepso Food that I mentioned before, since it is for internal parasites.  
<It may help, but probably won't eradicate them in and of itself.  Depending upon whether you're dealing with protozoans or worm-type bad guys, you'll want to use Metronidazole (for the former) or Piperazine or Levamisole (for the latter).>
He ate this, and so far has had no bad reaction to it.  
<Certainly a plus.>
Too late I remembered that I also have Tetra brand flakes for internal parasites, and it contains Metronidazole, which I understand to be the drug of choice for certain types of parasites.  
<For protozoans, yes.>
I hope I didn't do the wrong thing with the Pepso food, but he seems to be okay.  Does this new turn of events seem to point to parasites or some sort of bloat in your mind?
<Well, "bloat" is kind of a general word like "sneeze".  If you sneeze, it could mean you have allergies, the flu, or an ant crawling up your nose.  Your fish is certainly bloated, it's the cause of that that is the problem, and will need to be treated, as above.>
Thanks again, Sandra
<Sure thing.  Best wishes,  -Sabrina>

Constipated Betta - XII
Sabrina,
<Hi, Sandra>
Sorry to shoot you a separate email, but I wanted to try to reach you before I head to the LFS today.  I posted this on the web, but thought this might reach you sooner.  
<It's usually easier to answer quickly on the forum, as it doesn't require any preparation, etc., and if you're on and see the post, you can respond faster, and so on.>
(Are you located in Idaho?  You mention it in your profile; my husband and I lived in Coeur d'Alene between 1998-1999.  Beautiful, beautiful place).  
<I used to be!  Town of Bonners' Ferry, up on the Canadian border.  Oh, how I miss the place!  I used to go down to Coeur d'Alene and Spokane for saltwater needs.  Three hour drive for live rock.... sheesh!>
This morning I saw what I believe to be a worm inside Bernie.  When he drifted past the tank light, I took a good, close look and saw a long (possibly 1/2") object up around his intestines.  
<EWW.>
At first I thought this might be his intestines or maybe poo, but it isn't visible from the other side.  It is in the shape of a C.  Does this sound like a worm of some sort?  
<Without seeing, well, you'll be able to tell better than I, but it certainly sounds possible.>
If so, is there a way to tell what kind of worm it is?  
<That could be quite difficult.  You might try browsing about on http://www.fishdisease.net/ .>
Our LFS doesn't carry a whole lot in the way of meds, but they do carry some of the more common Aquatronics products.  I doubt that they carry Discomed, but possibly they could order it.  Do you think this product would be my best bet?  
<Likely, yes.  Something with Levamisole or Piperazine is probably the best thing for you; there are certainly manufacturers other than Aquatronics that sell medicines containing these; the reason I usually suggest Aquatronics brand is because it is typically the most commonly available, and they offer a wide selection of medicines that most other manufacturers omit (e.g.., "Discomed" Levamisole, and "Pipzine" Piperazine).>
Do you really have to administer it w/ live food? I have no access to live food of any sort.  
<Is not necessary.  There are instructions on how to use it with frozen and dry foods, as well.>
You also mentioned Levamisole and Piperazine on the post, but I can't find Levamisole anywhere on the web --
<Discomed contains/is primarily Levamisole.>
the info that I found on this product says that it is inert in PHs above 7.0, and ours is around 7.8.  
<I've not heard that, to be honest, but I can't say that I know one way or the other.  I would imagine administering it via food (as it should be) would be safe in that case, though.  You can also, over a couple of days, lower the pH in your Betta's house if you're concerned.>
That could also be a problem, but I couldn't find a place that carries it.  
<Discomed can be found at many good local fish stores, as well as at online stores.>
I do have the Parasite Clear fizz tablet that Jungle makes.  Would that be useful at all?  
<I do not believe so.  This is for protozoans, like ich and velvet.>
I also know that our LFS carries Parasite Guard.  
<Also not geared toward worms, unfortunately.>
In fact, I may just run up there in a little while and make a list of what they have and see if anything there would be at all helpful.  How long can Bernie go with something like that inside him?  
<That's something I couldn't even begin to answer, I'm afraid.  He's gone weeks, so definitely weeks, and he's still acting well, yes?>
And would this explain his HUGE size? (I believe he has gotten bigger in the last couple of days).  
<I would think so, yes.>
What is the mortality rate for this, if it is treated?  
<Another one I really don't have an answer for.  I can tell you, though, that many fish that are treated for worms do survive.>
I wish I could send a picture of this, but it's very hard to get the right angle.  Bernadotte is still active, but rests a great deal.  I lowered his water level last night so he would have less trouble reaching the top,
<An excellent idea!>
and did a large water change to make sure it is clean.  Is there anything else I can do to make him a little more comfortable?
<Frankly, I think you're doing the best anyone could.>
Many thanks again,  Sandra
<You bet.  Still got my fingers crossed!  -Sabrina>

Constipated Betta - XIII
Sabrina,
Thanks!  I posted this follow-up on the board this morning, as I am a little baffled by something:
<For those following, the thread can be found at: http://wetwebfotos.com/talk/thread.jsp?forum=31&thread=15483&start=0&msRange=15&tstart=0&trange=15 >
Bernie was very spunky over the weekend, and as I mentioned in my post on Sunday, he is building a huge bubble nest.  I think this is very significant, because Bernadotte never built much in the way of bubble nests before he became ill, and this one is massive!  So I'm hoping this means he is feeling better.  
<Certainly sounds good, to me!>
More (possibly) good news is that his feces are back to normal color and less segmented, but they are still extremely long.  Before, they were very light and very stringy-looking.  This morning, he had about 1" of fecal matter hanging off him, but it was brown.  
<This does sound to be an improvement, as well.>
Okay, this is where the problem comes in.  I noticed that after he had this large poo this morning, the dark "mass" that I noticed inside of him earlier was no longer visible.  This makes me wonder if I have gotten it wrong in thinking this is a worm, and instead this was just feces coiled up inside on him.  
<Sounds likely.>
If I look a picture of fish anatomy, it totally throws me off because the stomach and intestines appear to be located more toward the "bottom" of the fish, whereas the "object" I saw extended up and around.  Here is the drawing I am referring to: http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/anatomy.html#internal
<Well, with the humongous swelling in him, I assume that's shoving things a bit out of whack - and also, you might try to compare with a more Betta-oriented diagram.  Here's one I found:   http://www.webvortal.com/bubblenest/anatomy.html >
Here are the pictures of what I was seeing:
http://www.psci.net/dchs/Other/Images/sick_bernie1.jpg
http://www.psci.net/dchs/Other/Images/sick_bernie2.jpg
http://www.psci.net/dchs/Other/Images/sick_bernie3.jpg
Is that where you would typically see poo?  
<Well, it does look kinda out of place.... but sort of tough to see in the pictures.>
On the other hand, if this truly was a worm, could  1) it be moving and not always visible; or 2) Bernie be expelling it in his feces?  
<On both counts, I don't really know.>
If it WAS feces that I saw and mistook it for a worm, then what would be causing the long (previously light and stringy) poo?  He obviously isn't constipated, so that brings me back to bacterial infection.  Is long, stringy feces common with bacterial infections?  
<It can be, yes.  As it can be with internal parasites, as well.>
I don't know what to do.  Should I just continue treating as I have been?  I have been feeding him 2-3 tiny bits of Zooplankton that is briefly soaked in Discomed.  Then I give him 1 flake of the Florida Guppies Plus Oxytetracycline medicated food, and 1 flake of the medicated food for parasites.  He gets fed 2x day. 
<Sounds good - especially if you're seeing improvement.>
Apparently he is feeling better -- his color looks great, he is very active, bubblenesting, good appetite (he loves the Oxytetracycline flake), spunky and interactive.  If his abdomen weren't swollen up about 10 times the normal size, you wouldn't know there was anything wrong with him.
<LOL!  One tough little, fish, that's for sure!>
Thoughts?  I really need to know if I'm on the right course.  Thanks,  Sandra
<So far, it sounds good to me - again, especially if you're seeing improvement.  I would keep going as you are.  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Gyrodactylus? Re: Constipated Betta
While we're at it, I'd like to ask your
opinion/advice....
<Okay>
A girl in the forums has been having problems with her
Betta; you might recall our ongoing WWM correspondence
"Constipated Betta", now on its, what, twelfth
segment, I think. Anyhow, at this point, she has seen
what looks like a long-ish, dark, worm-looking thing
inside the Betta, either in its intestines or in the
body cavity of the fish. The fish's belly is very
swollen. After starting treatment with Levamisole,
the fish may be improving, and has been pooing much
better, although feces is sometimes clear, sometimes
brown. From what I've read, this indicates
Capillaria, perhaps? 
<Possibly. My best guess considering the info. is some sort of nematode>
I'm pretty convinced, in any
case, that there's some sort of internal worm or
wormlike parasite going on, here. To put a spin on
things, though, she took a fecal sample to a vet that
agreed to look and see what she could find; this is a
first for the vet (can't imagine much fish poo goes in
to vets, these days, heh). The vet apparently decided
the fish has Gyrodactylus - but as far as I can find,
these skin flukes would have essentially nothing to do
with such a bloated belly. 
<There are monogenes found elsewhere, but my guess is still a roundworm... the adults and eggs of same are very different... the Vet could give the fish a vermifuge and dislodge the adult/s...>
I guess I'm getting
confused, here; not sure if my texts are good on
information at this point. If you might take a look
at the forum link, here it is:
http://wetwebfotos.com/talk/thread.jsp?forum=31&thread=15483&start=45&msRange=15
Really, only the fourth page is pertinent at this
point, if you don't want to read the whole thing ;)
And even then, I think I've summed it up pretty well,
no real need to read it at all, unless you like, and
might want to throw in your .02 worth.
Sorry to bug yah....
-Sabrina
<I would prescribe an anthelminthic... and possibly Epsom. Bob Fenner>

Betta with fin rot?
Hi Sabrina,
<Hello, again!>
Just a note to say hi. I am Betta sitting again. He now has 3.
<Zowie, hobby bordering on obsession, yes?  No worries - I understand how addictive bettas can be!  Those pouty faces, the bright colors, ease of maintenance/care....>
One of his 2 is losing his tail, it has been going on for some time. It doesn't look like it is rotting, just like it is getting shorter, or is that rot?
<Could very well be, yes.  One sure sign is a whitish edge to the receding fin(s).>
Is there something I can do to help him?
<An antibiotic like Kanamycin or Nitrofurazone may help a great deal - you might try Aquatronics' "BettaMax", can be found at most fish stores.>
I now have six of the lil guys myself. Yes I have become a Betta Crazy Monster!
<Wow, you have indeed!>
Thanks,  Magic
<Wishing you (and all your bettahedz) well,  -Sabrina>

Sick Betta
Hello,
<Hi.>
I was gone for 4 days and upon return to my office I noticed my Chinese Betta fish is sick.  He developed "pop eye" in one eye and has some white discoloration around his gills.  
<Sure signs of poor water quality and stress - do a water change ASAP, be sure the new water is dechlorinated and the same temperature as your Betta's water.>
Also, the edges of his fins have become slightly frayed and almost have a white sheen around the edges also.  
<Possibly just from the water quality, but might also be bacterial fin rot, brought on from the decline in water quality.>
HELP!!  What should I do?  
<First and foremost, do a water change, as above.  You may need to do another later or tomorrow, as well, and be sure there is no food rotting in his tank.  Secondly, I would add Epsom salts to the water, to relieve the pressure causing the "Popeye".  Use about one third of a teaspoon per gallon of water.  If in a couple of days the fins are unimproved or worse, you might consider giving him an antibiotic (BettaMax, made by Aquatronics, is available at many fish stores, and should help with fin rot).  Be diligent with your water quality, and with all due luck, hopefully he'll recover well.  Wishing you and your Betta the best,  -Sabrina.>
Sincerely,  K. Wagner

Constipated Betta?
I emailed you all about a week ago and was telling you what was wrong with our Betta here at work.  
<Yes, I recall, Sandra.  Hope all is well with you.>
He is going on five years old and for the last couple weeks, he hasn't been himself. I have not seen him eat in over a week. And he has been doing nothing but laying on the rocks on the bottom.  
<I'm very sorry to hear that.>
He shows no signs of any diseases.  Yesterday, we put a new lily in his vase because the old one was dying
<Ahh, this could very well have been what was making him feel unwell before; have you tested ammonia, nitrite, nitrate?  I'd bet ammonia was elevated with decaying plant material.>
and today he has been more active except he has a white string (I think feces) hanging out of his belly.  
<Often a sign of internal parasites or constipation.>
His belly is a little swollen but it seems maybe he is trying to pass feces now. Its really gross. It looks like a white blob hanging out from his abdomen. He is just severely constipated?
<A strong possibility, yes.>
I tried feeding him a pea but he wont eat anything.
<Try feeding him daphnia, perhaps, or other foods of high roughage content (like the pea you tried), as it might help him pass the blockage.  Uh, also, just a thought - did you squeeze the shell off the pea?  If not, try that again.  Another thing to try is adding Epsom salts, at a rate of one tablespoon to ten gallons (so about a teaspoon to three gallons, go down from there, depending on the size of his tank).  Hopefully this will do the trick.  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina.>
Sandra Taylor

(Still) Constipated Betta?
Hello again,
<Hi Sandra, Sabrina here again>
Henry (our Betta) is still not doing good. His belly seems to be swollen more.
<Yikes, I'm sorry to hear that.>
Maybe he has internal parasites instead of constipation.  
<It is possible, but there might be other causes/solutions too, especially at his age (five years, right?) - most importantly, are his scales sticking out, pinecone fashion?>
What should we treat him with?  
<*If* it's a parasitic infection, "Discomed" manufactured by Aquatronics is a good medicine to help out.  It is administered via food, just follow the directions on the box.  But, I must say, it may very well not be a parasitic infection; though that is a strong possibility (if it's not simply constipation), there are a few bacterial infections that may cause such a condition, as well.  Again, of some importance - are his scales sticking out?>
He still has white stuff coming out of his belly and it is really swollen.
I haven't put salt in his bowl yet.
<Please do add Epsom salts, this really, really may help.>
Should we do that for parasites?
<In either case, it may help - certainly worth a shot.>
There is only almost a gallon of water in his bowl , that's all. Not sure how much salt to put in.
<Well, general rule of thumb is one tablespoon per ten gallons, so it comes to right around one third of a teaspoon for one gallon.  Mix it into a small cup of water from his bowl, then pour it in.>
Please Advise Back
<I do hope your little guy overcomes this!  Please keep in touch.  -Sabrina>

(Still) Constipated Betta, II
Hi Sabrina,
<Hi, Sandra>
No. Henry's scales are not sticking out
<Good>
but he has clamped fins. And he has a constant string of (poop?) hanging on him (hope its not worms, it is white) and now he stays at the top of the bowl instead of the bottom and he seems to be gasping for air.
<Could still be constipation, could be intestinal parasites, or possibly internal bacterial infection.>
I still haven't seen him eat. I will try to add the salt today and hopefully it may help. If not, I will try the medication you suggested.
<If you try the Discomed, perhaps try it with either live brine shrimp or frozen bloodworms, hopefully these will be irresistible foods to your Betta....>
I will keep in touch and let you know how he is doing.
<Yes, please.  I'll keep my fingers crossed!>
Thanks for your advice!!  Sandra Taylor
<Any time, Sandra.  I do hope your old timer Betta can recover.  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

(Still) Constipated Betta, III
Hi Sabrina,
<Hello again, Sandra>
I could not find the "Discomed" at my pet store, I did find some stuff called "Myacin", it is supposed to treat bacterial infections. It is an antibiotic called Erythromycin.  
<Mm, I generally do not recommend erythromycin except in cases where one can be relatively certain of what bacteria you're dealing with, since erythromycin is only effective against gram-positive bacteria.  It may be helpful in your case, it may not.>
What I am wondering is if it is ok to use it now since I already put the salt in???
<Should be just fine.>
Or do I need to do a water change and then put the "Myacin" in? It is a capsule and you just put the powder in the water. One table per 10 gallons of water, so should I only use about a pinch?
<For this or any other antibiotic to be effective, it really must be administered in an accurate dose - I do recall one good, broad-spectrum antibiotic called "BettaMax" that might be more useful to you, especially with its directions for dosing Betta containers - it is a blend of sulfa drugs and Nitrofurazone, I believe, and I know I've seen it at large chain pet stores.>
We only put a pinch of salt in. I cant tell yet if it is helping him.
<You used Epsom salts, right?  You can use a whole third of a teaspoon, and it won't hurt if you go over that a bit.  This will help him by relieving pressure of fluid build-up, and help him pass any blockage, if he's constipated.  Really, no disadvantages.>
I really feel like he has an infection because his area where he poops is all swollen.
<It could still be any one of those three possibilities - constipation, internal parasites, or internal bacteria - though I am starting to think it is probably not simply constipation.  Ooh, another thing you can look for to try - see if you can find "Pepso Food", made by Jungle Labs - this is geared to be used as a precautionary measure against internal parasites in newly acquired fish, but it also has some antibacterial properties, might be worth a shot, in either case.  Here's a link to Jungle's info on Pepso Food, so you can see what it looks like: http://www.junglelabs.com/pages/details.phtml?item=NJ169 .  Of course, if you can find a good quality antibacterial or antiparasitic food, that might be the best option all around.
I'm am sorry to keep bothering you but I really would like to save him.
<It is no bother to try to help you, don't worry about that - I'd like you to be able to save your fish as well.  Good luck, and I do hope he recovers.  -Sabrina>
Thanks again,  Sandra Taylor

(Still) Constipated Betta, IV
Sabrina,
<Hello again!>
Just wanted to let you know that Henry died last night.
<Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that!>
We are sad. But he was very old.
<Indeed - as I recall, he was with you for five years.... very old for a Betta.  Perhaps it was just "his time".>
And I'm glad he is not suffering anymore.
<Of course.>
But I wanted to thank you for all your advice!!!
<Any time, Sandra.  I'm sorry Henry didn't recover, but at his age, it probably would have been a minor miracle if he had.  Rest assured that your Betta lived a very long, full life.  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina.>
Sandra Taylor

Betta worries - no problems
Hi all.
<Hello, Lauren, Sabrina here>
I've been on the site off and on for the past two hours looking up information on goldfish and bettas and I am ever so grateful!  
<Wonderful to hear, thank you for the kind words!>
However, I'm staring at my roommate's new Betta and it doesn't look very good.  I admit my ignorance as to their "normal" appearance and have yet to come across anything so I am now writing for help.  She brought the fish home Thursday night - it had remained in a plastic bag (for transporting) all day.  It looked a bit stressed and the gills were blood red and distended out from behind the gill openings.  This distension has subsided some but their is a bit that remains outside, almost pressed against the scales behind the gills and still very red but membrane thin near the top of the gill opening.  
<This is absolutely normal, nothing to worry about.  Males use this membrane to spread and 'flare' behind the gill covers to make them look bigger and tougher on many/most males, this membrane is visible behind and below their gill covers while at rest.  For reference, go to any pet store that has bettas and take a look at the males' gills.>
And tonight I checked on the Betta and their is a white spot (looks like fungus) now on part of the distended gills.  
<Keep a very close eye on this - does it look like a grain of sugar?  Or is it fluffy/fuzzy?  Raised?  Or perhaps does it look like it's just part of the color in the fish?>
The water condition is pretty good (maybe a little alkaline)
<What are your readings for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH?>
but it is not an established tank and she doesn't have a filter or heater.  
<As long as the room temperature is relatively constant and acceptable, no issues with lack of heater, and as long as regular water changes are done (how often depends partly on the size of the container), a filter is unnecessary.>
I treated the tank with Aquarisol as it is all I have available tonight.  
<Unless you have reason to believe that the white mark is ich, I would recommend not using this.  Uhh, just to make sure, the water has been dechlorinated, yes?>
Is there anything else I can do?  
<Observe, as obviously you are, and try to discern if the mark is part of the Betta's coloration or if it's definitely an abnormality.  You might consider adding aquarium salt (the kind marketed for freshwater aquaria) at about one-third of a teaspoon per gallon.>
Would it even help?  
<The Aquarisol?  No, not unless you're dealing with protozoan parasites, like ich.  If you are dealing with fungus, perhaps try Aquatronics' "BettaMax".>
By the time we noticed fungus on her last Betta it was much too late... by the next morning the fish was completely covered in fungus and died that evening.  
< :(  Sorry to hear that.  I hope all goes well with the new Betta pal!  -Sabrina>
Thanks,  Lauren

Betta worries - some problems
Hi again.
<Hello!>
Update on the Betta: the white 'spot' is smaller today.  My roommate has treated the water with BettaFix; the active ingredient is Melaleuca but y'all seem generally to find this agent somewhat undependable in terms of treating fungus, is that right?  
<This stuff seems to have some minor antibacterial properties, but I would not gamble any of my fishes' lives on this as a stand-alone treatment.>
To clarify, the spot is definitely not a part of the skin or gill tissue.  It's fuzzy and a grayish white and while it is now smaller the scales around this area seem to be effected and are sticking out rather like images of fish sick with dropsy.
<Definitely sounds like a fungus or Columnaris.  I would treat with an antibiotic, for sure.>
Furthermore, the fins seem to be slightly shriveled around the edges (a symptom which was quite marked in her previous Betta that was practically consumed by fungus in about 24 hours).
<Possibly fin rot, also should be treated with an antibiotic.  I'd recommend Kanamycin (sold by Aquatronics as "Kanacyn") or Aquatronics' "Spectrogram" which is a Kanamycin/Nitrofurazone combo, and if the Betta's in a tank too small to dose, take a look at "BettaMax", that might do the trick for you, perhaps.>
About water levels... I have only strips at the moment, because my own goldfish tank has been thriving I've yet to purchase a liquid reagent test kit.  The strips indicate no ammonia or nitrite, moderate water hardness, and an alkalinity of ~ 8.0 (I know this is low but I think it is due to water source as my tank is low too).  
<Low....  you mean high, don't you?>
It's all the same water my roommate prepared Thursday night.  Should I do a water change for good measure at this point?
<This won't lower the pH unless the pH of your tapwater is lower than 8.0; my guess is it's that high, end of story.  It can be brought down with peat and/or bogwood, which will soften the water and make it more acidic.  The issue with this is that it turns the water a yellowy-brown "tea" color.>
Should I buy an antibiotic from the  list I've seen recommended throughout your responses?
<Yes.  I don't think the Melaleuca stuff will fix him.>
I could go and get a water test kit or add aquarium salt which I have on hand but I don't have any Epsom salt yet?  
<Add the aquarium salt - as long as it's the kind for "freshwater" aquariums (saltwater salt mixes will raise the pH).>
The biggest problem is the owner is not worried but I am.
<That is a sad concern.>
Thanks for your help but most of all your support.  Lauren  
<Any time!>
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Hi,
<Hello again!>
Sorry, I forgot to include that 'yes, the water was treated with Stress Coat and aged overnight (would have done it longer myself but it's not my fish, alas).'  Lauren
<We do what we can....  can't hope for much more.>
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Sorry,
<Don't be!>
Please amend discussion of' low pH' to read "I know it (pH level) is high...."  Aaaarghgrumpf!  I promise not to write anymore emails until I've received one back! :) Lauren
<Ahh, see?  I knew it!  Well, I do hope all goes well.  Good luck - maybe you can somehow get your friend's owner to be interested more in what you're doing to care for this fish....  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina.>

SICK BETTA???
Hello, I searched your site and I cant seem to find out what is wrong with our Betta.  We have a Betta at work in a lily vase.  I just recently found out that the plant could kill him but he has had the plant in the vase with him for almost 5 years.  
<The plant usually used in these vases (Spathophyllums sp.), "peace lilies", can actually be grown submerged in aquariums, for quite a long time - I really don't think the plant is harmful to the Betta, it's the misconception that the Betta will feed on the roots of the plant and never have to be fed that ultimately kills the fish through starvation in these vase setups.  As long as the water is regularly changed, the Betta is properly fed, there's enough space at the top of the vase for the Betta to breathe, and the vase is large enough to be a comfy, happy home, I have no complaint with these setups.>
We keep the roots clean and water changed regularly. Although, we have had some problems lately keeping the temperature in the office regulated.
<Unless the fluctuations have been quite significant, I doubt that's a major problem.>
He doesn't look sick but usually he has a healthy appetite and now he will barely eat. He will eat about one pellet and then spit the next one out. Most of the time he is usually laying on the rocks on the bottom of the vase.  His is red but under his face he has a grayish, silver color (We just thought that came with his old age) but he has had that for a while.  And lately it seems his gills has been sticking out on each side of his head. He looks like he has ears. I cant figure out if something is wrong with him or not. Are any of these symptoms a sign of sickness or just old age?
<Well, you said this Betta is five years old - I must say, that's an *excellent* track record for a Betta; it sounds to me like you've been taking outstanding care of him, and that he's had a good, long life.  I doubt that he has any health issues that can be treated; the most you can do is try to keep him at a comfy temperature, keep his water clean, and try different foods to keep him interested in eating.  Try freeze-dried bloodworms, and if that doesn't work, try frozen bloodworms.  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina.>
Please Advise Back, Sandra Taylor

Betta behaviour
hi...I've had my Betta just over a week now and I just started noticing odd behaviour.  my friend also has a Betta and said that her's never did this so....I'm just kinda concerned because I've become quite attached...anyway...over the last day or so he has been really twitchy and hitting the side of his tank a lot and pushing the rocks on the bottom of the tank around.  he eats well and is usually fairly active but usually not in this way.  he's in a 1.2 gallon tank (by himself) but it doesn't have a filter or anything.  just wondering what I can do to make him more comfy or healthy
<Well, first things first, test your water (or have your local fish store test it for you) for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH; if any of these is off, it could be the cause for this abnormal behaviour.  I would strongly recommend changing out about half of his water with dechlorinated water of the same temperature, for starters.  Beyond that, it may be the start of an illness, so take a look at the freshwater illness articles: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwich.htm   http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwfshparasites.htm .  Hope all goes well,  -Sabrina.>
thanks,
Ali

Resting Betta 11/06/03 
Hello Crew! You guys rock in so many ways! 
<Hi, Pufferpunk here> 
I have a 12-gallon tank with two mollies, two platys, and one male crowntail 
Betta, that I keep at 80 degrees. The Betta looks perfectly healthy and eats 
well (I feed him Hikari Betta bio-gold plus freeze-dried bloodworms, but he 
also eats the flakes I feed to the other fish) but he's started taking "breaks" to rest on the plants in my tank. He will stop for a minute and drape himself over a leaf and just rest for a few minutes. Is there anything I should be watching for? Is this a sign of some subtle ailment, not readily visible. 
<Sounds like a nice tank. I'm sure your Betta is happy not being kept in a tiny bowl! My Betta does the same thing. I wouldn't worry, he's fine.> 
Thanks a lot for your time! 
<You're welcome--Pufferpunk> 

Fish tail, fin rot?
Hi, my fish has this strange condition. At first I thought that it was tail rot because his back fin is just slowly shredding away.
<Does indeed sound like fin rot.>
So after that I bought Jungle Fungus care tablets at the store but it doesn't seem to be working. My fishes tank is about 1/4 of a gallon and he is the only fish in there. I change the water (using my Betta bowl buddies water cleaner and pu