Gill problem on Betta? ASAP

[Leatree]

I'll post picture later but I just picked myself up a Betta I have been seeing at the store for about a month. He is an ivory color. My question is, is that on one side of him around the Gills he has what appears to be a white crusty type film on it. (Other side looks great) I have no idea what it is but I'm more than cerian I have the 'meds' to cure it but I dont want to use the wrong one. At the moment I do have him in my one gallon tank just to make sure he is going to be fine. Once he is cured Im putting him in a five gallon tank I picked up a week ago.


Oh and other than the white crust he acts fine but when he sees another Male Betta he doesnt even flare at all. That kinda bothers me but Im not sure if that is his personality or not.

Then again I did just buy him about 6 hours ago so he might still be stressed over the trip and actuall space and clean water.

[Leatree]

I can't take a close enough picture of him without it being blurry. Though he does spend alot of his time near the bottom of the tank he atm he does swim around just fine and is aware of what is going on around him. He still isn't eating anything though im sure that wiill changesoon enough.

I looked around on some other sites for what he could have but none describe what he has at all. His actuall gills look great they aren't dull at all and he does move them. I suppose it could be part of his colors but to me it seems odd.

Edit: He makes me look like I lied. He just started pecking at the food.
Also the temp of his water is about 78 and once he goes into the new 5gallon i just bought a few days back it will be filtered and heated. I'm letting the filter run for about a week before tossing him in there.

[JamieTron]

It could be a type of fungus perhaps. That is common around the gill area; however, I am not familiar with crusty fungus. Maybe try looking up "white crusty gill fungus?"

This could also perhaps be signs of opercular erosion due to high ammonia concentrations. Do you have high ammonia problems? or do you know if the store you bought him from did? If he was from a cup he could have easily been exposed to lethal levels of ammonia.

[JamieTron]

Also have you ruled out Ich? it's hard to see but it could be this issue, which can be treated. I would guess either ich or fungus atm. I am not familar with Ich accumulating only on the operculum however...but it is possible for fungus to do this. The reason he is probably not flaring is that it is most likely painful to extend his gills out that far. Have you noticed any other changes in his gill movements besides that? You should be able to see nice regular gill movements. If your fish has lack of or exaggerated (too fast and shallow or to slow and very WIDE movements) then this is a further sign of illness.

Could be opercular erosion, but I don't think it is common in bettas that I know of.

Perhaps hey injured himself on tank decorations? could that be possible?

[Leatree]

I have ruled out Ick as the issue since like you mentioned it is only in one area. He actually went into a flaring 'contest' with one of my other bettas in the tank next to him so that makes me feel better but he still isn't eating anything atm.

I bought him yesterday at Wal-Mart. He has been there for a month and the cup he was in ....well there were days he didnt have the water to swim in and the cup was far from being clean.

I doubt the tank decorations are an issue but the one I have in his tank atm he is enjoying them ... well he hides by them from time to time. He has gotten alot more active today though.

I'm thinking a fungus as well but I was thinking bacterial as well. I have meds for both I just didn't want to place the wrong one in. I doubt it would hurt him either way but I know how I am about taking meds that may not cure what I have.

If it's possible I will try to get a better picture of him but as it is I havent had much luck with my camera taking a clear picture of a close up.

Is it possible it may just be his actual skin color and I'm just worring about it to much?

As per looking up what you mentioned I have but nothing I found out talks about it like this and they all mention the actual gills being a dull color. His are fine. And the few things I have found similar in what he has doesn't really say what it is or what can cure it.

I do have Jungle Fungus eliminator and the Maracyn and Maracyn two on hand. Also I have Ick meds and other ones to stablize ammonia, the PH and nitrate levels. Though i do know the water he is in now is as perfect as it can get.

[Leatree]

Here are some better pictures of what the area around the gills look like

[Leatree]

As per gill movement from when I am watching him it looks fine but its kind of hard to since he usually swims away from me when I try to look. I've been keeping an eagle eye on him to make sure he is going fine.

[JamieTron]

Hrmmm...well if you are afraid to move straight to meds you could read up in salt baths. If it is a fresh water bacteria on the skin it may help kill it. Sometimes fungus too. I think you should give it a try first :) You could see if that works and then decide on medications ;)

[Leatree]

I'll try the salt baths thank you much :) I did toss a very small amount of the Jungle fungus eliminator in. It seems to have helped a bit. I'll give him a salt bath tomorrow when I change the water in his tank again. Kind of figured he would like nice clean water. He is different from Bubbles ... he doesnt really like to have his water changed all to often atm. Figured a 10 -25% water change every other day would be good for him as well till what ever he has comes to pass.

Thanks for the help :) Very much appreciated. Love the little guys and hate to see them in pain.

[JamieTron]

I agree :) and you are very welcome, keep us all updated and good luck!