sick fish

[bettasplash]

I have a sick betta but i'm not sure what to do. I'm not sure if this is even treatable at this point. It began 7 months ago as a small white patch on his side. Today it looks horrible and his entire dorsal fin is gone. I'm not sure how to treat this or if it will ever look better. My fish is very lathargic, only comes up for air.

[sainthogan]

Have you tried any treatments? Please fill out this form so we can help you better:
Housing
What size is your tank?
What temperature is your tank?
Does your tank have a filter?
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration?
Is your tank heated?
What tank mates does your betta fish live with?

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish?
How often do you feed your betta fish?

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change?
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change?
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change?

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?

Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness:
Alkalinity:

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed?
How has your betta fish's behavior changed?
When did you start noticing the symptoms?
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how?
Does your fish have any history of being ill?
How old is your fish (approximately)?

[bettasplash]

Tank size: 2.5 gallons
Temp: 82 degrees F
Filter: yes
Air Stone/OtherAeration: no
Heated: yes
Other Tank Mates: none
Food Type: pellets by Aqueon, and freeze dried bloodworms
How Often: 2 pellets each morning, 2 pellets at dinner, but i skip feeding once a week, bloodworms are fed once a week as a treat, about 3
Water Changes: once a week 25%, replace the filter cartridge once a month, i add Nutrifin AquaPlus water conditioner and aquarium salt
I have not tested the water recently.
My fish used to be very active, build large bubblenests, good appetite, very socialable, and swim in a smooth graceful pattern. Now he just lays at the bottom of his tank, clamped fins, not very interested in food, not social, quick jerky movements, no bubblenest.
Seven months ago is when i first noticed a small white patch on his side. I treated for fungus, a few times, but it never got better, just worse.
He's always been a healthy fish, except for when i first brought him home he was very sick. My fish is 2 years old.

[sainthogan]

Did you ever treat for ick? I know it ick doesn't usually look like that, but you never know.
Do you use aquarium salt at every water change? Most people here only recommend aquarium salt for temporary use for certain ailments - usually no longer than 14 days.
Also, he could just be getting old - the average life span of a betta is about 2 - 4 years.

You could Private message oldfishlady or sakura8, and they probably would be able to help you better.

[LeoTheLakerBetta]

That is definitely not ich. For now, until someone with more experience than me comes along, you should try and clean that tank a lot more often. 25% a week is not enough for a tank that small. For my 2.5 gallon, I change 100% water twice a week. However, the minimum would be a 50% and 1 100% water change a week. Today is my water change day. I would setup 2 days for changing water where your goal would be to make time for that.

[bettasplash]

Ok. Thanks for the advice :)

[Oldfishlady]

That is one tough fish-it almost looks like his dorsal was removed by the look of the edges of the wound, however, the whiter outer section looks like bacteria.

How much and how long has he been kept in the salt...

[bettasplash]

I've always added aquarium salt with every water change.
Thats been 2 1/2 years. I do this with my other betta fish and they've never had a problem with it.
The directions say to add 1/2 teaspoon for every U.S. gallon. So i add about 1 teaspoon cuz i have a 2.5 gallon tank. I don't worry about the extra .5 gallon - i heard its better not to put too much salt in.

[Sowman]

Hello,
I would do a 100% water change with no salt. Salt should only be used when treating a betta for an external infection and only for about 10 days. I'd also do a 100% water change in your other bettas tank. Many other tropical fish like a bit of salt in the water however bettas do not.

[LadyVictorian]

WOW

You are not suppose to use salt every day on betta, they are freshwater fish not brackish. Salt is only used for ill fish like fin rot and epson for bloat. Salt in long term is actually very harmful to betta and this white is possibly bacterial. He needs medication not salt. Halt the salt on all your fish. It's likely only worsening his condition right now. Poor thing.

Also you need to start doing a 100% water change every day on him. While you are at it change out all your other tanks 100% and don't add salt to any of them. That is like giving your dog medication every day for the rest of his life. Eventually it is going to kill your dog.