fungus?

[tp0214]

my fish had this white stuff that has eaten away his top fin. it went away for a while but it looks like it's coming back. any ideas on what it is? fungus maybe? he is kept in a heated, filtered 1.5-gallon, planted tank and seems to be normal otherwise. he is probably 2.5-3 years old right now

[callistra]

Looks like columnaris.. I would look for Kanaplex by Seachem, Triple Sulfa or Furan 2.

1.5g isn't large enough to maintain a biofilter so it would still need twice weekly changes of 50% and 100%

Can you please share more info: http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=49233

[tp0214]

I usually do 50% changes weekly. I can up that to twice weekly though. Temp maintained between 76-78 all times.

[AyalaCookiejar]

Please fill this out.

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)?

[tp0214]

tank size: 1.5 gallon
temp:76-78
filter: y
air stone: n - but there is a bubbler on the filter
heated: y
tank mates: n
food: betta essentials pellets 2-3 per day (pre-soaked) and green pea twice a week
water change: once a week
%age change: 50%
additives: dechlor drops and 1/2 tsp aquarium salt
water ever tested: n
appearance: white stuff on dorsal
behavior changes: lethargic and hangs out by filter or heater whenever im not interacting with him
first appearance of symptoms: first bout of white stuff last fall
treatment: after first bout of white stuff treated with maracyn and aquarium salt. seemed to help. white stuff is back now. fish also gets constipated very easily thus having recurrant swim bladder issues. i also fast him twice a week
age:2.5-3 yrs male crowntail

[tp0214]

so any thoughts?

[cliffordsmom]

I would think it's probably columnaris, which produces a cottony-looking fungus on the fish.
This thread:
http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=73333
Has some nifty details on how to treat it. :)

[aemaki09]

I'm going to go with columnaris.

do as callistra said as treatment, maracyn plus is also a good alternative to furan 2 and triple sulfa if you arent able to find those

[tp0214]

thanks everyone. ill try to medicate him and disinfect the tank. he's been a solid fish. crazy bubble nester in his heyday. anyways hopefully everything works out.