White fuzzy stuff hanging from below gills...very worried

[PhantomJedi]

Housing
What size is your tank? 2.5 gallons
What temperature is your tank? 80-84
Does your tank have a filter? No
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? No
Is your tank heated? Yes
What tank mates does your betta fish live with? none

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish? Pellets
How often do you feed your betta fish? Three pellets 2x daily

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? weekly
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? 100%
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? A water purifier: don't have the container at hand

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?
- No. It's city water if that helps any.
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness:
Alkalinity:

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? He has white, fuzzy-looking stuff trailing from on top of his head and from by his gills.
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? He seems to have trouble breathing and will suddenly dart to the bottom at times. He also doesn't seem to be eating. Sometimes he lists a little bit while swimming.
When did you start noticing the symptoms? The not eating about two or so days ago, and the fuzzy stuff tonight
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? No: don't know how
Does your fish have any history of being ill? No
How old is your fish (approximately)? We got him 1.5 yrs ago

This is my brother's fish, so we're all quite concerned. Thankfully my betta (Riemann) is still doing quite well.

[KayDowson]

can u post pics... sounds like ick.. also he's older in terms of a betta fishes age... i would put him on a 1tsp/gal aq salt treatment for 10 days with 100% water changes daily... IMO he should be gettin 2 water changes (1-50% and 1-100%) every week since it is a smaller tank... pix would really help tho

[Here Fishy Fishy Fishy]

It is possible that your betta has flexibacter columnaris:
http://www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm

[PhantomJedi]

The picture should be attached to this post. While watching him to take this pic, he almost looked like he coughed the white trailing thing out of his gills.

He's also fairly listless: he'll sit on his plant about a half-inch below the surface and just sit there.

[Here Fishy Fishy Fishy]

It is definitely not ick.

Please go to the flexibacter columnaris link which I posted; that is your best chance to help your fish.

You will probably want to treat simultaniously with Maracyn and MaracynII... ASAP

You'll also want to lower the water temperature to about 78F... as bacteria breds faster in warmer water.

[Here Fishy Fishy Fishy]

You will also want to add aquarium salt at a concentration of 1 TABLEspoon per gallon, to make it harder for the flexibacter to 'hold onto' your fish...

[Here Fishy Fishy Fishy]

Most big box pet stores and aquarium stores should carry the Maracyn, Maracyn II and Aquarium salt...

[bettafish15]

I agree with what Here Fishy is saying. Also, 3 pellets twice a day is too much food. 3 pellets only ONCE a day is perfect. A bettas stomach is only the size of it's eye.

[KayDowson]

poor guy... thats not ick tho... sry

[PhantomJedi]

Gave him some Maracyn + Maracyn II plus aquarium salt. Here's hoping he starts doing better...he's the younger of the two fish in my immediate family so we're all quite worried. :(