[Ianthe]

So, went back to the store yesterday to see if the CT I wanted was still there, he wasn't I hope he got a good home. But...I saw something really disturbing. A King betta, swimming in his cup fine, active....but with a large hole in his head....? Like, a big chunk missing and its all greyish white, it was really gross

What is this? Is it something that could potentially be treated/healed/fixed?

 

[Ianthe]

Would NOT pay for him, but I wonder if they would give him to me...

Largest spot I have right now is only 2 gallons, though...?

 

[ZackyBear]

I think,depending on the store, if you point out how badly injured/ill a fish is then they won't sell it to you or give it to you.

But if you don't point it out they will only sell him at full price.

 

[Ianthe]

Would it even be worth it? Anyone ever seen anything like this? Could anything be done for him? What is the minimum tank size for a King?

 

[ZackyBear]

I don't think it would, but that's only from my POV. With that much of a wound, the water would have to be constantly changed to keep it clean until the betta's slime coat could cover it (which might explain the greyish white).

You might even end up doing an AQ Salt treatment right when you bring him home in case that white-grey is a fungus and NOT the slime coat.

Really just depends on your dedication for it...and I would go for a minimum of 3 gallons. Maybe 5? I just know that kings require a lot more water than a normal betta x.x

 

[deso]

http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-health/freshwater-conditions/hexamita.aspx

Could be hexamita, known as "hole-in-the-head" once it reaches the external stage. Possible causes are thought to be malnutrition and poor water conditions. If that hole looked pretty bad, that king betta may be too far gone

 

[Ianthe]

OK thanks...too bad It's weird because he was acting fine, but seriously, I have no idea how he has a hole in his head that big and is even still alive. I have never seen anything like it

 

[ZackyBear]

It's kinda scary if you ask me:shock:

 

[deso]

Unfortunately, I've seen it before on an oscar (he wasn't my fish, thank goodness). Prognosis is not good unless it's caught real early on and treated aggressively with strong industrial meds. It's one of those diseases that TLC, some AQ salt and ultra-clean water can't cure. Pretty disgusting and really quite sad, what a way to go...

 

[Ianthe]

*sigh*. It is really disturbing, and sad. I wish they would do something, even it is euthanizing him so he won't suffer, instead of just letting him sit there like that in a cup

 

[Sena Hansler]

If it isn't hole in the head, it could be his body rotting. I had a female who had a huge hole where her dorsal fin should have been. It took weeks for it to heal, and even then she died from another disease!

But, if you have the heavy meds like Kanaplex, or maybe even try Maracyn and Maracyn 2 combo... get him. Always worth a shot. I got a necrosis/columnaris betta, knowing fully he would not survive and true enough poor Blue died 5 hours later because the diseases were not caught before they happened!