[BettaChic]

Does this look like Velvet/Gold Dust disease? Looking at the goldish coloring on the underside of his mouth. I'm not sure if the fins changing to a reddish color are part of the velvet disease or just part of him turning red.

I had a problem with him previously in another thread, at the time thinking it was the new plants or wood that I added. Which could have caused some problems, but now I'm thinking this is a parasitic infection. I have moved him into a hospital tank and he has been in there almost a week now.


Housing
What size is your tank?
2.5 gal

What temperature is your tank?
83 F (Raised to help treat Velvet)

Does your tank have a filter?
Yes, but with no filter in it. Just circulating the water in the tank and picking up floating particles.

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?
NLS Pellets, frozen brine shrimp

How often do you feed your betta fish?
3 pellets twice a day

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change?
Everyday

What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change?
50% (Should I change to 90% or 100% for treating Velvet?)

What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change?
24 aged, water conditioned water. Have been treating with Mardels Coppersafe

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

Ammonia: 0.05
Nitrite: 0.0
Nitrate: 0.0
pH: 7.6
Hardness: Off the chart
Alkalinity: N/a

Copper Lvls: 2.0 (for Coppersafe treatment)

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed?
Goldish coloring under his mouth

How has your betta fish's behavior changed?
He has been more acting and feeling better since moving him into the hospital tank, but still clamping fins in the light.

When did you start noticing the symptoms?
About a week ago

Have you started treating your fish? If so, how?
Yes, Mardels Coppersafe for Ick/Velvet. Also raising the temperature, 50% water change everyday (Should I change to 100%?) Keeping the tank dark.

Does your fish have any history of being ill?
We are thinking he may have had this infection when we first bought him, but because we didn't know what we were looking for and that it was abnormal, that it has progressed. We have only had him for two weeks.

How old is your fish (approximately)?
Just bought him 2 weeks ago from the pet store, so I'm guessing he could be up to 4 or 5 months old?

<3 BettaChic

 

[Pataflafla]

It doesn't look like Velvet, but does he shimmer with gold dust with a flash light? that's usually the best indicator.

 

[BettaChic]

It doesn't look like Velvet, but does he shimmer with gold dust with a flash light? that's usually the best indicator.

That part under his mouth still looks the same under the flashlight, but his bottom fin, where it's turning red, does look like it shimmers with gold a bit.

I did research on a lot of the other diseases, but Velvet seemed the closest to us.

He isn't losing weight and still has an excellent appetite. He is rubbing against objects though and running his underside along the bottom of the tank and sides sometimes. He is flaring and seems to be happy out of the light, then clamps his fins when the light comes on. I read that the Velvet parasites are more active in the light.

Do you have any suggestions as to what else it could be? I don't want to be treating him for something he doesn't have, but I want to be doing something to make him better!

<3 BettaChic

 

[Pataflafla]

A gold coloring is normal under the mouth.

But if he's rubbing on things, then that's an indicator that there's an irritant either on him or in the water.

I suggest a 100% change with just treated water to see if he improves. If not, continue carefully with the coppersafe as it is a very harsh medication. I'd say 1 week on that medication maximum. If he's not doing any better then, give him a day or two of clean water to detox from it before starting a different treatment.

 

[BettaChic]

A gold coloring is normal under the mouth.

But if he's rubbing on things, then that's an indicator that there's an irritant either on him or in the water.

I suggest a 100% change with just treated water to see if he improves. If not, continue carefully with the coppersafe as it is a very harsh medication. I'd say 1 week on that medication maximum. If he's not doing any better then, give him a day or two of clean water to detox from it before starting a different treatment.

Well this morning he is looking a bit worse. His top fin is turning more red and seems to be either torn or something hanging from it. There is now clearly a gold spot near the base of his tail. He is either losing his vision or is now uncoordinated. Kept missing when trying to eat his pellets.

I was thinking about trying some AQ salt for treatment and see if that helps at all. When fighting parasites, should I be doing a 100% water change everyday? I don't mind at all, but I didn't want to stress him out more. I was thinking a 100% daily might be best to eliminate as many parasites as possible.

<3 BettaChic

 

[Pataflafla]

Start him out on 1 tsp/gal of aquarium salt (Always dissolve first). You'll want to do 100% daily changes with a good wipe down of the tank to get everything. Over the course of 24 hours or more, slowly bump him up to 3 tsp/gal aquarium salt (1 tsp/gal every 12 hours after the initial is a good timing regiment until you get to 3 tsp/gal).

Keep things dark and warm for him and offer him good food a few times a day. Treat for up to 10 days with aquarium salt, but keep in mind that once you get over 1 tsp/gal it's best to slowly wean them off of the dose they're on.

 

[BettaChic]

Start him out on 1 tsp/gal of aquarium salt (Always dissolve first). You'll want to do 100% daily changes with a good wipe down of the tank to get everything. Over the course of 24 hours or more, slowly bump him up to 3 tsp/gal aquarium salt (1 tsp/gal every 12 hours after the initial is a good timing regiment until you get to 3 tsp/gal).

Keep things dark and warm for him and offer him good food a few times a day. Treat for up to 10 days with aquarium salt, but keep in mind that once you get over 1 tsp/gal it's best to slowly wean them off of the dose they're on.

Pataflafla,

Thank you so much for consistently responding to my thread and helping out! I will start him on the AQ salt treatment ASAP, and hopefully that will work. Thanks again!

<3 BettaChic