[Mandy Pandy]

Housing
What size is your tank? 20 Gallon Long
What temperature is your tank? 79
Does your tank have a filter? Yes
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? Cories, black neons, and 1 nerite snail.

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish? NLS and Omega One pellets, Frozen blood worms and brine shrimp
How often do you feed your betta fish? Once a day

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? Once a week
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? 25%
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Prime

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

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20ish ppm
pH:
Hardness:
Alkalinity:

Symptoms and Treatment - White fuzz around his mouth spreading quickly towards his eyes and gills. I first noticed it this morning just around his lips. I immediately quarantined him into a 1 gallon critter keeper floating in the tank and did a 50% water change on the main tank. I'm keeping an eye on his tankmates but so far all seem well. I made him some new water with 1tsp of aq salt and ran to the store for some meds. I went with API Fungus Cure. Currently he's still alive and floating in his critter keeper with the API Fungus Cure and 1tsp of aq salt. Is there anything else I should be doing? I was thinking of doing a salt bath. Would this be wise and what would be the best way to go about doing it?

How has your betta fish's appearance changed? The white fuzz
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? More lethargic than usual. He spazzes towards the surface and does this weird thing where his mouth is out of the water and he's swimming.. reminds me of a dolphin.
When did you start noticing the symptoms? This morning.
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? API Fungus Cure and AQ Salt, details above.
Does your fish have any history of being ill? No
How old is your fish (approximately)? 4 months. He was a baby betta at Petco and is just reaching his full size.

 

[Mandy Pandy]

Here's a picture:

 

[Mandy Pandy]

I think it might be too late for him..

 

[NeptunesMom]

Did he pass? If not can you get your hands on some kanaplex? Some stores I believe are carrying it now. If not, get Furan 2.

 

[Mandy Pandy]

He passed and I feel awful. I'll keep those medicines in mind if this ever happens again. I think I won't be getting any more bettas for that tank though. I don't seem to have any luck in it. My last betta in there drowned because my stupid pleco dug a tunnel under some driftwood and he got stuck >_<

 

[NeptunesMom]

You're going to need to treat the whole tank. All those fish have been exposed.

 

[Namialus]

I'm so sorry.. I lost 9 guppies because of that.

 

[LebronTheBetta]

I'm so sorry! My sorority died to this sickness introduced my guppies; the guppies are alive (figures) though and all the cories.

I agree with Neptune, I had to treat my tank as well. That's how they all survived..

 

[jadaBlu]

I had good luck with a combo of Jungle Fungus Clear (Walmart), Triple Sulfa (Petsmart) and AQ salt for 10 days.

 

[NeptunesMom]

I had good luck with a combo of Jungle Fungus Clear (Walmart), Triple Sulfa (Petsmart) and AQ salt for 10 days.

That is a good combo. I forget about the Triple Sulfa because I can't use it. I'm allergic to it.

 

[LittleBlueFishlets]

Personally, I wouldn't use aquarium salt while using antibiotics. All are eliminated by the kidneys, so using them simultaneously will put a lot of stress on them.

I would use the antibiotics, and not use the aquarium salt. If the condition is severe enough to require antibiotics, they will be more effective at eliminating the bacterial infection than the Aq salt would be.

 

[Mandy Pandy]

So what do you think I should do for the entire tank? I have five cories, 9 tetra, and a nerite snail. I know cory cats are sensitive to salt and tetra can be sensitive to different treatments in general so I'm not sure what direction I should go in. ^^;

 

[Mandy Pandy]

Welp, I didn't want to wait any longer to start treatment so I'm starting with Kanaplex. I was fortunate and my LFS had some for $10. Everyone still looks good so I'm hoping for the best. I put three measures into some water I mixed into the tank and one measure in some brine shrimp which they are currently gobbling up. I'll treat again in 2 days as the directions say.

 

[LittleBlueFishlets]

For Columnaris, pretty much any gram negative antibiotic will work. Kanaplex is excellent.

I don't know how it will affect your other fish. I only have bettas, so I've only researched their needs.

 

[Mandy Pandy]

A few hours later and everyone is still alive so hopefully it works out XD

 

[Mandy Pandy]

Lost one more peppered cory but everyone else seems to be doing just fine.