New Member

Posts: 2
From:Benton, KY, USA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-22-2003 07:18 PM         

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I bought my male betta about 6 months ago. Recently I got the bright idea to breed him. After introducing the female, I noticed that she had gnawed on the ends of his fins and left them shredded and filled with holes. I immediately removed her from his tank. Now a week later, I check on him to give him some TLC and I notice that his fins ARE FALLING OFF!!!! He is sluggish, floats on the bottom, swims crooked, has white spots/films covering him, and has lost over 75% of his fins. I know that his symptoms point toward ick, but does it make their fins fall off?? Please help me!! Help me save Blue!!!

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Posts: 167
From: Indy
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 10-22-2003 07:33 PM         

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If the white spots are like a grain of salt it is ich. Ich will not make his fins fall off. But from the sounds of it your male beta has damaged fins and then developed white cotten or slimy like patches or spots which would be fungus or bacteria from the injuries and stress his protective slime coating is probably all but gone. I would buy some "melafix" asap and treat him (follow direction closly). Good luck.

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James (The Grateful One)

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Posts: 429
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 10-22-2003 10:42 PM         

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The small white spots are ick. From the sound of it he also has a secondary bacterial infection called velvet. Although Melafix will help the damage heal, it will not be able to work until you correct the problem and symptoms of the problem. Before using the Melafix you need to make sure the water is clean and treat your Betta with antibiotics for the bacterial infection and some type of ick remedy. Mardel makes a line of medications that can be used together to treat both problems safely at the same time.

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Posts: 168
From:Dallas, Texas
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 10-23-2003 05:22 AM         

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The small white spots are NOT ich! My fish has them 2, after the same thing u did. He was 2 big 2 wrap around teh female, and she was ready 2 mate, so she shredded his fins! Now he doesn't even have an inch of tail back there! I think that the white may be fungus, or a fishy scab where he was bit. Yes, he is sluggish on teh bottom 2, but that may b bcuz it hurts to swim! It would, i think. hope this helps! Oh! mayb get sum fungus stuff, the 1 4 the white cottony stuff and put it in his water, also try sum BettaFix!

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Posts: 167
From: Indy
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 10-24-2003 07:49 PM         

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As there have been some conficting replies here I would suggest that you take alittle of what you heard here and do your own research then act accordinly. Good luck.

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James (The Grateful One)

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Posts: 429
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 10-24-2003 08:59 PM         

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gr8fuljames is right. Trying to go from someones written account of symptoms is not going to allow the most accurate diagnosis. When you state that the water temperature is 95 degrees and the fish are at the top gasping for air the diagnosis is pretty obvious. On the other hand, what you see as a jerking movement someone else might see as a normal twitch. Or what you might think is shimmy with a Fantail Goldfish another person will recognize to be natural movement. Your best recourse ALWAYS if possible is to take the fish in to your local fish store so that someone can see the symptoms first hand, and can make an accurate diagnosis.
This is probably the most comprehensive website I've found on fish disease descriptions: http://article.dphnet.com/catagory-02.shtml

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Posts: 168
From:Dallas, Texas
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 10-25-2003 08:32 AM         

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uhh, transporting your fish to your local fish store may stress it out more. YOu can do your own searches on the WWW, try google.com , it works really well, it is what I use! Unfortunately, my fish that had teh same symptoms as yours just died, even though I gave him all of the right medications. Oh well, I still have six healthy males, an d7 females, so i am doing good

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Posts: 168
From:Dallas, Texas
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 10-25-2003 08:32 AM         

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uhh, transporting your fish to your local fish store may stress it out more. YOu can do your own searches on the WWW, try google.com , it works really well, it is what I use! Unfortunately, my fish that had teh same symptoms as yours just died, even though I gave him all of the right medications. Oh well, I still have six healthy males, an d7 females, so i am doing good

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Posts: 429
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 10-25-2003 01:56 PM         

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If he can't go through the stress of a trip to the fish store to get an ACCURATE diagnosis, for gosh sakes don't put him through the stress of bringing him home from the fish store in the first place!

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