BETTA FISH DISEASES

QUICK REFERENCE MANUAL

One of the most common mistakes one could make when treating betta fish is in accurately determining the right dose. It’s essential that you know the level of water should be in the fish tank so you can give the precise amount of medicine. These are some of the signs to look for in sick Bettas; decreased appetite, fins clamped to the sides, scraping body on rocks, abdominal swelling, inflamed or discolored skin or fins, loss of appetite for extended periods of time, lethargic and frequently hiding, dull coloring, especially in males, tattered fins with black edges, white growths on body or mouth, swimming abnormally, labored breathing, clamped fins, and bloated.

Septicemia

Description: Blood poisoning when infection enters the blood. Septicemia is not a disease but rather a symptom of the infection.

Type: Bacterial Contagious: No

Redness or streaks under the scales

Columnaris (Cotton Wool or Mouth Fungus)

Description: Caused by stressful environment or unmaintained water. This diseases causes ragging, fraying of fins that can lead to lesions or ulcers, scales, fins, and gills discoloration. Betta fish can experience difficulty in breathing due to gill infection.

Type: Bacterial Contagious: Yes

Commonly identified when white or grayish spots or patches can also look yellow or orange on the head and all around the fins and gills

Spironucleus

Description: Small localized white patche often confused with columnaris, ich, or body slime.

Type: Internal Parasites Contagious: Yes

Dropsy (Pineconing)

Description: Organ failure caused by viral diseases, parasites, and/or bacterial disease. Believed to come from giving your fish with contaminated live food, like for instance black worms. A bacterium which spreads this disease is infectious so ensure to separate the sick fish. Sad to say, there is no cure available

Type: Symptom Contagious: Maybe

Grossly swollen belly
Scales that stand out with a pinecone-like appearance
Eyes that bulge
Gills that are pale
The anus that becomes red and swollen
Feces that are pale and stringy
Ulcers on the body, along the lateral line
A spine that curved
Fins clamped together
General lethargy
Refusal to eat
Swimming near the surface

Fin / Tail Rot (Melt)

Description: Red/Black edges along the infected areas. Normally due to filthy water or a dirty fish tank. Usually the lost parts of fin or tail will generate.

Type: Bacterial Contagious: No

Inflamed patches on the fins
Faded color or discoloration on the edges of the fins,
And fraying of the fin or tail
Others symptoms include, lethargy and loss of appetite

Fish Lice (Argulus)

Description: Visible crustacean parasite that feeds and lays eggs on Betta fish

Type: Parasitic Contagious: Yes

Green to brown lice visible on skin
Ulcers
Wounds and round parasite attach to the skin
Clamped fins

Fungal infection

Description: Cotton like growth on fish/eggs

Type: Fungal Contagious: Yes

White blotchy patches on the body and head of the betta
Reactions to the illness will also occur, such as a loss of colour, loss of appetite, lethargy or clamped fins

Gill/Skin Flukes

Description: Parasites will breed and lash onto any part of your Betta such as the gills, fins, or body.

Type: Parasitic Contagious: Yes

Gasping for air at the waters surface
Damage to the gills
Gills covered in mucus
Scraping
Ulcers and wounds

Gill Hyperplasia

Description: Build-up of cells and inflammation of gills as result of bad water conditions or toxins.

Type: Symptom Contagious: Maybe

Difficulty Breathing
Gills swollen open

Anchor Worms (Lernea)

Description: Highly visible parasites will lash onto your Betta’s skin

Type: Parasitic Contagious: Yes

Scraping
Ulcers/Sores from rubbing against objects
Breathing Difficulties
Lethargic Behavior

Ich/Ick

Description: White spots will be found on the body and/or fins of your Betta. Very hard to detect on white colored Bettas. Very sensitive to temperature, therefore when you use a heater; increase the temperature of the tank to eighty five Fahrenheit.

Type: Parasitic Contagious: Yes

Small white dots on the body, fins, or gills resembling sugar granules
Scratching body against hard objects
Fish is lethargic
Loss of appetite
Clamped fins

Internal parasites

Description: Best treated with medicated food

Type: Parasitic Contagious: Yes

Lethargic and lazy
Losing weight despite a healthy appetite
Sporadic swimming and movements
White strings of poop

Popeye

Description: Bacterial infection of the eyes. Your fish will usually make a complete recovery, however it is likely your fish loses his eye when you notice it too late. If popeye is presented in only one eye, it’s mostly due to injury and not a bacterial infection. Salt baths and 100% daily water changes are recommended.

Type: Bacterial Contagious: No

Bulging swollen eye
The eye may also have a thick white ring around it
General reactions to illness will also occur, such as loss of appetite and lethargy

Slime Disease

Description: Characterized by an over production of mucus coating

Type: Parasitic Contagious: No

Include a grey / white to blue looking mucus coat and rapid breathing (gilling).
Extreme cases, obvious physical damage to the skin occurs, secondary infections such as fungus and fin rot can develop
Weakens immune system

Swim Bladder Disorder

Description: Caused by Overfeeding/Constipation or internal parasites.

Type: Ailment Contagious: No

Primary involve buoyancy, including sinking to the bottom or floating at the top of the tank, floating upside down or on their side, or struggling to maintain a normal position

Tuberculosis

Description: This is the only fish disease known to be contagious to man. It can be as long as six months prior to show any symptoms of infections. Unfortunately, not just is there no known treatment, but it is very spreadable, lethal to nearly all other sea life, and hard to get rid of. Even using bleach can’t sanitize against it. You will most likely need to dispose of your bowl, tank, net as well as all other gears.

Type: Bacterial Contagious: Yes

Thinness, loss of appetite, and emaciation
Grow body deformities such as popeye,
suffer from bloated gills and scales,
red clamped gills (otherwise known as pine-coning)
fin and body rot,
red patches on its body and
grey lesions along its side
Curved spine/crooked skeleton
Sluggish movement/lack of movement
Eye damage

Velvet

Description: Yellow spots will be found on the body and/or fins of your Betta. Very hard to detect on Yellowish/Gold colored Bettas. Number one killer of betta fish. Make sure to treat the entire fish tank, fish net, and other tools thoroughly. Keep Betta in fish tank in a dark place during treatment to accelerate recovery.

Type: Parasitic Contagious: Yes

Scratching body against hard objects
Fish is lethargic
Loss of appetite
Rapid, labored breathing
Clamped fins
Fine yellow or rusty colored film on the skin (giving a velvety appearance)
In advanced stages, skin peels off

Hole in Head

Description: Believed to be caused by Hexamita or poor water conditions

Type: Parasite Contagious: No

White Stringy Feces
Loss Of Color
Loss Of Appetite & Emaciation
small holes located in the head

Tumor

Description: Contrary to popular belief not all tumors are genetic especially benign ones which are caused by mutation during cell replication. Benign tumors won’t grow or migrate unlike other tumors. Tumors can be seen on the outside of the skin. If the tumor is growing internally, swelling and protrusion will be visible.

Type: Possibly Genetics Contagious: No

Camallanus Worms

Description: best treated this is through medicated fish food

Type: Parasitic Contagious: Yes

Red/Brown worms protruding from their fish cloaca’s or anus

Leeches

Description: Usually introduced with the addition of live plants or snails

Type: Parasitic Contagious: Yes

Scraping
Ulcers/Sores from rubbing against objects
Breathing Difficulties
Lethargic Behavior
small worms hanging from body

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