View Full Version : HELP : my Siamese Fighting Fish (betta) !
Hello,
I have a Female Siamese Fighting Fight (Betta). It hardly moves and spends most of its time near the surface of the water. Unlike its companion female who explores and moves around, this one seems lazy. I do not notice any other fishes giving it trouble.
It has white spots on one side only(near its eye) and also on its... 'forehead', the part on top and in the middle of its eyes. It does not seem to be Ich as the fish does not rub itself against anything and I have treated it with Ich Medicine. Is there such a thing as natural pigmentation problem?
I have found no other signs of disease on it, no wounds, rots, worms and the rest of the scales and body look just fine. The only problem is that it seems lazy, lethargic and most of the time just starts aimless near the surface.
What can I do ?
Thanks
Miyavism
08-09-2007, 1:50 PM
Do the white spots appear to be fuzzy? 'Cause it may be fungus. I've had those spots occur on a few of my gouramis before. They start out small but then progress rapidly in its full-fledged fungus-y glory. D:
davexstumpe
08-09-2007, 2:09 PM
im thinkin fungus too ?
Marinemom
08-09-2007, 2:51 PM
If it looks like grains of salt, then it is ich. If it is cottony and has the appearance of fluff, then I think it is possible body fungus. Both are bad and need to be treated to save the fish. Can you provide a picture?
Marinemom
jm1212
08-09-2007, 4:39 PM
how long have you had the betta?
what are your water parameters?
does the tank have a filter?
how big is the tank?
Its not fuzzy and the white spots are bigger than grains of sand. I will try to get a picture ASAP. Also, I treated it ich and fungus medicine..
The tank is about 32 Gallons(Uk) or 37 GAllons(US). The filter I am using is the Eheim Pickup --> http://www.eheim.com/pickup.htm
I do not have a test kit, but Im pretty sure the tank has matured and the other fishes are doing fine.
I got 2 bettas on the day I started this thread. The 'sick' one started acting as it is since it came here.
Thanks
emmadavis102
08-10-2007, 8:51 AM
it could just be a strange marking, i have a pair of fighters and mine are exactly the same, the male is really quite lazy and tends to just hang around in one place, unless he sees his reflection or his lady friends swims past, then hes full of it
kimmisc
08-10-2007, 10:40 AM
When I get new fish, sometimes they get a white area somewhere on their bodies. It isn't grainy but not fluffy and fuzzy either. IMO it's due to the stress of being placed in the new environment. Exactly what it is, I can't be sure, but I suspect some type of fungus.
My betta had this for about a week after I got him. He wasn't lethargic and didn't display any other symptoms though. I kept the water in tip top shape and it cleared up on it's own.
Since your betta is lethargic, it may have gotten the best of him. Follow the treatment advice the others give you, but it's very important that you get a test kit and test your ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. I would do regular water changes and keep the nitrates very low (I'd aim for below 10ppm atleast, maybe even 5ppm) until the fish gets better.
kimmisc
08-10-2007, 10:48 AM
By the way, it's often very difficult to make an exact diagnosis, especially when you're first starting out. Sometimes my fish have symptoms that don't match up exactly with pictures on the internet or what people here describe, like the white spots that aren't grainy or fuzzy.
Always address water quality at the first sign of illness. It doesn't end with the tank being established (cycled). Things build up in the tank that must be removed through water changes on a regular basis, preferably weekly under normal circumstances.
You said you're "pretty sure" the tank is matured. Did the tank already have fish in it? For how long? If it had nothing in it before the bettas, and you don't even own a test kit, I'd venture to say it is not matured (cycled), and this would be a major contributor to your problem right now. Go get a test kit ASAP.
silentskream
08-10-2007, 11:16 AM
it can take several months for a tank to cycle.. especially when using fish to do it. you really should get a test kit.. that could give us a clue as to what the problem is. there's no way to know if the tank is cycled for sure without a test kit.
does it look like salt grains, but just a little bigger?
Hmmm I will try to get pictures of the fish....
I starting to think maybe it isnt sick , because after further observation, I see the fish actually does take time to move around and stuff.. Only that its not as active as the other one.
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As for the test kit, its just a piece of paper to see the PH value right? What exactly does a test kit consist of?
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I think that its mature because it has gone through the stage where the water becomes cloudy and the tank is full of algae.
Thanks
kimmisc
08-10-2007, 3:34 PM
Hmmm I will try to get pictures of the fish....
I starting to think maybe it isnt sick , because after further observation, I see the fish actually does take time to move around and stuff.. Only that its not as active as the other one.
-------------------------------
As for the test kit, its just a piece of paper to see the PH value right? What exactly does a test kit consist of?
-------------------------------
I think that its mature because it has gone through the stage where the water becomes cloudy and the tank is full of algae.
Thanks
Reread my post above about what you should test for. You need to get a master freshwater test kit.. the liquid kind, not strips.
silentskream
08-11-2007, 1:07 AM
I agree.
having algae does not mean the tank is properly cycled.
read this for more information:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598
Rbishop
08-11-2007, 7:25 AM
You should be doing frequent water changes, matching temp and using a dechlor as required. Keep the ammonia and nitrites below .25
The tank is not "mature" just because the new tank bloom has gone away.
Hello, so which test kit do i get?
http://www.petmart.com.sg/
Which 1 is the Freshwater Master Testkit?
Thanks
kimmisc
08-13-2007, 3:48 AM
Hello, so which test kit do i get?
http://www.petmart.com.sg/
Which 1 is the Freshwater Master Testkit?
Thanks
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/11391/product.web $19.99 + S&H
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4454&N=2004+114130 $17.89 + S&H
The PetMart site you linked doesn't appear to have these, and their kits are around $50. Not good.
and their kits are around $50. Not good.
HAHAHA
Well, dude its cos its in Singapore Dollars! but Thanks anyways, I'll use ordering online as a last resort.
Also, my Tank Measurements are 90cm X 40cm X 45cm = 162000ml = 162 litres.
kimmisc
08-13-2007, 12:31 PM
Oh, so that's what the S was. Sorry, the only currencies I recognize are USD and British Pounds. That also explains why the site took forever to load pages on cable I guess. :) So far away and all.
Haha Im not surprised. I bet you cant even find my country on the global scale. lol! but thanks anyways, will get back to u when I get my kit.
Well, Im finally back. I have gotten my test kit and the water is okay. Ammonia is 0 ppm, Nitrite is 0 ppm and Nitrate is 0.5ppm. Ph is 7.2.
I think i was over reacting and that the fighting fish is fine... She's active and eating well... I guess she just wasnt used to the tank at the start.
Thanks for the advice.
Just a side note, I got the liquid test kits.. How are the strips one less effective?