White patch--to treat or not to treat?

LeahK

LeahK

AC Members
Jul 5, 2007
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Iowa
I got a new betta last night for my empty 20 gallon. When I got home and got him in the tank, I noticed a white patch--kind of looks like mold--just under his dorsal fin, on top of his back. It's about 2 or 3 millimeters in diameter.

I'll post pics once my batteries charge, but I was wondering--anyone think that this might clear up on its own, now that he's out of his cup and in better water? Or do you think immediate treatment is necessary?

My first thought was that maybe it's columnaris. But I want some advice, before medicating, because most columnaris meds kill shrimp (some feeder shrimp are the only other inhabitants in the tank, which is why I didn't quarantine).

Thanks!
 
Do you have a quarantine/hospital tank you could put him in so the treatment won't kill the shrimp?
 
Yes, I can put him in a bucket with an airstone, if necessary. I'm hoping it's not bacterial but just a scar or something.

This reminds me, let me go try and take a pic right now....
 
Ok, here's some pics. The white patch is on the top of his back, toward the right.
I just wonder--because I've cleared up fin rot in bettas with nothing but clean water--if this IS bacterial do you think clean water will be enough?

IMG_1560.jpg

IMG_1564.jpg

IMG_1565.jpg
 
Good clean water can help...I'd keep an eye on him and if it grows or he stops eating or shows signs of listlessness, I'd treat then. People are often too quick to treat, but sometimes it's necessary.

My leopard bushfish I held off treating until his popeye was really bad...I wish I would have treated sooner, but it's been 1.5 years and he has been fine since then.

Eric
 
First off I would like to say that is a really cool beta... never seen one quite that color before

and ye.. I would QT him and watch it before treating anything

not much to treat unless you know what your treating

put a bit of aquarium salt in the QT tank. Helps with stress as well as ich (even if he doesnt have it.. it wont harm him)
 
7itanium said:
First off I would like to say that is a really cool beta... never seen one quite that color before
Click to expand...

Yeah, isn't he awesome? :)

7itanium said:
and ye.. I would QT him and watch it before treating anything

not much to treat unless you know what your treating
Click to expand...

Agreed. He's the only fish in the tank, so I won't worry about a separate QT set-up, and I'll just keep an eye on him for now.
 
I have a betta that has several small white areas on him that made me think columnaris when they first appeared, but I've since written off. He also has a tumorouse mass on his tail fin that he's now lived with for 2 years.

I would jsut keep an eye on him and conclude that he might jsut have some oddities but if they don't spread, don't worry. That's what I've determined about sammy :-)
 
Thanks for sharing that about Sammy! It makes me feel better. So far, my guy's white patch is no better, no worse, so I'm hopeful that it's just some quirk and not an illness. He's eating fine, and is active. He's loving his 20 gallons, with all the moss for hiding in.
 
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