When attacked by disease, betta fish show various signs, ranging from lethargy to white spots. If you suspect your betta has a disease, immediately separate it from other fish so it doesn't infect it. Also, you can try to find a cure for your hickey at a pet store or even a fish shop. If not, try looking for information on the internet.
Step
Method 1 of 6: Looking for Signs of Disease Attack
Step 1. Notice if the color fades
When a betta is sick, the color will look faded. In fact, the color can disappear.
Step 2. Look at your betta's fins
The fins of a healthy betta look intact. However, in sick betta fish you will find torn or perforated fins.
Another sign that your betta is sick is the fins that appear to be pointing downwards. This situation indicates that the fish are unable to move their fins properly
Step 3. Find out if your betta is lethargic
Betta fish that are sick will reduce their activity level. He won't be as active as usual. His movements actually slowed down.
Another sign that your fish has a disease is that it is sitting at the bottom of the tank more
Step 4. Pay attention to your betta's eating habits
Several diseases cause betta fish to be lazy to eat. If your betta seems reluctant to touch food, he may be sick.
Step 5. Check for the presence of spots on its body
Look for small, white spots, especially around the head and mouth. This symptom is a sign of a certain parasite attack, called ich.
Step 6. Look for signs the fish is having trouble breathing
Maybe this suggestion sounds weird. However, if your betta is constantly on the surface of the tank and trying to breathe air, this could be a sign of disease.
Step 7. Observe if your betta tries to rub or scratch its body
If your betta is trying to rub itself against the rim of the tank, it may be a sign of trouble. Similarly, if your betta tries to scratch a plant or object in the tank, it may be suffering from a disease.
Step 8. Look for other physical symptoms
One of the signs of a disease attack is swollen eyes. Notice if your betta's eyes protrude from its head.
- Raised scales can also signal an attack of disease.
- Watch the fish gills. If the fish is unable to close its gills tightly, it may be because it has swollen gills, which is another symptom of disease.
Method 2 of 6: Coping With Constipation
Step 1. Look for signs of swelling
If your betta is suddenly swollen, he may be constipated. You need to solve this problem immediately.
Step 2. Stop feeding for a few days
The first way to deal with constipation is to stop feeding for a few days. That way, he has enough time to digest and expel food through his system.
Step 3. Feed live food
After a few days, start feeding him again. However, you should use live food for a while.
For live food, you can give him fish that has been soaked in salt water or bloodworms. When it comes to feed, the rule of thumb is to give it in sufficient quantity as long as the betta can finish it in two minutes. Feed twice a day
Step 4. Don't overfeed
Constipation is usually a sign that you are overfeeding your betta. Therefore, when he starts eating normally, you need to reduce the amount of food he eats.
Method 3 of 6: Diagnosing Fin/Tail Decay and Fungal Infection
Step 1. Look for torn tail and fin marks
This disease can affect the tail or fins only. However, the effect is the same, which looks torn apart.
- Also, find out if the area at the end of the tail is getting darker.
- Watch for white patches caused by a fungal infection. This disease is often identified by the appearance of white spots on the fish's body. Your fish's fins may also be pinched and the fish may not be as active as usual. Although fungal infection is different from fin rot, the treatment for this disease is the same.
Step 2. Change the water
The first step that needs to be taken is to change the water. Of course you will need to move the fish elsewhere while doing this. Generally this disease appears because of dirty water. So you need to prepare a clean environment for fish. You will need to clean the tank before refilling it with water.
- The best way to clean an aquarium is to use bleach mixed with water at a ratio of 1:20. You can also soak artificial plants and a bucket in it, but remove rocks or gravel because they absorb bleach.
- Make sure you rinse the tank several times after cleaning it.
- For the rocks, bake at 232 degrees Celsius for an hour. Let it cool before putting it in the aquarium.
Step 3. Use medication
You can give tetracycline or ampicillin by putting them in water. The amount depends on the size of the pool. However, you can also find out the exact amount from the guide listed on the packaging.
- You will need a mildew repellent. Mushrooms will no longer grow in the water.
- If your betta is infected with a fungus, it's not tetracycline or ampicillin that it needs, but a fungus repellent.
Step 4. Repeat the process
Change the water at least every 3 days, then add the medicine again. The process can be stopped when the betta appears to be improving, and this can take up to a month.
For yeast infections, watch for white patches and other symptoms that start to disappear. When you no longer have these symptoms, clean the tank with Bettazing or Bettamax to get rid of the fungus
Method 4 of 6: Overcoming Velvet Disease
Step 1. Shine a flashlight at the betta
The way to find out the presence of velvet (golden spots or rust) on fish is to direct the light at the fish's body. The light helps you see the golden shimmer or rust color on the scales caused by disease. Your fish will show other symptoms such as lethargy, decreased appetite, and a habit of rubbing or scratching against walls or other objects in the tank. The fins may also be pointed.
These parasites can be avoided by adding aquarium salt and a water conditioner that makes the water safe for fish to live in. Use in the usual dosage. You should add 1 tsp of aquarium salt to 2.5 gallons of water. You can also put a drop of water conditioner in a gallon of water. However, always pay attention to the instructions included in the water conditioner package
Step 2. Use Bettazing
This treatment is most effective for treating golden spots on fish because it contains two substances that work effectively against it. Add 12 drops for every gallon of water.
- You can also use a drug called Maracide.
- Continue treatment until the fish no longer show these symptoms.
Step 3. Take care of the aquarium
Apart from isolating sick fish, you also have to take care of the aquarium. This disease is highly contagious.
To isolate sick fish, you will need to transfer them to a separate tank filled with clean water. You also need to pay attention to the condition of the two aquariums
Method 5 of 6: Caring for Ich
Step 1. Look for white spots all over the fish
Ich is a parasite that causes spots on the fish's body. Also look for signs of pinched fins and decreased agility of the fish. Your fish may also stop eating.
Like velvet, this type of parasite can be prevented if you handle the water properly. Add 1 tsp of aquarium salt to 2.5 gallons of water. For water conditioner, add a drop per gallon of water. Of course, always read the rules of use first
Step 2. Try raising the temperature for this ich parasite
If your tank is large, you can increase the temperature to 29 degrees Celsius, which will kill the parasites. However, do not do this in small aquariums. You may mistakenly raise the temperature higher and kill the fish.
Step 3. Replace and clean the aquarium
Faced with ich parasites, you should change the water. Also, take time to clean the water, as described in the discussion of fin and tail rot and fungal infections. In smaller tanks, remove the fish before cleaning them. Then, heat the water to 29 degrees Celsius before returning the fish to the water.
Step 4. Treat the water condition
Before returning the fish to the tank, make sure you have added aquarium salt and water conditioner. That way, the aquarium will no longer spread parasites to the fish's body.
Step 5. Add Aquarisol
Use a drop of Aquarisol for every gallon of water. You can continue to add it every day until the condition of your fish improves. This drug works to eradicate parasites.
If you don't have Aquarizol, you can use a pinch of Bettazing
Method 6 of 6: Coping With Popeye
Step 1. Look for puffy eyes
The main symptom of this disease is the protruding eye of the fish. However, sometimes swelling of the eye is just a symptom, not the disease itself.
For example, puffy eyes are a symptom of tuberculosis. If it is tuberculosis, your fish may no longer have hope
Step 2. Replace and clean the aquarium
To treat Popeye's disease, you must have a clean aquarium, as noted above. In addition, also change the water.
Step 3. Use ampicillin
Ampicillin is able to treat puffy eyes as long as it is not a symptom of a more severe disease. You will need to add this medication every time you change the water and clean the tank, which should be done every 3 days. Continue this habit for up to a week after the signs of the disease disappear.
Tips
If your pet fish seems to be suffering, you may want to consider killing it humanely. However, before doing so, make sure the disease the fish is suffering from is serious
Warning
Betta fish can get diseases that cannot be treated. For example, dropsy is a dangerous disease that attacks hickeys. This disease causes the hickey's abdomen to swell. Also, if you look at it from above, you will notice that the fish scales are uneven. Fish scales actually lifted. You really can't treat Dropsy. However, you should separate the sick fish from other fish if it shows signs of this disease
Related article
- How to Make an Aquarium
- How to Breed Clown Fish
- How to Take Care of Tropical Fish
- How to Cultivate Guppy Fish
