A Healthy Betta is a Happy Betta
No matter how strong one is, failing to take preventive measures will lead to illness sooner or later. The same is true for betta; despite their hardy nature, these beautiful creatures are susceptible to various diseases affecting their health and well-being. Once you purchase a betta fish from the store, it’s better to prevent disease before it occurs rather than wait for it to develop and then resort to treatment. It’s wise to prepare for potential ailments as soon as you buy your betta fish.
You must understand the most common betta fish diseases and their timely diagnosis and treatment to keep your aquatic friend happy and healthy. This strategy will save your pet from potential damage and severe health conditions. However, if your betta unfortunately suffers from the disease, there’s no need to worry or feel confused, as it will not solve your problem. Having raised hundreds of betta fish, I know thoroughly about almost every disease they can suffer. In this comprehensive guide, I have clearly explained the common ailments afflicting bettas, how to recognize their symptoms early, and how to combat these diseases.
Signs of Sick Betta Fish
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- Lethargy: Betta lying at the bottom of the tank or hiding more than usual indicates illness.
- Clamped fins: A sick betta holds its fins close to its body rather than fanned out, indicating a classic sign of discomfort and stress.
- Color change: Betta is losing its fin colors and looking pale and dull; there are signs of sickliness.
- Loss of appetite: If your betta refuses its favorite delicious food and shows a significant decrease in appetite, it could be a sign of illness.
- Labored breathing: If your betta is breathing heavily and gasping for air at the water’s surface, its gills might be affected.
- White spots: The dreaded white spots might look normal on a betta’s body, but they are a sign of parasitic infection.
- Abnormal swimming: An unusual swimming pattern like that of floating sideways or in circles and having difficulty staying upright can indicate a health problem.
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Understanding these common symptoms will help you identify and diagnose a sick betta fish. It’s wise to take immediate action as soon as you notice these symptoms in your finned-friend. Failing to address this can have serious health consequences.
Step-by-Step Guide to Combat the Disease
1. Quarantine the Betta
So far, you have only identified sick betta fish and not diagnosed a specific disease, which you will learn later in this section. Once you confirm your betta fish is sick, hurry up and quarantine it in a hospital tank. A hospital tank could be an emergency tank of small size, say 1-2 gallons. Arrange all the essentials like filter, heater, substrate, and other décor items in the hospital tank so that the condition of your betta fish does not deteriorate further.
2. Emergency Treatment (Salt Baths)
Hopefully, by now, you have inspected your betta fish for symptoms and started researching to diagnose it, but until then, don’t leave it to its mercy; instead, proceed with emergency treatment. The most recommended treatment for treating almost every diseases is giving salt baths to your betta. Aquarium salt creates an inhospitable environment for specific pathogens and parasites. It has antiseptic properties that reduce the risk of infection. It can retard the growth of bacteria and fungi that may cause betta health problems. Additionally, it has proven helpful in reducing stress and promoting the healing process.
How to Dose Aquarium Salt?
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- Add one tablespoon of aquarium salt for every 5 gallons of water.
- Don’t put all the salt at once; instead, pour it gradually into the tank to ensure its even distribution and complete dissolution.
- Monitor the fish’s condition after adding salt to the aquarium. If you notice any unusual betta behavior, reduce the salt concentration by making partial water changes.
- Ensure you use aquarium salt, not table salt, as they differ.
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3. Start Treatment of Your Betta
If your betta recovers after salt treatment, it’s good news, and you are lucky that your betta fish condition was not severe. But if the result does not come in your favor, don’t panic; it’s normal. If you make the correct diagnosis of your betta fish disease, cheers. Now, it’s up to us. We will provide you with the treatment guidelines for each betta disease.
List of Prevalent Betta Fish Diseases
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- Fin and Tail Rot
- Popeye
- Velvet
- Swim bladder
- Ich
- Dropsy
- Columnaris
- Constipation
- Gill Flukes
- Hexamita (Hole in the head)
- Eye cloud
- Tuberculosis
- Tumor
- Mouth fungus
- Hemorrhagic Septicemia
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Table of Betta Diseases for Your Easy Understanding
Disease | Causes | Symptoms | Treatment |
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Fin Rot | Poor water quality, bacterial infection | Torn, ragged fins, fin discoloration | Improve water quality, use antibacterial medication |
Ich (White Spot) | Parasite (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) , frozen live food | White spots on body and fins, rubbing against objects | Raise water temperature, use ich treatment medication |
Velvet | Parasite (piscinoodinium) | Gold or rust-colored dust on body, clamped fins | Dim lights, use copper-based medication |
Columnaris | Bacterial infection (Flavobacterium columnare) | White spots, cotton-like patches, frayed fins | Isolate infected fish, use antibacterial medication |
Fungal Infections | Poor water quality, secondary to injuries | Cotton-like growths on previously damaged areas | Improve water quality, use antifungal medication |
Popeye | Bacterial infection, poor water quality | Swollen, protruding eyes | Improve water quality, use antibacterial medication |
Dropsy | Bacterial infection, organ failure | Swollen body, pinecone-like scales | Isolate infected fish, use antibacterial medication, Epsom salts |
Swim Bladder Disease | Overfeeding, poor water quality | Difficulty swimming, floating, sinking | Fast fish for 24-48 hours, feed skinned peas |
Anchor Worms | Parasitic infection (Lernaea) | Visible worms on body, red spots | Remove worms manually, use antiparasitic medication |
Gill Flukes | Parasite (Dactylogyrus) | Gasping at surface, inflamed gills | Use antiparasitic medication |