Betta with white fuzzies?

Question

I bought a betta fish 2 days ago and it is in a 1 gallon tank that has a light and a filter. I let the tank cycle with distilled water for 3 weeks before I put the betta in.

Yesterday, I noticed little specks of white all over the fish. I treated with Quick Cure, thinking that it was Ich. But, today, the little white spots have been replaces by longer cottony fuzz patches which have also grown along its fins.

Is this Ich or something else? What can I do to treat it?

Answer 1

Yeah that's not ich, that's fungus. I personally use Maracyn-2 to treat fungus, but there are other chemicals that you can use, also. See what your petstore has available, most carry a range of decent medications.

You can also a little bit of aquarium salt (1 tsp) disolved first in dechlor water, and try moving the tank closer to a heat source like a lamp, because room temp water is way too cold for a betta.

Answer 2

The problem with Maracyn is it's erythromycin. It's spectrum mostly covers gram positive bacteria. Most infections are gram negative in fish. Maracyn 2 is "minocycline"... which is derived from tetracycline.. The problem with this medication is it bonds to calcium and becomes inactive. If your water is moderately hard, you'll have to use a double dose. If your water is very hard, it may not do anything. The antibiotics that may be worth trying are triple sulfa and/or furan 2. Especially if you've treated him before with maracyn and maracyn 2. If you don't completely eradicate the bacteria, it can come back, and it will be more resistant to the antibiotic you used before. During the treatment, it's very important to keep the aquarium as clean as possible. It's hard to tell what the white fuzzy stuff is.. could be a fungus or could just be algae. One thing I do see is that he's in a bowl. I suspect that's the main cause of your problems. I've kept bettas for a while and they really do best in at least a 5 gallon, heated, filtered aquarium.

Answer 3

im a firm believer in tetracycline. It works good with fungus. Clean the tank and but a dose of that in. it'll turn the water yellow, but its worth it if you want to cure your fish. After about a week, change the water again, and treat it again with the quick cure

Answer 4

sounds like it has ick along with some fungus.. take it back to pet store. most stores will take the pet back if you just bought it with in a couple of days.. It doesn't sound like it has anything to do with your tank. but if you get some other fish to go in it, be sure to clean your tank before you put another fish in it, since this fish sounds sick it can now be in the water/tank..sorry couldnt be more help.

Answer 5

try raising the temp, to treat ich(it's just a rumor though)
put him into a hospital tank that's being filtered with something that does use carbon filter so it doesn't spread to other fishes.

Answer 6

Sounds like a form of fungus, talk to your Pet Store dealer hopefully they are knowledgeble and can assist you. This is actually fairly common. One tip though, the smaller the tank,
the more work it is to maintain, better off to get a larger tank, believe it or not it's alot easier to take care of.

Answer 7

Sounds like something fungal...doesn't sound like ich. Sorry I couldn't be of more help here, I would have to see it I think.

Answer 8

I'd return to pet shop I think you have been sold an ill Betta had it before you bought

Answer 9

Ich go to the petstore they will show you the stuff. take it with you if you can.

Answer 10

This happens with certain breeds of bettas. The fuzzies are a calcium deposit.