Does our betta have Ick?

Question

My roommate just got a new betta and didn't eat for the first few days so she began a medicine treatment of Splendid BettaFix Remedy. Today it began to get a white film on it and since noon today it began to grow around him (almost like a fungus or mold) and continues to grow rabidly over it's whole body. It's back is covered in patches of it and began to spread quickly. In the past 30 minutes it spread to it's gills and face area. Noon was 12 hours ago. It's breathing is heavy and we have put rock salt in the bowl, along with Quick Cure used for ick. What is going on with this fish? She got it just less than a week ago. Also her other fish is showing small signs of it. His breathing is also very shallow. We really need some help with this! What it is and how to cure it. It showed no signs of this at Petsmart. Thanks...

Answer 1

It really doesnt sound like ick, it sounds like a fungus. Go back to PetSmart and take the fish with you and ask them if they can tell you what it is and what tp use. Mericine(i think that's how it's spelled) is a good med for fungus. There should be atleast one person at PetSmart(even if you have to talk to a manager) who can tell you what you need to do, other than that, all I can say is try to find it online somewhere...hope it helps...good luck

Answer 2

That does not sound like ich, but rather a fungal infection. I would go to a local aquarium store (they tend to be more knowledgeable than a huge pet store) and double check the diagnosis though.
Also, if you have another tank or bowl, you should set that fish aside and establish a "hospital tank". This way you won't have to use as much medicine or be treating fish that don't need it and you'll hopefully be able to prevent the disease from spreading to other fish in the tank. You should also do a major water change (~50%) to try and prevent the spread of the disease.
In general, you don't want to give fish medication unless they're displaying symptoms of some kind of disease. Although the medicines can clear diseases, they also put a lot of stress on the fish and can sicken or kill otherwise healthy fish.

Answer 3

I don't think its ich. Ich is tiny white bumps, it looks like little grains of salt over the fish. This sounds fungal. When my neons got fungi, I found that turning down the heater a few degrees cleared it up & kept it away. (I hope you're using a heater, it's cruel to keep a tropical fish in coldwater, despite what many people seem to think about bettas).

If the reducing the temperature doesn't help, check out the fungal medications at your local fish supplier (you're better to go to an independent fish/pet shop, their staff are far more knowledgeable than at chain stores)

Answer 4

Ich is tiny white dots----get the salt out of there------add some treated fresh water-------get your Betta into a separate container away from the general populace even if you have to use an ordinary bowl till you can take the fish to pat smart for advice----sounds like a fungus of some sort----you don't want all your fish getting it.

Answer 5

yep sounds like ich go to walmart they sell a tablet form that I found very good called ichout it turns the water blue for thre to five days but its good as for helping this fish it s too late if its breathing is shallow as you call it sorry to give you the bad news