Need help urgently, Betta has really bad mouth fungus?

Question

I have a 30 gallon with the one male betta, three glass cats, and 3 cories. I think my betta fish got the fungus from another fish that was doing sickly, which we already quarantined.
Yesterday night, it was only a small white fluffiness at the side of his face, so I thought it might just go away. Today, it's covered almost his entire head, and his one eye is completely white now!

I've moved the betta into a much smaller tank and I've given him a dose of BettaFix Remedy, which says it can cure fungus. But a few questions... Can it overdose? What are the chances for my Betta to survive? Should I still try to feed him? And what about the rest of my fish?? Another cory of mine died just yesterday, but I never really knew why. Are my other cories in danger? What can I do??

All water parameter checks are okay. Nitrates under 30 ppm, no Ammonia, etc.

Help please!!

Answer 1

You may have a fungus or protozoans, but considering the problem started on your fishes face, I would warn you that you may have what's commonly called mouth fungus or mouth rot. This is actually a bacterial infection called columnaris that looks very much like a fungus. Due to the speed at which the problem spread, I feel rather sure you have columnaris in the tank and fungus medications will not kill columnaris.

You say you think he caught it from another fish, this makes me think you have had other recent disease problems, so I would suggest you treat the entire tank, not just the one sick fish.

To treat effectively for both possible problems, you will need a good fungus medication as well as an antibiotic. Bettafix is not going to solve this problem, it's far too weak to treat an actual infection.

I would suggest you treat the fish with a combination of Maroxy for the fungus or protozoan possibility and Maracyn TC for the columnaris. They are very effective and can be used in combination with each other without a problem. Just treat as recommended on the packages but treat for 10 days no matter how much better the fish looks or what the package says, it really is needed to be sure you have cleared up the problem.

If I can help further feel free to email me.

MM

Answer 2

Fish Mouth Fungus

Answer 3

Do a water change and keep doing them often. I mean in the betta's quarantine tank AND in the main tank that you took him from. The one that still has the cories and glass cats in. Don't feed him. He'll be fine without being fed for a few days and it'll be better for both him and the water quality if he goes without food while he's recovering. His body needs a rest so it can devote its energy to fighting off the illness. I'd do the same with the other fish, just in case.

BettaFix is a very low dosage of tea tree oil. The same ingredient can be found in Melafix, only in a higher dosage. You can overdose, but since BettaFix is very diluted and basically an herbal remedy, it's not likely and I'm not sure it will be effective against a fungus. Especially one like this that sounds like it's growing very fast.

You may want to change out 100% of the water and use a specific fungal remedy instead, such as "Fungus Eliminator" which is an anti-protozoan. If you can't get hold of any of that, try a combo of BettaZing and Triple Sulfa, or in a pinch, a salt bath (1 tsp of aquarium or rock salt per 2.5 gallons of water). Do NOT add salt to the tank with the cories in it. They cannot handle as much salt as a betta. Good luck with your betta, I hope he pulls through.

Answer 4

sounds like columnaris -- its a bacteria that bettafix won't do much for. you need to clean your tank -- empty as much as you can and use an antibiotic like maracyn. i would salt bath the betta -- put them in a gallon of water with a tablespoon aquarium salt for about 20 mins unless they go crazy or stop moving. do this a couple times a day.

a big problem is columnaris once it can establish itself is internal as well as external -- its really hard to remedy.

from what i have read if you drop your tank temperature down to about 70, increase water current as much as possible, and do crazy amounts of cleaning -- use aquarium salt baths (not good for cories though) -- and bomb your tank with antibiotics you have a fighting chance.

Answer 5

Do you have a reputable fish store near you? I would call or go in and tell them what is going on, and see what they recommend.

I have had similar things with my fish, and some I was able to save and some not.

But my experience was that just because one fish was sick didn't mean others were going to get sick as well.

However as a preventative, you might ask at the fish store if there is something they would recommend for the entire tank.