Beta with Velvet?

Question

Hi! I believe that my Beta fish has come down with velvet. He has been acting a little more lethargic then usual and has been rubbing himself on the shells I have. I used a flashlight and noticed a little bit of gold speckling on his chest near his gills, which is exactly where he is always scratching himself (I am thinking I caught it relatively early on)

I live in student housing and so my mom bought me some of those General Cure tablets for things such as Velvet, Hole-in-the-head etc.

I was reading up on Oodinium online and people were saying that you should add salf to the water and heat it up to like.. 70.

My "tank" for him is pretty primitive - it is a large bowl with pebbles and shells - is it important to add salt in order to kill the bacteria in the water, and should I look into getting a heater for him so to prevent him from getting sick?

Any advice would be great - thanks! =)

Answer 1

First, please check all your water parameters, as these are important will affect your treatments effectiveness.

Here are a few important parameters:
*Ammonia/nitrite- 0
*pH -stable (stability is was is important here)
*KH- 50 + for a stable pH
*GH- 100+- for important minerals, especially calcium for good osmoregulation that is particularly important during a velvet infection

As for treatments, Quick as already suggested is good, so is Aquarisol (copper Sulfate), however I recommend Medicated Wonder Shells for true FW Velvet as FW has the ability to photosynthesis and Medicated Wonder Shells are effective at blocking this (as is Copper Sulfate, also Medicated Wonder Shells improve osmoregulation at a time the Betta really needs it.

The heat method rarely is effective for velvet due to the photosynthesis ability of Velvet.
Salt at 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons will aid in treatment as per osmoregulation, but not directly.


For more information and a picture for identification of Velvet, please read this article (which deals with correct treatment of Velvet as per salt):
http://aquarium-answers.blogspot.com/2007/01/freshwater-velvet-piscinoodinium.html

Good luck!
:~) C

Answer 2

You should get a medication like Quick Cure. Clean out his bowl very good and then start treating the fish. Change out his water every 3 days and continue to medicate 5-7 days after you have seen the last visable sign of Velvet.
There is no way you could properly heat a tiny bowl without it getting too hot. Betta's should be kept in water that is between 76-82F. A pinch of aquarium salt wouldn't hurt. The key to a healthy fish is to make sure the water is clean and they are in the proper temperature for them andthey eat a varied diet. If you slack of on any of these things you will most likely end up with a sick fish. Betta's need at least a 2.5 gallon tank that is filtered. If you wanted to treat him with salt and heat you would need to go much higher than 70F. But like I said it's impossible to heat up a small bowl.

Answer 3

I just wanted to add my two cents to what's already posted. First, I'd agree with Quick Cure (or any medication using the malachite green & formalin combination if ingredients). And keeping the temperature warm enough so your betta isn't stressed is also important.

The parasite that causes velvet has a photosynthetic pigment, so you should turn off any lights directly over the bowl or nearby, and keep the bowl away from windows during the treatment.

I purchased a betta earlier this year that got velvet within a few days after I brought him home. This infection was harder to treat than those I've previously dealt with - it stayed on the fish for 2.5 weeks, and I stopped treatment after three, but the infection came back. The second time I treated for a month, and he finally seems to be over it. Velvet is harder to eliminate than ich, so do all you can as far as correct dose, water temperature, water changes, and lighting to kill this off.

Answer 4

First of all, 70 degrees is too cold. Your fish has probably been stressed out for a while and that's why he's sick now.

This is what you do: First of all, whatever size your bowl is, get a bigger one. Get the biggest that you can. Do a complete water change and don't forget your dechlorinator. Get a heater (no more than 25 watts). For now you should make the temp 80-82 degrees - if he gets better you can reduce it to 76 degrees or so. Get yourself some Melafix - it's an aquarium antibiotic.

At this point it may be too late to save your fish, but it's worth a shot.

Answer 5

Non-iodized rock salt at a table spoon per gallon and a temp raise to 83 will kill velvet. Keep in the salt concentration for about 2 weeks, you still have to make regular water changes during this time, don't switch back to fresh water until the two weeks is up. Good job doing some homework for your fish.
The disease sounds exactly like velvet.