whats wrong with my betta?

Question

so i got my betta a few days ago. hes in a 10 gallon tank filled up half way. when i got him, his head, especially near his gills, is white. i thought it couldve been ich so i went to the petstore and got some aquarium salt. the instructions says put one tablespoon per 5 gallon, and i put half tablespoon because i didnt know how the fish was gonna react. i dissolved it first and put it in slowly. this morning i noticed that the edges of his fins are white and the the tip of the bottom fin is clearish. his fins werent exactly great when i bought him. and there is this lump that is near his gills that i havent noticed before. what is wrong with him and what should i do?

Answer 1

On his fins he probally has fin rot where there fins rot away. I think you should take him back to the shop and ask what is wrong and if you ccan take him back and get another healther one.

Answer 2

Possibly nothing's wrong. White/clear at the edges of the fins can mean new growth is happening, but it can also indicate the beginning of fin rot. Keep an eye on him to make sure his fins are getting longer, not shorter! With improved water conditions over what he was in at the store, it's possible the fins are healing from previous damage.

Your first step is to make sure your fish has good water quality. Since he's in a new tank, levels of ammonia and nitrite will be higher until the tank cycles. Hopefully you have something in the tank to circulate his water (airstone or submersible filter). There's really no reason not to fill the tank up all the way and use a filter with a low rate of flow. The only time lower water levels are needed are for spawning through when the fry are developing the labyrinth organ. If you've only had your fisha few days, it's too early to be consider breeding him - let him adjust to the new home and get him in good health and condition him with good foods for about a month first.

The lump near his gills - it it on the bottom? This might be an "eggspot" or ovipositor (see 2nd photo of a female: http://www.bristol-aquarists.org.uk/goldfish/info/sexing-fs.htm ). Even though this characteristic is typically found on females, some males get this. It's nothing to be concerned about.

The white around the face, unless fuzzy, may have been his normal coloring. It just looks odd, to see a white head on an otherwise colored fish, but this is a pattern called "piebald": http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_colors.htm I've had fish that started out as piebalds, but the color eventually covered the entire fish.

I'm not opposed to using a little salt with yur betta, as long as the amount isn't excessive. Up to a tablespoon per 5 gallons is fine. ALL organisms need to have salt, it's just when there's an excessive amount that there are problems. The salt can help prevent fungal infections (which bettas kept in cups without heaters [as stores tend to do] are prone). It also protects your betta from higher nitrites in the tank while it cycles. Granted, a lot of the "miracle cures" salt was supposed to achieve were from the days when aquarists didn't understand the chemistry/physiology of how it worked, but there are current reasons supporting it's use.

Answer 3

Get him out of the salt. I hate that they even sell salt to treat Ich. The method is from the dark ages. It causes more harm than good and stresses out the fish.

Take some of the current water and some new water and put him in a smaller bowl. Use mostly new water because you want to get that salt away but still keep the bacteria and pH.

Once he is in the new tank give him a day before treating with a little copper. Copper is safer to use on fish (not in inverts) and more effective. It should clear him up in a week or so. Treat for a full 2 weeks or more to be sure it is gone.

Clean out his old tank completely with brand new water you let sit over night at least and then return him to the tank.

Answer 4

No more salt...they are fresh water, and salt wont do anything for them. Mine has lived on my work desk in a bowl with a plant and crystal pebbles for almost a year now, and has never had any problems. They are low maintenance fish.