Hi, I am relatively new to the forum (mostly I just read), and I am definitely new to fish diseases =\ Especially velvet. I think he is a goner, but if I can save him I really want to, I am attached to the little guy. If I can't, I don't know what to do with the tank since I have snails living in there.
I saw the questions on the sick betta sticky, which I have posted and answered below:
1~What type of fish is afflicted? In addition, please describe what is wrong with the fish to the best of your ability (i.e. cotton like growth, bloated, etc.).
Betta, he is *very* bloated, listing to one side (like he can't swim), and looks to have gold dust on the rear of his fins. His color has changed a little since I got him so I didn't really notice/think it was bad, but now that I've been reading about it and shined a bright light right on him, I can see it. He is just kind of hanging in a corner and seems to be having trouble breathing. If I look at him super close, it looks like his scales are starting to pinecone a little from the tummy being distended, but I could also just be imagining it because I'm worried and have been looking at pictures of dropsy and velvet for the last few hours trying to research as much as I can. He has not eaten in two or three days and is not anywhere near as active as he usually is. He is not doing much of anything except hanging out in the corner (normally typical behavior for him, but usually accompanied by zipping back and forth and flaring angrily at the snails and resting in the plant, etc. This time he has just not left the corner for days).
I have two nerites in there with him which are active, healthy, and eating their little snail faces off, so whatever this is seems to be affecting only the betta.
2~What are your tank parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temp, pH)? Please give exact values.
Tested the water this afternoon, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates were all 0. pH was 7.4, temp is 80.
3~ How large is the tank? How long has the tank been set up?
5 gallon fluval spec v, a year
4~What type of filtration are you using? Please give the name and number (i.e. Fluval 304) and amount of gph if known.
Whatever comes with the Fluval spec V
5~How many fish are in the tank? What kinds of fish are they and what are their current sizes?
A betta, he's probably 2 inches or so long? And two nerite snails.
6~When is the last time you did a water change and vacuum the gravel?
On Tuesday of this week (so three days ago)
How often do you do this? How much water do you remove at a time?
I do a water change about once a week, about 25%, and I gravel vacuum everyone 1-2 months.
7~How long have you had the fish? If the fish is new, how did you acclimate it/them?
About 10 months.
8~Have you added anything new to the tank--decor, new dechlorinator, new substrate, etc.?
Nope. Everything is the same.
9~What kind of food have you been feeding your fish, have you changed their diet recently?
OmegaOne betta pellets, and no.
I didn't really notice anything out of the ordinary with my fish's behavior, he has been hanging in the corner of the tank by the filter but he has done that ever since I have had him so I didn't really think anything of it. He stopped eating two days ago, but was definitely not bloated anything like he is now.
I am so sad, I think he is probably a goner.
If such is the case, my question, then becomes - what do I do with the tank? Everything I've read about velvet is that it's extremely contagious. I have two nerite snails in there, so I can't treat anything with copper. I could move the betta to a hospital tank and see what I can do, but if he does die can I use the tank again? If I move the snails, will they take the pathogen to another tank with them and infect my other fish? (I have two 20g community tanks elsewhere in the house they could be moved to, but not if they're going to take it with them). I also have live plants and don't know what to do with them either. =\
I would like to put another betta in there in the future, and feel it would be a waste to have this tank and not be able to use it.
I am so bummed. I tried to get the best pictures I could. Sorry they're kind of crappy, the angle is difficult and he's not really into me trying to get his picture.
Thanks for any advice!
I saw the questions on the sick betta sticky, which I have posted and answered below:
1~What type of fish is afflicted? In addition, please describe what is wrong with the fish to the best of your ability (i.e. cotton like growth, bloated, etc.).
Betta, he is *very* bloated, listing to one side (like he can't swim), and looks to have gold dust on the rear of his fins. His color has changed a little since I got him so I didn't really notice/think it was bad, but now that I've been reading about it and shined a bright light right on him, I can see it. He is just kind of hanging in a corner and seems to be having trouble breathing. If I look at him super close, it looks like his scales are starting to pinecone a little from the tummy being distended, but I could also just be imagining it because I'm worried and have been looking at pictures of dropsy and velvet for the last few hours trying to research as much as I can. He has not eaten in two or three days and is not anywhere near as active as he usually is. He is not doing much of anything except hanging out in the corner (normally typical behavior for him, but usually accompanied by zipping back and forth and flaring angrily at the snails and resting in the plant, etc. This time he has just not left the corner for days).
I have two nerites in there with him which are active, healthy, and eating their little snail faces off, so whatever this is seems to be affecting only the betta.
2~What are your tank parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temp, pH)? Please give exact values.
Tested the water this afternoon, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates were all 0. pH was 7.4, temp is 80.
3~ How large is the tank? How long has the tank been set up?
5 gallon fluval spec v, a year
4~What type of filtration are you using? Please give the name and number (i.e. Fluval 304) and amount of gph if known.
Whatever comes with the Fluval spec V
5~How many fish are in the tank? What kinds of fish are they and what are their current sizes?
A betta, he's probably 2 inches or so long? And two nerite snails.
6~When is the last time you did a water change and vacuum the gravel?
On Tuesday of this week (so three days ago)
How often do you do this? How much water do you remove at a time?
I do a water change about once a week, about 25%, and I gravel vacuum everyone 1-2 months.
7~How long have you had the fish? If the fish is new, how did you acclimate it/them?
About 10 months.
8~Have you added anything new to the tank--decor, new dechlorinator, new substrate, etc.?
Nope. Everything is the same.
9~What kind of food have you been feeding your fish, have you changed their diet recently?
OmegaOne betta pellets, and no.
I didn't really notice anything out of the ordinary with my fish's behavior, he has been hanging in the corner of the tank by the filter but he has done that ever since I have had him so I didn't really think anything of it. He stopped eating two days ago, but was definitely not bloated anything like he is now.
I am so sad, I think he is probably a goner.If such is the case, my question, then becomes - what do I do with the tank? Everything I've read about velvet is that it's extremely contagious. I have two nerite snails in there, so I can't treat anything with copper. I could move the betta to a hospital tank and see what I can do, but if he does die can I use the tank again? If I move the snails, will they take the pathogen to another tank with them and infect my other fish? (I have two 20g community tanks elsewhere in the house they could be moved to, but not if they're going to take it with them). I also have live plants and don't know what to do with them either. =\
I would like to put another betta in there in the future, and feel it would be a waste to have this tank and not be able to use it.
I am so bummed.
I tried to get the best pictures I could. Sorry they're kind of crappy, the angle is difficult and he's not really into me trying to get his picture. Thanks for any advice!
