Male Betta

[Fishyfanatic]

I've had a solid blue male Betta in a 5 gal planted tank for about 10 months now. Today I noticed that his face is turning white. It's definately not ich. Last week I noticed he was getting a marking that looked like a mustache over his mouth that was either dark blue or black. Now he's turning white in the area. Is something wrong? Or do Betta's turn colors?

 

[An t-iasg]

Sorry to hear this, Fishy. Was the betta's head blue when you got him? I have really never heard of this. Do you think it's a color change only or does it appear to be a white, fuzzy/stringy film? Do you think he could have injured himself somehow? (I caught my betta sticking his head in the Hagen ladder.) I would just watch for now. If it gets worse, or changes colors again quickly, maybe try a combination anti-fungus/antibacterial like Jungle Fungus Eliminator.

 

[rubysoho]

I don't want to scare you but I do want to tell you of a very odd disease I dealt with and it started in my bettas. Basically it looked like a patch of white-ish (not fuzzy, very flat and looked like their skin) skin/scales. As it began to spread I noticed the fish were actually paralized in the area of the discoloration. It was very sad to watch and I couldn't find anyone with suggestions on what to do. This was a very fast and hard hitting disease once it got started. After my female betta died (or rather, I euthanized her) it started spreading. I lost a total of 4 fish in 5 days. It was as if the process sped up I ended up treating the tank with melafix and then another anti-fungal med. However, I also started quarentining fish as soon as I saw any symptoms or signs. The disease never came back and it was gone as quickly as it came. Very odd.

Anyway, the reason why I said all that was just to give you a heads up. You probably (hopefully) don't have the same thing that my fish got. I would QT your betta and treat with the Jungle Fungus Eliminator (I believe that is what I used). Good luck!

 

[Fishyfanatic]

His head has always been blue. It's like he is changing colors, not a white fuzz or film.

The Betta is QTd since she is the only fish in the 5 gal tank. I'll pick up some of the Fungus Eliminator today when I go to the lfs. I really don't want to lose him, he's so cute. What could cause the fungus? He gets 25% water changes each week and is the only fish in the tank.

 

[An t-iasg]

It's hard to tell why some fish get sick and others don't. I've had one betta who had finrot almost constantly throughout his life, and others who had never even had a little fin tear. I think it's their genetics and the care that the breeders take in selecting the bettas for mating.

I call Jungle Fungus Eliminator the miracle med for bettas! I wouldn't use it in the main tank, though - it may hurt your plants and give you a mini-cycle. My betta QT tanks are a 2 gallon acrylic Minibow or a one gallon glass bowl. I use a 25 watt heater in the 2 gallon Minibow and a 7 watt Hydor heater in the gallon bowl.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

I picked up the Jungle Fungus Eliminator today. I am going to take the Anubias out of the tank and plant it in my 55 gal tank perminately. It just isn't thriving much in the 5 gal. He still has the "mustache" but his head is definately whitish in coloration. If the tank goes through a cycle, thats ok beacuse I have a spare filter pad running in the filter of the QT. I'll add the meds tonight and see how it goes.

 

[rubysoho]

good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Fishyfanatic]

I added the meds and we'll see what happens. When I pulled out the Anubias there were rocks stuck to the roots. I take it that the plant really gripped on. My poor betta. I hope he gets better. He's so pretty.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

I have been treating every 4 days for the past two weeks. When should I stop treatment? The bottle doesn't say how long I should treat. It just says that every 4 days I should do a 25% water change and treat with the med. His head isn't getting any better. It is still white in coloration. Any other ideas? He's acting normal.