I'm not a huge fish afficianado, only having had a few fish in bowls or a small 1-gallon aquarium here and there throughout my life (angelfish, bettas, goldfish, neons).  But I have a beautiful blue-green-red iridescent betta named Prisma because of his beautiful colors.  However, in the last couple of weeks he has developed a filmy coat, which I thought might be velvet.  I put in a daily medication for parasite infections (contained formalin and malachite green) from last Friday to today (Wednesday) with no apparent results.  I have cleaned his water twice this week and today put in aquarium salts and am now trying Melafix (with melaleuca).  He has lost his iridescence and color (a dull brown/gray), and he is more splotchy around his head than before.  He also continues to have the slimy coat.  His appetite appears to be decreasing and sleeps most of the time.  What does it seem like he has, and what medication is right for him?  I have attached a before and current picture of him if it would help to identify his ailment.  Thanks for your help!

Poor little guy; he looks like he feels just awful. Colour loss, lethargy and clamped fins really tell us only that he's stressed. Excess mucous does sometimes mean a parasite, but can have other causes, too. Could you give us a little more background information, please?


-- Help us help you. Just submit this note into your post anytime you need help. Please fill in the blanks below, enter in a question mark - ? - if you don't know the answer. --
1. Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
2. pH/GH/KH
3. Temperature
4. Tank size/Filtration
5. Water change amount/frequency
6. Water additives/Medications
7. What, how much and how often do you feed your fish?
8. Tank inhabitants
9. Any new fish added to the tank? Who and when?
10. Any unusual behavior or symptoms?
11. How long has the tank been in operation?
-- Thanks! --
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-- Help us help you. Just submit this note into your post anytime you need help. Please fill in the blanks below, enter in a question mark - ? - if you don't know the answer. --

1. Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
2. pH/GH/KH
I don't know either of these; I use filtered water and put conditioner in it when I change the water.

3. Temperature
I'd have to measure.  Room temp at least, about 72-74.  His bowl is in the kitchen under the counter/cabinet lights, so that probably warms him up a little more.
 
4. Tank size/Filtration
Prisma lives in a 1/2 gallon bowl, not an aquarium (i.e., no filter, etc.).
 
5. Water change amount/frequency
I change his water 100% once a week and clean out his bowl, marbles and plant thoroughly.
 
6. Water additives/Medications
I condition his water everytime I change it.  I listed the 2 medications I've been trying above.  This last water change I also added aquarium salt.
 
7. What, how much and how often do you feed your fish?
I feed him a few flakes once a day.  I forgot the brand, it was in a little packet that came with the betta bowl, which I later put in an airtight generic container.  I also bought some little betta pellets, but he hasn't liked them yet; he prefers the flakes.

8. Tank inhabitants
Only Prisma.
 
9. Any new fish added to the tank? Who and when?
None.
 
10. Any unusual behavior or symptoms?
Lately he is more lethargic and doesn't eat as heartily. (other than losing his color and having the slimy coat as mentioned above)

11. How long has the tank been in operation?
We got the bowl along with the fish, the beginning of October 2005 (about 4 months).
 
-- Thanks! --

Please take a few minutes to map what you've entered for HelpText against Betta Basics 101.

That said, fish will slime up for any number of reasons. The added salt alone may do it, as can the Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate/pH. It is important to get test kits for all of these, with Nitrate being optional. Test kits are really required in order to troubleshoot when things go wrong.

I should add that the stomach of a fish is roughly the size of its eye. I say this because Prisma appears to be a little overfed in the before pic. Overfeeding is very common and almost all new fish keepers do it.

What to do:
Hold off on feeding and change his water. Report back test kit results.
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Poor Prisma.  Please do read the Betta Basics, and do as CT suggested.

  I'm sorry it's under such difficult circumstances.

Hi Guys!

Thanks for all of your advice.  I think Prisma is improving. His appetite is returning, and he's swimming around a lot more rather than hanging out in the plant.  It also appears that his iridescence/color is slowly returning as well.  Thanks for all your advice, and I will keep you posted.

Queen Spoo, Prisma's Mom

What did you change for him to cause the turn around?

I'm not really sure what worked, but I kept his water clean, and warmed it up.  I also stopped the medication after it seemed to have little effect and used only aquarium salt, since someone else suggested that he thought it was the best remedy for ich and parasitic diseases with less stress.  Perhaps the medication finally had some effect after all, or just some of the changes with clean, warm water with salt helped.  

Since I noticed he was sick, I cleaned his bowl and put in parasitic medicine for 5 days with no noted effect.  I changed his water and put in the aquarium salt and the Melafix.  After about 5 days, I changed his water again, warmer than usual, and added the salt only.  Since then I have seen the most improvement.

I will be moving him to my one-gallon aquarium if that might help him a little.  Sorry to say that I'm not sure what is helping him recover--I wish I knew for sure!  I have been reviewing your "taking care of your betta" article for more tips for his care.  Thanks for everyone's help!

Today I moved Prisma to my 1-gallon aquarium.  I think he is liking it; he swims around a while and then hangs out at the bottom.  I took some pictures of him tonight.  He is more active, but I still don't think he looks so good--his iridescence/color isn't back yet.  His face appears to be getting whiter.  Here is how he looks right now.  Can he get back to his normal coloring?

He still looks like a very sick fishie.

My guess is that the salt is not actually doing anything.  In order to fight parasites with salt, you would have to use a MUCH higher dose than poor Prism could tolerate.  

It is likely the more frequent water changes and keeping his temp higher that is helping...but still not getting him well at this point.

If he were my fish, and we went with the assumption that the color loss, lethargy and clamped fins were signs of bacterial infection at this point, I would start him on a broad spectrum antibiotic.  Jungle's Fungus Clear (has an antibiotic in it so it doesn't just handle fungus) or Kanaplex would be my choices.

It sounds like, ideally, you could get him well and just make the appropriate changes in his care to keep him healthy.  He needs to stay in at least the gallon sized container...and probably needs water changes twice a week.  He also needs to have a diet upgrade...so no more flakes.  Frozen, meaty, fish foods would be far better for his little digestive system.  Additionally, you need to find a way to keep his temp stable.  Your room temp is not going to work for him long term...he needs a steady 78*.

I'm glad he is doing a little better...but I fear he has been so run down for so long that he needs more if he is to recover.

Thank you for your response.  I will go to the pet store and see if I can get these other medications and food that you suggested.  Again, I appreciate your help!

Keep us posted on his progress.  Poor little fella...give him a big ole' fishie hug!

Thanks!  I gave him a *hug* for you.  

Last night I put in the Fungus Clear medication and fed him some bloodworms, which he seems to really like.  He is relatively active now, but still looks crappy.     I hope his activity shows that he is getting better despite his appearance.

That's all for now....will keep everyone posted!

Bloodworms are usually a big hit with bettas   Active is good...a fishie who is swimming around and taking an interest in his surroundings is a very good thing.  You'll have to be sure to keep his water very clean, especially in a small tank like a 1g.

I'm glad he's eating!  That is a good sign too.

I would plan for full water changes every 3 days...and smaller, partial water changes each day before adding the meds.

Hi again...just an update:

Prisma is still swimming around and eating.  I have done the 25% water changes yesterday and today.  When I looked at him tonight, it looks like he is peeling (see pics).  Is that a good sign that his stuff is going away?

Those look like ulcerations to me, although it's hard to say from a picture.  How often are you dosing the JFC?

I dosed him on Friday night with the appropriate amount for a 1 gallon tank.  It said on the box to change the water 25% on the fourth day (tonight) and add second dose if necessary.  I was going to give him some more meds tonight with the new 100% water change.  I have been giving him 25% water changes on Sunday and Monday per the advice here as well.  Am I doing it wrong?

This morning it looked like the peeling sections were gone--I thought the slimy coat might be finally coming off of him rather than being ulcerations.  It doesn't look like there is any damage to the scales.

Nope, you're doing fine.  Glad to hear it doesn't sound like there's damage to the scales

He looks like he has more of his color back!

Yes, I'm hoping he is getting his color back (even though his face is still white underneath).  His activity is still good, so I'm encouraged by that.  I did another 25-30% water change last night and added another dose of the Fungus Clear.  He's had this stuff for 3 weeks and is still going, so I hope he's on the mend and will get back to normal before too long.  I appreciate all of your help thus far!

Hi everyone!  I wanted to share with everybody that I believe Prisma is on the road to recovery!  He's not 100%, but he's much more active, doing his "happy dance" when he wants to eat, grabbing his bloodworms ravenously, and expanding his fins more.  Although his color isn't completely back, he looks a little more iridescent, and the white is pretty much gone from his face.  I am attaching a picture of him from today.  Thanks guys!!!

Yay Prisma! I'm glad to hear he's feeling so much better. He sure is a gorgeous boy! You're a good mama too because you weren't afraid to take the bull by the horns and get advice and help for him! I hope he remains on the road to recovery. I've been keeping him in my prayers and will continue to do that.

Kathleen
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Great job!  He looks worlds better!

Keep up those water changes and fish yummies!

Prisma, you sexy thang, you--lookin' goooood!

Great job, QS!
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Everything's better with penguins.