A nicely-fed, properly-cared-for betta is exceptionally resistant to diseases, however sometimes things go wrong, and disease can rear its unpleasant head. Bettas are liable to any illness that influences freshwater fishes, but there are three common diseases that can afflict a betta fish. They seem to be most susceptible to these three.
The most common disease that can afflict a betta fish is velvet, an infestation of the parasitic dinoflagellate.Oodinium pillularis. It is much like ich in its improvement, however, can be a whole lot greater difficult to discover on the fish. It appears as a velvety coating and can be tough to see except the light is just proper. Any fish that is lethargic or has clamped fins must be checked carefully for this disorder. It can be treated with lots of medicinal drugs however the best are the ones containing acriflavine. Excessive doses can be essential to eliminate some traces of velvet. In general, velvet is most common in smooth, acidic water. Putting up to 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt per gallon can also assist in controlling velvet, but it’ll not expel it. Velvet is very usually encountered in betta fry, and plenty of spawns are lost to it.
Whenever water temperatures ranges, stressing the fish, ich or white spot disease has a tendency of showing up. This is another common disease that can afflict a betta fish. Ich is an infestation of the protozoan Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and is visible as white spots approximately the size of a grain of salt on the infected fish. There are many medications known for the treatment of this disease, and they all work efficiently. The trick is to seize it early and medicate immediately.
Making sure the water temperature is consistent will also assist the fish combat it off and avoid its come back. Many people recommend increasing the water temperature in the course of treatment, but I don’t consider this technique. The higher temperature will enhance the rate of the parasite’s life cycle, in all likelihood making it susceptible to the medication faster. The issue is that at the end of the remedy, the water temperature has to be returned to its everyday range, which can strain the fish and make it much more likely to go down with another case of ich.
Fin rot is another common disease that can afflict a betta fish. Fin rot may be due to either a bacterial or fungal agent. In both cases, it’s normally a secondary infection that gets a foothold where the fin has been torn or otherwise damaged. Fungal fin rot normally display cotton-like growths, while bacterial fin rot is visible as either a white or clear part of the damaged fins. Figuring out the sort of contamination is crucial before choosing a remedy. I have had superb effects with an herbal anti-fungal medicine in fighting both fungal and bacterial fin rot, so that kind of remedy could be the desired remedy in case you are not sure what kind of infestation you are coping with. As with velvet, the addition of salt to the water might be beneficial. Being cautious to avoid any decorations on which your betta can tear its fins, as well as any tankmates that would nip its fins, moreover goes a long way towards preventing fin rot.