Keeping your Betta medically fit!

If anything, Bettas are extremely tough fish for your aquarium. Bettas are known to survive really filthy conditions but that’s hardly any reason to keep them in such inhuman habitat.

A stable and decent environment, coupled with proper nutrition can keep your Betta healthy and active. A healthy Betta swims easily, is aware of surroundings, eats regularly, has good color, has full and complete finnage, and has a nice streamlined body. Signs of illness in Betta are -the fish looks distracted or uninterested, is struggling to swim, eats less or nothing, its color look faded or grayish, the fins become stringy or clumped and it is either bloated or underweight.

Bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections are rare in this specie. However, two common ailments are ‘Ich’ (Ichthyophthirius multifilius) or white spot and velvet (Oodinium). There are other diseases that may trouble your fish but these are most prevalent.

Ich: Ichthyophthirius multifilius is a protozoan, which lives as a parasite on most freshwater fishes. The appearance of this infection is as small, white spots on the fins and body of the fish. If left untreated, Ich can cause the death of the fish. The infection is also contagious. Treatment involves raising the temperature of the tank to about 80 degrees F if the other fish in the tank can tolerate it. You should also medicate the tank after consultation with the vet. You might have to remove chemical filters from the tank when using medicines for Ich, which are based on malachite green, formalin or their combination.

Velvet: Oodium is a dinoflagellate alga that lives as a parasite on many freshwater fishes. Bettas and Killifishes are favorites with this algae and most susceptible to its attack. The diseased fish appears to have a velvet coating on its body. It often looks like dust or rust and it is known by that name. Symptoms include rapid and heavy breathing and listlessness. Treatment includes raising the temperature of the water and medicating the tank after consultation with the vet.

Fungal Infections and Bacterial Fin Rot: These appear in Bettas as secondary or tertiary infection. Very sick fish succumb to these fungal and bacterial attacks. You should consult the vet after you have tried raising the temperature of the water, changed the water and added coarse salt to it.

Popeye: This infection causes the eyes of the fish to get cloudy, and they look protruding. A large bubble seems to be covering the eye area. Epsom salts are seen to help with this infection.

There is no disease without a cause, so first check the cause of the disease and remove it from the environment. Change the water and clean the tank and add some uniodized salt. Don’t medicate the tank without having proper knowledge of the medicine. Remember that some medicines can actually harm your fish! Consult a vet if you are not sure what’s ailing your fish.

Keep yourself well informed about your pet. Read up and talk to people who house Bettas. Check the notice boards on various sites; they can be a wealth of information, especially when you are confused about something.