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I have had something similiar happen to my bettas. It was a columnaris infection. The last pic I could see it the best. Mine also acted like nothing was wrong even though the two of them lost HUGE areas of flesh VERY quickly from it. First of all, what is the temp kept at? Bettas love warmer water, but so does columnaris! The fungus eats away at them a lot faster in the warmer temps. I would SLOWLY drop the temp of her tank a couple of degrees in the next few days as you treat. I tried Junglelabs Fungus Tank Buddies at first with NO effect. What did work was dosing with Melafix AND Pimafix at the same time. Pimafix is made to combat fungus. Good luck with her and let us know how it goes. With the size of the hole, she may or may not make it. The fact that she is still able to go to the bathroom is a good sign for her. I will hope for the best for you and her, but do what I said and if she is able to be saved, that is her best chance. Also, keep an eye on the male she was in with to make sure he does not end up with anything. Good luck!

Well i looked her over again today. It does appear to be slowly closing up! I never actually thought she'd live but i guess shes a fighter!

I have heard of this infection happening in the related Paradise Fish. All cases of this ulcer have proved to be fatal.

I've got a fever... and the only prescription... is more cowbell!

Thats definately a start

Keep it up!

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Update:
Well shes not getting any worse, i guess thats a good thing. I havn't been able to get any of those meds tho, limited selection + no ride to store But i've just been doing water changes everyday, and lowered her temp as well. The hole isn't realy getting better but its also not growing.

Hi Ashley, I haven't seen anything like that before but it sure looks like it hurts
I hope she pulls through ok, is she eating ?

The Amazon Nut...

The male did, his was in his side. The female did not, but her hole stretched across the side of her jaw and her one eye was lost when hers "popped." Well, I should rephrase that, the hole healed closed on her too, but the damage to her jaw was pretty extensive, and I do not think that she was able to chew her food properly after that. Had it not been for the placement of her damage, she would have made it as well (I am sure of it). She acted fine till the day she passed. The male who lived had a hole even bigger than the one in your female. There were exposed ribs and everything. It was seriously horrible to look at. He acted like nothing had happened though, and the combination of Pimafix and Melafix as well as dropping the temp a couple of degrees healed him up just fine. I used them both at full strength, and others I have known who have done it used full strength too. *shrugs* You can try half or full though, but I do not have personal experience with half strength, so I can not tell you what sort of effects that had for me.

Last edited by Stormy5 at 23-Apr-2005 20:49

Alright i'll try that. Did your female go back to normal after?

the Pima/Mela combo is a good one to start with (i'd do it at half strength just so it doesn't irritate the wound too much) but I'd also have some BettaMax on standby just in case.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

One of my female bettas has a hole in her belly. Its right around the ovipositor, but its not affecting that. Its like an actual hole in her! Its not bleeding or anything but it looks like its getting bigger. What is this and how do i treat it?

thanks
ashley

What kind of meds would you recommend?

Its definatly not from any rough surfaces, as all i have are a few silk plants. Plus she was kept on her own.

thanks
ashley

I was umming and arring about the salt. With a hole that size, the whole osmosis thing will be thrown off completely, and I'm not sure if increasing the salt in the water will help or hinder this. It will help the infection though...

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Ontariobetta.
I would also be concerned how it happened as well.

I would suggest use a good antibiotic and treat it individually. There could be some medications that could be placed onto that wound directly with a cotton bud.
Going right out on a limb here a mix of warm salty water several time a day just might help.

Check the tank for any rough surfaces or a nasty nipper in the tank.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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It looks like it has been in infection of some sort that has burst and left a type of ulcer... maybe?

I would go with the antibiotics, because if it isn't infected already, with a hole that size, it could easily go septic.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

K ya i know, pics suck- but my camera is crappy and take take close ups. Sorry!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v429/ontariobetta/Untitled-TrueColor-023.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v429/ontariobetta/Untitled-TrueColor-031.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v429/ontariobetta/Picture416.jpg

Its all pinky and its definatly gettting bigger.
Shes not showing any signs of being sick at all, shes still her hyper self. And shes still pooping...out of somewhere...
No idea how it happedned. She had a tiny little bump there before i put her in the spawning tank, but i didn't think anything of it. Then when i took her out it was opened up. I thought maybe the male did it to her, but she has no other marks on her and it looked too big to be a bite. Shes not eggbound as she just spawned.

I'll go get a pic now.
ashley

A hole?

Does it go through to her abdominal cavity?

Is she showing and signs of sickness or infection?


I'd add some antibiotics or better still, try to get them inside her, feed her medicated food.

But first thing is first, HOW did it happen?

Was she eggbound at all? Any idea how this happened?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett