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Well actually, I'm not sure if i should medicate him. He does seem normal. I think the movement and medication will just add more stress. I don't think what he has will just go away after medication....

What do you think?

Of course i'll do that

I would make sure he has some time where he doesn't show any sickness at all before putting him back. Otherwise, he could make others in the tank sick.

Okay thanks. There is no Petsmart near me (I don't think there are many in Canada, we have a Petcetera ), but I may buy it online. If I don't see anything behavior wise and he's not seeming to get worse and worse, would it be safe to assume maybe there's nothing wrong with it? He seems much happier in the 10 gallon and i wouldn't want him to be couped up in the 1 gallon. I'm thinking about buying a 5 gallon for himself but not sure.

If there is a risk that it is columnaris, antiseptic or antibiotic are needed and dissolved salt helps.

I take a tsp salt (freshwater aquarium salt like Doc Wellstone) per gallon and dissolve it in a cup of warm water with dechlorinator (dissolves faster). Then I add it to a used water bottle and shake it vigorously until it is dissolved. I then dribble in a little of the solution over a the entire day to gradually raise salinity.

Now you added salt with the Fungus Eliminator. I would suggest that you continue to use that at 1/4 tsp per gallon, predissolved. However, you can add additional salt solution. Instead of adding it over one day, add the solution I just suggested over two days. Watch for signs of stress from the salt, however, I don't think that will happen.

What may help him is if you can buy the new Jungle Anti-Bacteria Medicated feed. Sometimes, like pimples on people, oral antibiotic which works through the bloodstream, can be better. The pellet would need to be crushed into smaller pieces and I would give him three small pieces twice daily (about the same size as his pellets) for 7-10 days.

However, if you just can't get to Petsmart, the only place it is available, then keep working with the salt. They can tolerate more salt, provided it is added gradually. Columnaris does not like salt.

My concern is that being he has this pimple like structure, meds in the water just may not be enough. If the salt and Fungus Eliminator don't do it, then you may have to try the feed.

Here's a link: http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441806679&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030134&bmUID=1100570991679

Good luck seed!

Oh and 73 is good, if it is columnaris. He could probably use another degree, but if the heater is hard to turn, don't mess with it. Since there is nothing to circulate the water, it may already be warmer in some parts of the tank, near the heater.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 15-Nov-2004 20:11

It is in a non filtered 1 gallon tank. There is a heater in there and it is about 73 degrees. The fungus is gone actually (i think), and the 'pimple' looks like it was flattened, now an oval instead of circle-like. He acts normal, whenever I see him that is. I don't watch him for hours (at times like 20 mins), but I do check in every once in awhile. He acts completely normal.

Yes he is in a 1 gallon by himself. I put in some plastic plants (which i regret), but his fins got caught and ripped (i knew this was going to happen, but i thought it might not and it'd lessen his stress). no current either, and I put a terracotta pot in, with to hole plugged, for him to rest or hide in.

Edit: I did some research columnaris, and it could possibly be it, although my bettas 'pimple' isn't really described, instead it says bumpbs and such. Also, does columnaris go away naturally? If so how low long does it say?



Last edited by seedkiros at 15-Nov-2004 19:33

Is he in the tank all by himself? What temperature is he at?

Make sure the temperature doesn't rise too quickly on him. Fuzz can either be a true fungus or a columnaris bacteria infection. Columnaris is the more likely culprit since it can grow on damaged tissue. Fungus usually grows on dead tissue. Also, columnaris can start out as an area of just a few raised scales before it begins to show more.

Fungus Eliminator is a good choice, but monitor him closely every few hours to see if it is spreading. The reason I am asking about temp is because columnaris spreads faster in warmer waters (77F and above). Don't rapidly drop it if you are above that as it will stress him and possibly bring on ich or velvet, but try to keep it around 75F and no higher. If you must drop it, do so by only a tiny crank - enough to drop it only one degree every 12 hours.

Good luck and hope it works out. Keep us posted.

You did remove activated carbon right? And, the betta can rest somewhere, away from any current?

Last edited by Cory_Di at 14-Nov-2004 22:22

Well, I started noticing some sort of fungus grow on my betta 4 days ago so I stuck him in a heated 1 gallon tank, medicating him with Fungus Eliminator from Jungle. I think the 'pimple' has become a lighter red, either that or the 'fungus' is making it appear that way. Its not all covered in a fungus, but a little. I'm not quite sure what it is really, my best bet is fungus though .

I'm hoping its nothing serious, but now with that in mind, does anybody have an idea whats going on? Fungus grows on cuts and such right?

I like the watch and wait method. Like I said, my new betta, Ruby, who was inherited from my niece has a "pimple" on his chin. Its been there since I brought him home about 3 months ago and hasn't changed. I see no need to address it. Maybe you will find the same.

I think behavior is key.

On my male betta, which is well over a year old, possibly two, I noticed a round pimple like thing that has grown on my betta, between his eyes and nose (closer to eyes, looks almost connected to eyes). My question is, what is this? I have never seen something like this before. It's like a little bubble, the size of his eyes. The color of this pimple is red, and so is my betta, so I'm not sure if its under the skin, or something growing out, or what.

None of his tankmates have any 'pimples,' which are 5 panda cories and 2 ottos. They are in a ten gallon, and on Monday did a major water change and plant trimming. Just thought you'd know.

So if anyone has the slightest idea, let me know please. Thank you for your time

heh nah, he's still rather...ignorant. He has an african cichlid with 2 giant 'feeder' fish, 1 white cloud, 1 dyed white skirt, all in one 20 gallon. and then in his 110 gallon he has 5 african cichlids....he's weird...and he never changes the tanks water. Anyhow, thats enough of my ranting

I'm glad you stuck around. Does your bro give any respect to you now? From your posts it seems you have learned a great deal

No problem Cori. Well I'm going to leave my betta in the 10 gallon overnight, check up on it tommorow, if it doesn't get better, than i'll place it in a 1 gallon tank that I have. Well thanks for you help again(you were a big help when i just started, if you remember ).

- Boy, I did say 20 gallon. I meant to type 2 gallon.

I just didn't want you to medicate the tank with the pandas in there. Some of those fish can be sensitive.

As long as his behavior is normal, I would watch it. If it grows or starts changing color, I would isolate into a container of 1-2 gallons - same temp water and use that Fungus Eliminator you say you have. That is good stuff.

Sorry about the mix-up

Hmm...he's in a 10 gallon tank thats planted. I'm not very clear with you saying moving him to a 20 gallon container or so (medication purposes?). The temperature is a steady 76 degrees F, I don't put it any higher because of my panda cories and plants. Unless its bacterial or for medication, I'm going to leave him in the 10 gallon.

Since most of the money I get comes from my parents, I'm not quite sure if they'll let me buy some medication. I do have something called 'Jungle Fungus Elimanator' i bought half a month to a year ago. Would this work? I used this on my betta once before for a fin rot problem and it worked well. Would this work, considering my betta hasn't grown an immunization to it?

How warm is the tank he is in?

Would it be possible for you to put him in a 20 gallon container with water that is the same temp? If you add a fake plant or small cave, he will feel secure.

If there is a 7 or 8 degree temp difference between room temp and tank temp, I would place the tank under a lamp with an incandescent lightbulb (the regular kind that gives off heat). Make sure the temp is the same as the tank to start, then place him under a light (no need to place it directly over the tank, just so it warms the area. This will keep it from dropping too slowly. At night or when the light is off, wrap the container in a towel. Always cover so he doesn't jump out.

This will allow him to rest and you can add some medicine, like Fungus Eliminator crystals (1/4 tsp per gal), if needed, to the bowl. The best way to catch a betta without damaging fins is with a cup, gently but quickly depressed when he is at the surface and let him flow in. Then transfer.

I hope this works for you. Don't do it if you would like to just observe some more. I'm thinking it would be better than medicating the whole tank. The salt in the Fungus Eliminator will be good for him too.

When i came to feed him when i came back from school he was against a piece of driftwood(but the pimple is on right side of face, his left side was facing wood). Also when i came up to tank to feed he was flaring at me. Other than that i don't really notice a difference, he does seem a bit more sluggish though.

The pimple is the same color as his body?

I would watch it twice daily for change right now. I took my nieces betta and he too is red. He had an "eye-sized" pimple on his "chin". I've been observing him and he is rubbing his face on the bottom of the bare-bottom tank (sees his reflection). This created a kind of rubbing-feature that grew from the action, as far as I can tell.

However, raised bumps can be a sighn of infection. Watch him carefully for behavioral changes. If you put anything at all in the tank, consider a slightly less than full dose each, of PimaFix and Melafix together. PimaFix may be stronger. If this is a type of pussy feature that still hasn't shown its full face yet, this may be a good preventative. However, maybe its been there for some time and will be. Watch his actions from afar to see if he is rubbing that area on something.