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I posted this in The Hospital forum, but didn't get much response. Pics are below...

I got a betta girl, (her name is Carmen), a couple months ago. And for about the last three weeks, she has developed these dark patches on the top of her body. They don't look furry like a fungus; just like a dark spot like a mole on a human...but they aren't round or any distince shape. And on her finage, similar shapes appear, but they are white, not dark like on her body. Also, she';s had some scales peel up and fall off. And I checked, it's not Dropsy-like.

Her fins look like they are slowly deteriorating. I don't notice a red or a black edge to them. And, I am pretty sure it isn't any of the aquarium decorations because I have the same plants in another tank with a betta girl, and she looks just fine.

I have treated with:
BettaMax
Jungle Labs Fungus Eliminator
Jungle Labs Binox (for Bacterial & Fungal infections)
Clout
...and now, i'm using Kanacyn. I noticed minor improvement with the Kanacyn. She was looking like she was dried out, like she had no slime coat. But, as of yesterday morning, she looked like she was "moisturized" again. And the dark spots minimized in size, but very little difference. And as of THIS morning, she looked the same as the day before. I plan on following the dosing plan on the box: dose days 1, 3, & 5.

Pictures:

Pic 1: It's blurry, she dances around for the camera whenever she see's it. Makes it hard for picture taking..lol.

Pic 2:
Pic 3:
Pic 4:
Pic 5:

I took her out of her 10g, and put her in a hospital tank I have going, it's a 2.5g and I dosed her in that for two days and to see if something chemical was in the tank and it was causing the sickness. But, I didn't notice any difference while she was out. But, I did a 100% water change anyways for the 10g. I added water from the tap that registered on the thermometer at 130 Degrees, un-declorinated. And I let that sit in the 10g until it cooled down to 80 degrees then I did another water change only 50% this time - declorinated and started carbon filtering it. Then I put her back in about 5 hours later. Then, I let her have a day in the tank un-medicated for a break from the meds I've been trying. And then, last Saturday, I started the Kanacyn.

Because of the water changes, My tank parameters are:

Ammonia: 0.5 - 1.0
Nitrates: 0
Nitrites: 0
The tank was barely even beginning to be cycled when I did the 100% water change so, it's not like I lost anything. I was going to put some Cherry barbs or something similar to help the cycle, but then she had gotten sick.

The only behavioral change is that she'll twitch. I have been watching her a lot for the past week, and that is the only thing I've seen, and I've only seen it twice. Other than that, she acts like the happy girl she is.

I'm sorry for making a long post. I just want to clarify all the steps I've taken. I can't find any sickness like it on the web.. It doesn't resemble any disease that I've read about.

Well, Thanks for reading. And please post if you might have any idea what it might be or other treatment methods.

-Pamela






Last edited by hermelz at 10-Jul-2005 15:21[/font][/font][/font][/font][/font]

The dark patches I wouldn't worry about. A lot of my older darker coloured females look like that when they arn't coloured up. As for the fins it looks/sounds like fin rot. Other than that I don't really see anything wrong with her

Oh and I would let up on the meds. Dont' treat unless you know what it is. Too many meds can cause more harm then good. Good clean water with a bit of aquarium salt will heal up the fins in no time.

Is there any other fish in the tank?

Last edited by ontariobetta at 21-Jun-2005 12:42

Thanks for replying....No, there aren't any other fish in there.

She's actually young though, compared to another female that resides in a 5g, she is small.

I tried the clean water and aquarium salt, and it only seemed to get worse, so, I tried the meds then. I've let her have a day or two of clean water & salt inbetween each med.

The Kanacyn med seems to be helping. The dark spots seem to be minimizing, but not by much. But, it's a noticeable difference.

-pam

She looks like she has some fin rot and body fungus to me- Like the others have said stick with one treatment- lots of meds will do more harm than good. The medicine made by the company that makes Kanacyn is a good line- I can't remember what kanacyn is specifically but if it's anti fingal you'll be in good shape. In the mean time, clean, warm water will do her a lot of good.

I hate fin rot. Stick with the medication, it may take up to a month of treatment to get to full recovery. My own betta got fin rot, and it took about a month of treatment with triple sulfa to cure.

For Kanacyn, on the front it reads:

Symptoms & Causes:
Hemorrhage
Red Body Patches
Rotting fins & tail
Protruding or Loss of Scales
Furunculosis
Bacterial Infections
Fungal Infections
Internal Infections

On the Back:

Kanacyn is an effective, colorless aid in Freshwater and Marine aquariums for the treatment and prevention of: Red Streaks or Hemorrhaging, Dropsy, Fin and Tail rot, Inflammed gills, Protruding or Loss of scales, Gram positive and Gram Negative bacteria, Fungal infections, Vibrio, Tuberculosis, Wasting away, and Body Ulcers.

Ingedients: 150mg Capsules of Water Soluble Kanamycin Sulfate and Sodium Chloride Activity.
----

She's looking better. The dark spots seem to be getting smaller, just not by much. And her fins have stopped shrinking. She's actually more active today than I've seen her in a couple days. So, i feel that the Kanacyn is the cure. I hope...she is so sweet and friendly.

Sounds like it, best of luck.

Well, almost two weeks later and she is worse. For several days she was looking better. It seems that the disease she has, has adapted to all the medications.

She barely has a tail fin, her caudel fin is almost non-existent, and her dorsal fins is detoriating down to hnothing.

The dark spots on her body now have scales peeling up on those spots. And one of her, dare I say, "nostrils" is inflamed. She's not eating anymore. She looks like she's shaking, and she's twitching more.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I am going to try something later when I get home from work that I read on Bettatalk.com. Regarding the fin rot, Faith on her site descibes a very drastic way to get rid of fin rot, only as a last resort.

And if I see no improvements for several days after that, I might have to consider euthanization. I want an easy, and painless way for her, and for me.

Thanks for reading, and helping.

-Pamela

You could try PimaFix, I use that for fin rot and it works great. It will also treat fungus and bacterial diseases. Maybe try that for a while and see what happens. If still nothing then I would suggest putting her down

I would take her out of a cycled tank. 100% clean water with declor and 1/2 tsp of aqua salt per gallon. Keep her warm enough (about 76-78) and add JFE (Jungles Fungal Eliminator) Change the water 100% every two days until she seems better. I have found that some bettas once they are sick are too delicate for a cycled tank. Nitrates seem to bother them. If you don't have a small tank use a large bowl or tupperware container. Her water conditions need to be clean, clean, clean

___________________________________________

If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

Carmen died last night.

Thanks for all the help...

-Pamela

RIP



Last edited by hermelz at 10-Jul-2005 15:23[/font]

So sorry to hear of your loss. That is one of the worst things about bettas and other fish, sometimes with even the best of care they get sick, won't get better, and die dispite everything done for them.