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hi i have a betta with a small problem, first heres the parameters from the test kits i have:
-ammonia 0
ph 7
gh 9
he is in an unheated tank in a room which is kept warm with the heating set at 26.

i had a problem with a cyst or long thin white growth that i dosed with a broad spectrum aquarium fish treatment (wardley promethyasul) and it disappeared straight away (post 17 april). a week ago this small white growth almost like a long peice of dead skin appeared in the same area (between the two ribbon like fins that a think are the pelvic fins). i treated the same and again it disappeared.

now this morning i noticed one of his gills has what looks like a small graze and his eyes are bulging slightly. its only a small area of white surrounded by a thin red inflamation.

should i treat this with the same broad spectrum treatment or is there something more effective i could try?

Cystic reproduction is common in protozoan, and sporozoan parasites, and the wardley product should have an effect on these, perhaps you missed the reproductive cycle of the parasite, and what your seeing is a reinfection . How long did you do the treatments for, and did you do a repeat treatment after about a week? Often thats the only way to iradicate these parasites, treatment is not usually a one shot deal , whatever it says on the container.

The bulging eyes and white growths are probably secondary infections of fungus, allowed in by the immunosupressing activity of a protozoan infection.

You can try other treatments like metronidazole which will be directly more effective against protozoa, but it is handy to use an all in one treatment especially as the fish is already suffering secondary infections. Perhaps just use the wardleys stuff for a bit longer, and remember to retreat after a week to catch the reproductive cycle of the protozoa. I think persistance will win this one.

i hope so mate! thanks.

yeah i dosed the promethyazul 8 days ago and as i mentioned the growth disappeared- then this something appeared on the gill flap. the instructions on the promethysul are to dose once every 7days till the problem disapears. im asuming this new problem is as a result of the previous problem tho am a bit more woried due to the proximity of the gills.

i have dosed again and will wait to see what happens. incidently i rode my bike up to one of the near by pet stores and spoke to a fella of vast experience with aquariums and whos advice i trust over the over pet stores here and who has been using promethyasul for 20 years. he said the same- persitence should get rid of what ever it is. he said if it isnt fungal then it could be just a graze or that maybe it could be a parasite, so if it is still there in 3 days or so to return and tell him, or even bring the fish to know for sure, and he will help choose and alternative med.

i will keep you up dated and thanks lhg, its good to have sources that i know i can trust at my disposal



i will keep you posted on developments (or lack of).
cheers,
dan

okey its the next day and his eyes arent bulging tho the mark is still clearly visible on the gill flap.

Cool, thats a pretty quick reaction, stick with it though, a few days to go yet.

yeah its the evening and i got a closer look at the problem and it gotten worse, it looks like a welt surrounded by red inflammation. do you think its a parasite?
unfortunatly the petshop is closed sunday.

Hard to be sure, your fish has a lot of non-specific symptoms, but if you can post a picture of the fish and maybe the setup too, it might help me to pinpoint something a bit more specific.

From your description it sounds kind of like an anchor worm. I think it would be best to have a picture in this case...

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okey i will try and borrow a mates digi camara tonight...
the area is still there tho the fish doesnt seem agitated/sedate/panting or anything out of the ordinary. the guy at the shop said he could probably diagnose if i brought him the fish in but i dont want to put him (the fish) through the stress. i will see what i can do about posting a picture.

okey so we failed to get hold of a camara.
theres no change on the mark.
he a blue betta and we have been feeding him betta food with colour enhances and he has been developing red streaks as a result! im wandering if this is just another red bit.
i will post photos as of when its possible (i tried with my phone just now but its just not up to the job!)
cheers
dan