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I have a betta that I keep at work. It is all red but it started getting what looks like dry skin/scales. His face looks chapped or really dry - I don't think that it is dry, this is just the way it looks. I could not figure out what was wrong with him, first I thought it was body fungus but it is not, this is concentrated around his head. I first used Mardel but this did not seem to do anything. He developed a small wound on his head, I have switched to melafix. I had another betta in the same tank as him (seperated of course). After the first one got sick, I moved the other but now it seems that he is developing the same symptoms. They are both acting for the most part fine.
Symptoms:
- Dry whittish appearance concentrated on the face area.
- although they are still active and have good appetites, they seem to be slightly less active.
if anyone has any ideas, I would appreciate it very much. thanks FW

It sounds like a fungus. Melafix wont help you with a fungus. What are the water parameters? How often do you water change and how big are the tank(s)?

I'd be starting treatment with a good multicure and keep an eye for any addtional symptoms. Perhaps if you could post a picture of the fish, that would be helpful to.

Flounder, even if you don't see fuzz, columnaris infections which are one of the more common bacteria that we deal with, can come in many forms. It may look like fuzz. It may look like a white filmy appearance, sometimes bordered with a red lesion. It could look like the scales are outlined in white or just a few raised scales. It can show up as a saddleback lesion or mouth fungus, and is even the culprit in some types of fin/tail rot or erosion.

My money is on this, unless you notice it has a bluish hue to it or looks like a gold dusting.

One other alternative is that the fish has been exposed to ammonia or a rapid shift in pH or is in a radically high or low pH. Are you using distilled water or reverse osmosis water? Check ammonia and pH and let us know the level.

If ammonia is 0, and if pH is reasonable, then I would use Jungle's Fungus Eliminator (aimed at bacteria despite the name) or a combination of maracyn and Maracyn two. I don't know which "Mardel" you used. Was it one of these or was it Maroxy or something like that? If he is in a small bowl, it is more of a challenge to treat, but bettas do best in bigger containers of at least a gallon anyway. Just fill a jug of tap water and keep it near his bowl overnight so the temp equalizes. Provided pH is the same, simply move him to the gallon container and dose the meds.

Let us know how this turns out. I would also get him some Pepso Food by Jungle and feed that at the same time, but only for three days. There are antibiotics in the food.