Betta Fish Diseases | Top 4 Betta fish symptoms and treatment for diseases

Betta splendens with a severe infestation of Oodinium parasites (Velvet disease).

This is a short guide to spotting common diseases that can kill Betta fish if they aren't taken care of. And as one of these diseases gets worse, your Betta fish will be in pain for no reason. Fungus, popeye, dropsy, and velvet are the top four diseases that affect Betta fish. The first three diseases are easy to spot because of how they look and where they show up. The last Betta fish disease velvet is a little harder to catch than the first three because it needs a lot of light. It's just a matter of knowing what to look for and giving the right medication to your Betta fish when you see it. There are two ways to treat fish diseases: the conservative way, like using aquarium salts, and the other way, which is to use aquarium drugs or tropical fish medicine made for a specific disease.

Betta fish fungus

Symptons: True fungal infections are responsible for Bettas to act lethargic, show pale colors stop eating and display white cotton like patches or growths on their head or body.

Treatment: BettaFix 1.7 oz, by API (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals)

API® BETTAFIX fish remedy is an all-natural, antibacterial fish remedy for Bettas that should be used whenever your Betta exhibits signs of disease, such as wounds, ulcers, mouth fungus, fin & tail rot, slimy patches, and cottony growths. BETTAFIX fish remedy aids in healing damaged tissue as a result of handling, netting, and fighting using the healing power of Melaleuca - a variety of Tea Tree oil - which promotes rapid re-growth of damaged fins and skin.

Betta fish dropsy

Symptoms: Dropsy infections will cause Betta fish to appear bloated in their abdomen with raised scales. The scales are flared to the point they appear like pine cones. But if this is the case the disease has progressed quiet far. Early signs of this disease include swollen eyes, clamped finnage, lethargic behavior and gray coloration on the belly area. Dropsy can be cured when caught early.

Treatment: Melafix by API (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals)

API Melafix Fish Dropsy And Malawi Bloat Treatment is a proven antidote for fresh and saltwater aquarium fish diseases. This treatment includes tea tree extract, known for its healing properties, and in addition to bacterial diseases treats a variety of issues ranging from wounds and abrasions to fin and tail rot whole also helping to re-grow damaged fin rays and tissue.

Betta fish popeye

Symptoms: Popeye infections will appear in either one or both eyes of your Betta fish. Additionally popeye disease may be a symptom of a Dropsy infection.

Treatment: Fungus Clear fizz tabs by Jungle

Safely clears fungus and bacteria-related conditions fast. No need to raise the water temperature. Clears furunculosis (open red sores), eye cloud (white hazy film on eyes), pop eye (enlarged eyes), and swim bladder disease (fish swims on side or upside down). Also protects against secondary infections.

Betta fish velvet

Symptoms: Velvet infections are a bit challenging to spot based on appearance. Essentially the Betta fish will appear to be dusted in a fine gold or rust colored dust which can be found by shinning a good flashlight on the side of the Betta in question. At this point the infection is established but other signs include clamped finnage, loss of eating, loss of coloration and be lethargic; however, Bettas will act peculiar and either rubbing or darting in the tank. Note velvet disease is very contagious.

Treatment: RidIch Plus® by Kordon

Kordon's Rid Ich Plus® (formerly known as Rid-Ich +) is a combination of two powerful medications which have proven effective in the control of many diseases of freshwater fishes caused by external protozoan (single cell) parasites such as white spot disease, Ichthyophthiriasis, Costia, Trichodina, Chilodonella and saltwater external parasites such as Cryptocaryon and Amyloodinium . The medication can also treat fungal infections in fishes.