Do you have a sick beta fish?

Sure signs you have a sick beta fish and what you can do about it.

Your sick beta fish will not eat or beta fish remains at the bottom of the tank and doesn't swim around much?

Betas are tropical fish and must be kept in tropical temperatures. Beta fish require regular, twice-weekly water changes in gallon water containers, a mix of foods (not simply dry pellets), and your interaction to stay healthy.

My sick beta fish has white spots

Ich is a protozoan parasite found on most freshwater fish. It appears as small white dots or spots on the sick beta fish's fins and body, which may look like white grains of sugar. Outbreaks most often occur when the water temperature drops below 80 degrees F.Elevate the water temperature to the mid to upper eighties F. Salt baths are effective against Ich. Adding common table salt (sodium chloride) to the water can help reduce infection. Add one teaspoon per gallon as a preventative measure.
Medications containing Malachite green or Methylene blue, repeated at intervals of 2 days are also effective. See our Ich treatments.

My sick beta fish seems to be covered with a velvet coating

Velvet/Oodinium is an algae parasite found on many freshwater fish. This disease appears as a yellow "velvety" coating on the beta fish's body. It may also
appear golden or rust colored. It is often found in fish which are stressed due to chilling transportation, water changes or poor water quality. Symptoms include rapid, breathing and listlessness.

Elevated temperature and medications such as acriflavine, Methylene Blue or Jungle's " velvet guard" should help treat this parasite. Bowls or tanks should be drained and cleaned. Dyes should not be used since they contain mercury. See our selection of Antiparasitics .

My sick beta fish fins seem to be disappearing or rotting

Fin Rot is bacterial based and often occurs in weaker beta fishes.

Use of antibiotics, anti-microbials, and preparations containing these. One such compilation is Mardel Maracyn 2. Maracyn-2 is a broad-spectrum antibiotic (minocycline) tablet used for popeye, fin and tail rot, gill disease, dropsy, septicemia, secondary and internal infections. You can order Maracyn 2 here. Changing the water, raising the temperature and adding a bit of salt will often achieve good results.