Desperate for help with Betta diagnosis and medicine provision, please

[MQBrooks1337]

Hello all,

Thank you so much for accepting me onto this group and forum. I am posting to please ask for some help in a time of dire need. I have a sick betta, Moony, who is definitely suffering from some bacterial or parasitic infection - but I could really use some diagnostic help with what’s gone wrong.

He has a severe case of fin rot, discoloration (from blue to brownish/green and golden fins), red splotches on his head, a pale discoloration on his back, ragged ventral fins, and a major swim bladder issue where he cannot dive and lays horizontally at the surface. I’ve observed a bloat on one side, and someone else has told me he looks like he has velvet as well, and might be visible on some of the attached pictures as golden hue and the ‘dust’ near his face and gills.. Currently he is now hanging vertically with mouth at the surface - I hope it isn’t the ‘vertical death hang’. I am disinfecting an air stone to oxygenate the water further as well.

He is still hanging on, and I have tried fasting, aquarium salt, and erythromycin. I have attached pictures as well. It has been about a week and a half now with no improvement and daily water changes. Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate have tested at 0 and pH at 7.2, while temperature has been held at 80 F.

I have been told KanaPlex, API GenCure, Maracyn II, and other SeaChem remedies should be tried in order to save him. I am going through difficult financial times and I was hoping to also ask if anyone near or in Boston would be willing to lend or provide any of the following, if appropriate to ask and suggested to use.

SeaChem KanaPlex
Maracyn II
API General Cure
SeaChem NeoPlex
SeaChem Cupramine
SeaChem Para/PolyGuard
Fritz ParaClease
Kordon Methylene Blue

I cannot afford at the moment any of these as well as the shipping due to family medical expense obligations, and am desperate to save my friend who I am bound to protect and ensure he has the best life possible. He’s currently in a 5g hospital tank with the heater and cycled filter - but not improving.

I would only ask for help like this in desperation. Please let me know if anyone has any idea what might be going on, can help with these medicines, or has any advice. Thank you all so, so much.



Matthew

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Personally I don't have any idea as to what wrong with your Betta, but there are a slew of people here that do know such as @Humblefish, the fish disease and quarantine mastermind and many others as hat have both freshwater and marine animals. Glad to have you here. There is another forum called Boston aquarium society that is more dedicated to freshwater species.

 

[Chris A.]

How old is he?
If I’m not mistaken they don’t have a long life span.

 

[MQBrooks1337]

Personally I don't have any idea as to what wrong with your Betta, but there are a slew of people here that do know such as @Humblefish, the fish disease and quarantine mastermind and many others as hat have both freshwater and marine animals. Glad to have you here. There is another forum called Boston aquarium society that is more dedicated to freshwater species.

Thank you so much Biggie! I really appreciate you all being here - it felt very isolated until I heard about BRS. I apologize if my first posting was really a cry for hell here. I did indeed message Humble and hope he is willing to offer any insight.
I had no idea about the BAS - I will look that right up, too.

Thank you again for responding, even as the Pres. This group has been so great for a somewhat novice like me to find.

 

[MQBrooks1337]

How old is he?
If I’m not mistaken they don’t have a long life span.

Only a year at this point

 

[tkyee98]

Just my $0.02 but it’s most likely a goner unfortunately. If meds aren’t an option I would recommend very frequent water changes to keep the water impeccably clean and try to get the betta to eat

 

[MQBrooks1337]

Just my $0.02 but it’s most likely a goner unfortunately. If meds aren’t an option I would recommend very frequent water changes to keep the water impeccably clean and try to get the betta to eat

He’s still eating, thankfully. I was able to give a pellet softened with garlic juice tonight.
I won’t give up hope or trying until it’s over though, do you have any idea what would be the ideal med to try, if there’s some way to get it?

 

[Chris A.]

Check this link out , https://www.fishkeepingacademy.com/how-to-tell-if-your-betta-fish-is-dying-of-old-age/

 

[Humblefish]

I'm not as knowledgable about freshwater diseases, but I have kept some Bettas in my lifetime and that looks like a bacterial and/or fungal infection. That particular Betta looks to be in rough shape, but if you wanted to try to treat him I think clean water + Melafix + Pimafix (both herbal remedies) would be your best bet. I wouldn't expose a fish in that condition to actual medications (i.e. antibiotics). They will do more harm than good at this point.

BTW, this is an excellent sub-forum for freshwater fish diseases: https://forum.aquariumcoop.com/forum/6-diseases/

 

[this is me]