Sick Betta - White Spots/Flakes, Clamped Fins, Less Energy, Less Appetite

[molly_olivia]

I got my betta from a local store about two weeks ago. I had him in a Back to the Roots 3 gal for a few days, long story short did research too late, found new local pet store and moved him to a 10 gal which is still in the process of cycling. Added a lot of plants and three rummynose tetras.

• pH 6.8/7
• Nitrates: 0
• Nitrites: 0
• Hardness: unsure
• Ammonia: .5, did a 25% water change and didn't feed this morning
• KH/Buffer: unsure
• Water temperature: 80 F

Tuesday: Noticed appetite decrease, didn’t notice (until reviewing photos) top fin was clamped.

Wednesday: Still low appetite and swimming erratically.

Thursday: I noticed white spots on him, all over his body but more so around his eyes and face. Please note that spots got worse since photos were taken, especially around the eyes and under the chin. It is really hard to get a good photo with my phone camera.

Rushed to local pet store. The employee thought it was velvet and recommended aquarium salt treatment so I moved plants to the old 3 gal. Dosed 10 gal with 9tsp (1 per gal), then 9 more 12 hours later, then once more 12 hours later, per recommendation. Total 3tsp per gal, 27 total. After the 2nd dosing I moved rummynose out to the other tank because they weren’t looking so great. Keeping an eye on chemical levels in both tanks, everything is fine there and I’m doing water changes as soon as ammonia hits .5 (side note ,would adding the salt affect the ammonia readings at all?) It’s been a little over 18 hours since the last dose. Appetite and energy seem to be coming back. Fin is still clamped, white spots got worse since videos were taken a couple days ago, especially around face and chin. Now they seem a liiiittle better, but hard to tell. Any feedback helps, I’m trying to trust knowledge of local aquarist but want to make sure I’m on the right track before it’s too late if a correction in treatment is needed.

 

PS I feel terrible having the betta alone in the 10 gal while all my plants, 3 rummys, and one snail are crowded in the little 3 gall. Next time will do differently but do you think I should try and transition and carefully switch the tanks occupants? I don't know how long the treatment will take, I feel so bad for moving them around so much already and want to do the right thing. At this point I don't know if that's to make everyone more comfortable or to leave them be.

[Cory]

Salt should clear this up. I've done this level of salt on rummynose before, they don't like it for sure. Keep a close eye on them to make sure they don't develop symptoms. Usually rummynose can tolerate it, but since you've already moved em at this point, if they don't present symptoms, I'd leave things as is. 

[molly_olivia]

12 hours ago, Cory said:

Salt should clear this up. I've done this level of salt on rummynose before, they don't like it for sure. Keep a close eye on them to make sure they don't develop symptoms. Usually rummynose can tolerate it, but since you've already moved em at this point, if they don't present symptoms, I'd leave things as is. 

Hi Cory, thank you so much! Should I vacuum the gravel to clear potential contaminants away, or should I leave it since the tank is cycling?

[Ben Ellison]

I see no harm in leaving  it what ever the salt is treating on the fish the substrate should be effected too