Freaking me out..please help!

[Kathryn_S]

Hi from BC, Canada...so glad I found this forum, I'm new to fish keeping & to forums 🙂 Anyway, this spot showed up three days ago on my Betta, Zora's dorsal fin, and it's creeping me out!  So far it's not moving around on his fin.  Not sure either, where it would have come from, except maybe the new floating plants I put in his ten gallon tank a week ago?  Have since removed them to a 2nd 10 gallon tank I'm cycling.  He hasn't had any other issues in the two years I've had him.  Since I don't have a clue with what I'm dealing with, the pet store gave me Paraguard *their suggestion* to try.  I gave him an hour bath yesterday, but I think he gets too stressed when I take him in & out of his tank because he got pale.  So, can I just dose his tank w\one capful of Paraguard *he has no tank mates* but has a large sponge filter, so I won't be able to use carbon to take the med out afterwards.  What about aquarium salt? 5 tbsp. for ten gallons?  Or would this be too much to use all at once for him to handle?  His parameters are:  Ammonia - 0 or .25 ppm, Nitrite - 0, Nitrate 5.0, PH - 7.4-7.6,  Hard water, don't have exact stats, Temp - 78 F, but does fluctuate in the green zone quite a bit. 

Sure hope someone has seen this on a fish before and can give me some direction to getting rid of it.  Just so you know, since I live in Canada many meds are not available here.  Hope to hear from someone soon & thank you for your time 🙂   

Edited January 10, 2021 by Kathryn_S

[Colu]

I would Treat with aquarium salt 1 table spoon for 2 gallons for 1 week increase water changes to get ammonia level down remember to replace salt after water change

Edited January 10, 2021 by Colu

[Mr_Manifesto]

Could be fish lice!?!   That is nuts.  I have never seen that before but definitely get some medicine for that.   Looking on google there are Anchor Worm and Fish Lice meds available., not sure what's available in BC tho 😞

 

Edited January 10, 2021 by Mr_Manifesto

[FrozenFins]

I agree with @Colu salt will do wonders on external issues. With you being in Canada meaning that fish meds are limited salts the best med. 

 

[Kathryn_S]

Thanks for your input everyone....I don't think the salt is working, it's been three days now.  I know it can take longer, but my betta is starting to look a bit rough.  He's still swimming & eating okay, no erratic behavior, flashing, just pale.  What more can I do?  I took more pics...sorry they aren't very clear, but is there any difference in appearance since Sunday?  Should I get a smaller tank and dose accordingly?  I've been doing lots of research & I'm stumped.  More input is greatly appreciated.  Thanks.  

[FrozenFins]

4 minutes ago, Kathryn_S said:

Thanks for your input everyone....I don't think the salt is working, it's been three days now.  I know it can take longer, but my betta is starting to look a bit rough.  He's still swimming & eating okay, no erratic behavior, flashing, just pale.  What more can I do?  I took more pics...sorry they aren't very clear, but is there any difference in appearance since Sunday?  Should I get a smaller tank and dose accordingly?  I've been doing lots of research & I'm stumped.  More input is greatly appreciated.  Thanks.  

how much salt are you dosing? try 3 teaspoons a gallon.

Edited January 12, 2021 by James Black

[Kathryn_S]

I used 5 Tbsps. for his 10 gallon tank as recommended.  So, that would be 15 Tsps. for 5 gallons.  How long should I leave him in it?  Do you know if aquarium salt will also kill eggs, just in case this lousy louse, on his fin, laid any in his tank.    

[Colu]

If your not seeing any improvement I would treat with API  general cure

[FrozenFins]

5 hours ago, Kathryn_S said:

I used 5 Tbsps. for his 10 gallon tank as recommended.  So, that would be 15 Tsps. for 5 gallons.  How long should I leave him in it?  Do you know if aquarium salt will also kill eggs, just in case this lousy louse, on his fin, laid any in his tank.    

lol so sorry. I got tablespoons and teaspoons mixed up again. try 2 tablespoons a gallon, see if that works. Also wait a week. After a week if no signs of improvement try Maracyn. It looks like a bacterial infection not parasites so I don't think API General Cure would work.

[Kathryn_S]

@Colu I called the two pet stores and they have discontinued carrying API General Cure.  A girl I talked to, told me that all fish meds will have to go through a vet now. smh

[Brandy]

24 minutes ago, Kathryn_S said:

@Colu I called the two pet stores and they have discontinued carrying API General Cure.  A girl I talked to, told me that all fish meds will have to go through a vet now. smh

jeez. Canada. How about you find a vet willing to write a script without seeing the fish? most of our local types would, especially in rural areas. It does help to have a relationship with them in some way.

[Kathryn_S]

@James Black No problem 🙂 I've been doing the salt again.  But not sure about...Water change & salt replacement every day?  Anyway, I dismantled and disinfected *w\vinegar* both tanks *not taking any chances for any remaining 'creatures' lol  Threw out the sand & gravel and two plants.  I've been binge watching youtube vids, mainly aquarium co-op.  Hmmm, bacteria has what looks like a head & eyes?  Anyway, I was washing off my Anubias plants and found this under a leaf....any ideas?  There was a small pond snail in the tank so I'm thinking it's an egg sac?            

[FrozenFins]

3 minutes ago, Kathryn_S said:

@James Black No problem 🙂 I've been doing the salt again.  But not sure about...Water change & salt replacement every day?  Anyway, I dismantled and disinfected *w\vinegar* both tanks *not taking any chances for any remaining 'creatures' lol  Threw out the sand & gravel and two plants.  I've been binge watching youtube vids, mainly aquarium co-op.  Hmmm, bacteria has what looks like a head & eyes?  Anyway, I was washing off my Anubias plants and found this under a leaf....any ideas?  There was a small pond snail in the tank so I'm thinking it's an egg sac?            

I have no idea what that is. I dont think its a egg sack from a snail as they lay them out of water. 

 

7 minutes ago, Brandy said:

jeez. Canada. How about you find a vet willing to write a script without seeing the fish? most of our local types would, especially in rural areas. It does help to have a relationship with them in some way.

It is very hard to find a aquatic vet here in canada. And when you find a vet willing to write you a perscription the vet does not know what there talking about. Maybe its just where I live or I haven't been able to find that hidden gem.

@Kathryn_S because you live in Canada Maracyn is off the table. So then after a week of salt treatment I would try, supertech. I have heard AWESOME reviews from it saying stuff like "it cured my ilness in a day", etc. Heres a link:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08MCJW3RC 

They do not classify as  a fish medication because this way they won't have to respond to health canada. Also I have been able to find API melafix in big box petstores, all though I would try the supertech before the melafix.

[Kathryn_S]

@Brandy Hi...I know, eh! lol  I will contact my vet & see what she says, thanks 🙂 I was doing so well with keeping my betta so healthy for two years & now this *sigh* Lesson learned...I will quarantine new plants from now on!!

[FrozenFins]

39 minutes ago, Kathryn_S said:

@James Black No problem 🙂 I've been doing the salt again.  But not sure about...Water change & salt replacement every day?  Anyway, I dismantled and disinfected *w\vinegar* both tanks *not taking any chances for any remaining 'creatures' lol  Threw out the sand & gravel and two plants.  I've been binge watching youtube vids, mainly aquarium co-op.  Hmmm, bacteria has what looks like a head & eyes?  Anyway, I was washing off my Anubias plants and found this under a leaf....any ideas?  There was a small pond snail in the tank so I'm thinking it's an egg sac?            

I think your thinking of marine salt. The aquarium salt (that you should be using) does not effect the salinity of the water (how much salt is in the water) aquarium salt is used for medicating where as marine salt is used for saltwater tanks.

You also mentioned that you had your betta for 2+ years. He could just be a old betta. You dont know the agè you got him at, he could 3 or 4 years old. His immune system may not be as good as it was when you first got him.

[Kathryn_S]

Thanks for the info @James BlackI'll check it out.  Good to know about the snails.  You live in Canada?  If the salt doesn't work after a week, then I'm going to try to either use a q-tip or tweezers to get it off my betta very carefully.  I've watched ppl do it, on youtube, with goldfish. 😬

[FrozenFins]

3 minutes ago, Kathryn_S said:

Thanks for the info @James BlackI'll check it out.  Good to know about the snails.  You live in Canada?  If the salt doesn't work after a week, then I'm going to try to either use a q-tip or tweezers to get it off my betta very carefully.  I've watched ppl do it, on youtube, with goldfish. 😬

Yes I do. Winnipeg, MB to be exact. I just thought of something, try a salt bath. Heres a video on how to do it:

 

[Kathryn_S]

@James BlackI'm using aquarium salt.  I put in 4 Tbsps. *dissolved first in a cup* then poured in 5 gallons.  He isn't eating much, probably because of the salt?  Well, he was quite small when I first got him, 2 yrs. ago, & was told that he was under 6 months old.  He's just about 4" now *from nose to end of tail fin*.  Bettas can live up to 5 yrs.  He's still quite feisty\strong and flares at me & himself a lot lol.  Thanks for the video, I thought about a salt bath but if the bath is too concentrated, bettas will become paralyzed & it can kill them from shock\stress, so I'm a bit leery of doing it.  Which is kind of strange because they can live out of water for up to 2 hours, so I read.  I do appreciate your input.  Thanks.    

[Colu]

I think at this point your better of removeing the parasite manually with tweezers

[Kathryn_S]

@ColuYes, I was thinking the same...oh boy! 😬 Thanks for your input, much appreciated.

[Melissa Ann]

Could this be a fluke?   And have you tried medicating his food?

[Melissa Ann]

And I’m so sorry.  Nothing worse than a sick fish. 

[Hobbit]

Quote

Anyway, I was washing off my Anubias plants and found this under a leaf....any ideas?  There was a small pond snail in the tank so I'm thinking it's an egg sac?            

That’s definitely a pond snail egg sack! I’ve had them before (lots of them 😄). I think out of the common aquarium snails only mystery snails lay their eggs out of water.

I agree that before dosing more meds, I’d try to pull the thing off. Gently of course because it may not be a bug. It kind of reminds me of the tumor that Foo the Flowerhorn’s betta had. 

It’s kind of intense what he did, taking the betta out and using tweezers and concentrated H2O2. So if you don’t want to do that, I’d recommend just letting it be. I don’t know that these tumors are dangerous for the fish—they may just be unsightly.

 

[Mr_Manifesto]

I'm convinced this is fish lice now that you said it has eyes and a head.   Is it big enough that you could physically pull it off the fish?  that might be the best option at this point, since you have very limited access to meds.

[Kathryn_S]

UPDATE:  Sorry for the delay everyone.  I didn’t think I could physically remove whatever that was, but I did it!!  That was on Jan. 19th.  I used a folded warm cloth & held him down with just his back showing.  He still got away from me a couple of times, though.  I think finally using the high concentration of aquarium salt *1 tbsp per 1 gallon* in the 3rd week, dehydrated this ‘thing’ & killed it.  I say this because, after using a soaked Q-Tip in Hydrogen Peroxide (3%), that’s all I had on hand, it seemed to just crumble away *a hole was left under it*, taking quite a bit of fin with it.  To me, I barely touched it.  His fin was a brown\black in color & I tried the best I could to clean it up.  My gosh, that was nerve-racking!! lol  Anyway, it's already looking better today, but I’m still keeping a close watch on it.  I'm hoping the white coloration on his fin is new growth & not fungus.  Thank you all so much for your input, much appreciated.  Sending pics to show the amount of fin that came off.  What it looks like today *sorry not very clear*.  He's still in the quarantine tank & is doing well.  He went through so much & a couple of times I thought he was on his way out, but nope he's one tough little bugger!  I'm still doing water changes every other day while his other tank recycles.  Thanks again everyone 🙂