AFFECTED AREA | SYMPTOM | POSSIBLE ILLNESS/DISEASE | PRIMARY TREATMENT |
---|---|---|---|
EYE | Cloudiness | Physical Injury (Wounds) •Infection | Clean Water Antibiotic |
Swelling or Protrusion of one or both eyes. | Popeye | Antibiotic | |
GILLS | Partially open operculum | Gill Hyperplasia •Parasite Irritation | •Clean Water •Aquarium Salt •Anti-parasitic |
Rapid or Labored Breathing | Gill Hyperplasia •Infection | •Clean Water •Antibiotic | |
Redness or Discoloration | Physical Injury (Wounds) Gill Hyperplasia | •Clean Water •Aquarium Salt | |
Stringy Discharge, Growths | Flexibacter Columnaris •Overactive Slime Coat | •Clean Water •Antibiotic •Lower Water Temperature | |
FINS | Blackened or Bloody Fin Tips | Fin Rot | Clean Water |
Clamped Fins | General Symptom of Stress & Illness | Varies | |
Loss of Fin Tissue | Fin Rot •Fin Biting | •Clean Water •Antibiotic •Reduce Stress | |
Ragged Fins | Fin Rot •Fin Biting | •Clean Water •Antibiotic •Reduce Stress | |
HEAD | Change in Color | Aging •General Symptom of Stress & Illness | •None •Varies if caused by illness |
Rapid or Labored Breathing | Gill Hyperplasia •Infection | •Clean Water •Antibiotic | |
BODY | Blackened Tissue | •True Fungus Septicemia | •Anti-fungal •Antibiotic •Clean Water |
Bloated Abdomen | Constipation Dropsy | •Dietary Adjustment •Clean Water •Antibiotic •Epsom Salt | |
Color Loss | •General Symptom of Stress & Illness | Varies | |
Cut, Open Sore | Physical Injury (Wounds) | •Clean Water •Antiseptic | |
Fuzzy or Stringy Growths | Flexibacter Columnaris •Overactive Slime Coat | •Clean Water •Antibiotic •Lower Water Temperature | |
Gold or Bronze "dusting" Sheen | Velvet Parasites | Anti-parasitic | |
Horizontal Stripes | Stress | •Reduce Loud Noises •Reduce Jostling •Reduce Movement | |
Lump or Bump | Physical Injury (Wounds) •Tumor | Clean Water | |
Missing Scales | Physical Injury (Wounds) | •Clean Water •Antiseptic | |
Multiple White Dots (size of salt granules) | Ich Parasites | Anti-parasitic | |
Raised Scales "Pineconing" | Dropsy | •Clean Water •Antibiotic •Epsom Salt | |
Redness or Red Streaks | Septicemia | Antibiotic | |
Single White Dot | "Pimple" | Clean Water | |
Vertical Stripes | Breeding Stripes | None, (indicates betta is in breeding condition) | |
BEHAVIOR | Appetite Loss | General Symptom of Stress & Illness | Varies |
Inability to swim upright | Swim Bladder Disorder Constipation | •Clean Water •Antibiotic •Epsom Salt •Dietary Adjustment | |
Lack of Defecation (Poop) | Constipation | Dietary Adjustment | |
Lethargy, Sluggishness | General Symptom of Stress & Illness | Varies | |
Spastic, Jerky Swimming | •Parasite Irritation •Exposure to Toxins | •Anti-parasitic •Clean Water | |
Stringy White Waste (Poop) | Internal Parasites | Anti-parasitic |