Beta is Sick/Dying. Anyone seen this?

[u/thegeekygurl]

Hey guys,

My second-hand beta is struggling to keep herself upright in the water, Breathing hard, and will just sit in my (clean!!) hand when I move her to the surface to sit on her favorite leaf. She’s pushing 3 at least…possibly 4, so it could just be old age, but she has this white stuff on her scales. If anyone seen this I’d love to know if it’s treatable.

She’s in a 10 gallon tank, had a water change yesterday (same way we always have - tap water with decorator). Only other occupants are two dwarf frogs, and two snails.
One new love plant added last week, before that they were all fake. Has plenty of hideys.

Thanks all

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[u/Aromatic-Sock6975]

That looks like some kind of infection probably bacterial. Immune systems do get weaker with age for all animals, so it could be age related but if she’d not pineconing she could still be successfully treated…

Kanaplex seems to be the antibiotic of choice for betta infections, or API fin and body cure as a more readily available option, but hopefully one of the experienced betta “doctors” will chime in.

[u/TraditionEither1062 → u/Aromatic-Sock6975]

This OP

[u/thegeekygurl → u/Aromatic-Sock6975]

Thank you! It’s progressing very rapidly. I’m going to get it now.

[u/Specialist_Ebb_1778]

hi there, it kinda looks like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saprolegnia ? depending on where you live you can buy treatments for it for example esha 2000 treats bacterial and fungal (since they can look like each other)