My beta has wierd white spots?

Question

my fish nil has developed about 8 fish eye sized white patches on his body, the spots are patchy them selves and wouldn't be visible if it weren't for him being dark blue, they are very pale, he acts fine and i have made sure that his water is very clean. he is currently in a 1 gallon plain glass bowl, i know this isn't really ideal and am slowly upgrading all my betas to small filtered tanks but am really really strapped for cash right now and have so far only bought two new tanks and boo and sly got those, does anyone know what it is? and what if anything I can do thats very low cost?

Answer 1

It sounds like the beginnings of fungus, which is easy to treat, but would need a filtered, heated tank.  Start by getting it said tank, removing any activated carbon, and treating with any parasite (Ich included) or fungal medication.  Look for malachite green, copper, or formalin based medications, as these are extremely effective.  If using malachite green, keep the tank dark, as it degrades with exposure to light.

EDIT: Since you don't seem to have any other options, at least begin treating the container he's in.  You will need to do daily water changes.  Try to keep the tank in an area with very stable temerature (no day-night swing).  It can definitely be fatal if not tended to, but I would be very hesitant to wait a week before treating...

EDIT 2: Heat has nothing to do with the medicating, but the fish's health in general!  Bettas are not suited for water that stays below 75* for any substantial amount of time, and this fluctuating temperature was likely one of the stressors (along with ammonia buildup) that allowed a fungal infection, which healthy fish easily fight off, to set in.  Also, without a filter, there is nothing to keep the water circulating, clean, or aerated (less of a concern with Bettas).  Without circulation, the only was to disperse the medication evenly in any useful amount of time would be stirring, and shockingly, I doubt the fish would appreciate that.  If ammonia levels continue to rise, the stress will make it almost impossible to cure the fungus.  Not to mention the fact that I already said she should treat the unfiltered, unheated container and I said nothing of cycling.  Lord have mercy one of thease days MrsIlriffel actually takes the time to read a question or answer before pretending she knows of what she speaks.

Fungus: http://www.cosmos.com.sg/images/fungus-b...

http://msaqua.com/pics/aqua/disease/fung...

Answer 2

LOL! SOOP n**i is pretty much on the dot. even if it isnt fungus than its just a sign of stress of some sort and will be resolved with a simple water change and conditioners.fish like to turn wierd colors when they are stressed.

AND WHO? GAVE SOOP THE THUMBS DOWN?  this guy knows his stuff, i mean he even posted a couple of links of what a fungal infection looks like. h**l i am too lazy to do that. lol. ne ways i would use 1! of his treatments that he recommended,(not all of them MRSILLFFEL.) and pending on how concentrated the dose is, i would put like 1ml. in the 1 gal. bowl. KORDON RID ICH is cheap and works, for ich and other fungal related infections.  good luck and hope ur betta gets well.

Answer 3

Sounds to me like your fish may have a fungal infection. You need to treat your beta with an anti fungal medication. It is caused by injuries done by other fish or poor water conditions.

edit : n**i like over kill lets wait till we get a tank set up and cycled before we treat it lord have mercy one of thease days n**i will send me the bottle for the meds he uses on fish that says tank must be filtered and heated for medication to work

we should address the issue's the asker already stated they are working on getting the bowls filtered

all the is needed is the treatment for the fungus and improve the water conditions

Answer 4

Warmer water will help the betta fight the illness off. The medication would work just as well in a coldwater tank if you were treating goldfish, but since bettas are tropical fish, one of the best things to do is actually bump the heat up to help them recover. If the temperature doesn't fluctuate, and it's in the high 70's then you may not need a heater. I personally have no heaters or filters for the bettas I keep, but, I keep their water cleaned and the room temperature is high enough to keep them at the correct temperature. n**i is right, but, you should google betta diseases to find exactly what your fish has before treating. Treating for the wrong disease might stress the fish for no reason. With most diseases and ailments, daily water changes can actually "cure" the disease, if caught in time. In this case, I would change the tank water once a day and do some research to figure out exactly which disease your betta has (compare it to pictures online) and then try to find a medication for that disease.