Please note that I am not a doctor or a veterinarian, and do not have any medical degree in diagnosing Betta fish. I am Betta fish owner and breeder with over 22 years experience. The information here comes from my own experience and research I have done, but I make no promise or guarantee about any of the info or treatments in this article.
There are a variety of Betta fish diseases that your Betta fish can have. As soon as you determine that your Betta is sick, it’s important to isolate the diseased Betta fish so it does not spread to the remaining fish in the tank. Make sure to use a portion of the water in your Betta’s tank and allow any new water sit for a minimum of 8 hours to prevent a sudden alteration in temperature which may result in a shock to his system.
Prevent the spread of your Bettas disease by washing your hands with a purifying soap after handling a sick Betta fish.
Diagnosing your Betta’s illness is vital to using the correct medication.
Generally, a diseased Betta fish will stay at the base of the tank, only rising for air, while a fit Betta will rapidly swim around his tank.
Betta Illnesses – Clamped Fins
If your Betta’s fins are always near his body, then he could have clamped fins. Clamped fins is a signal of bad water quality. It is not difficult to cure this by cleaning his water. Begin replacing half his water daily until his fins are unclamped.
Illness: Ich
If you see tiny white spots on its body and/or fins then it has a very serious parasite called ich. This needs to be medicated immediately. A definite signal of Ich is if you see your Betta rubbing against parts of the tank in order to wipe off the parasites.
Ich can be caused by inconsistent water conditions or other stressful situation for your Betta. Stressed out Betta fish are much more prone to parasites and other diseases.
Illness: Fungus Contamination
Large dots of grey or white is most likely a fungus contamination. These growths will be bigger than with Ich. If it goes without treatment, it may start to look like a fuzzy white growth.
Betta Illnesses – Fin Rot
Fin Rot can be determined by examining his fins and/or tail. If they appear to be torn up, are getting shorter, or have holes inside them, then he may has Fin or Tail rot. This is not an uncommon sickness a lot of Betta’s contract and should be taken care of as soon as possible. It’s a bacterial disease that can quickly spread to the rest of the body. In really bad cases, the fins and tail may begin turn red or start to bleed.
Betta Illnesses – Constipation
Your Betta can get constipated if his diet is not changed regularly (Betta’s are healthiest when eating many different food – see Providing Food for Bettas for more instruction). If your Betta fish has a normal amount of daily swimming, but has a swollen abdomen, he is probably constipated.
Illness: Velvet
Velvet can be diagnosed by the tell-tale gold and yellow powder like dust that will appear on his body. It is best to try using a flashlight to try to see it – it’s difficult to see without one.
Betta Fish Illnesses – Dropsy
If your Betta has elevated scales and a protruding stomach, he may have contracted Dropsy. The scales will appear to look like a wide open pine cone if watching it from above the tank.
Betta Fish Sickness – Popeye
If you see your Betta fish’s eyeball sticking out, if it is foggy or has a bubble covering it, then he has Popeye. It is quick to see and relatively easy to treat.
Illness: Tuberculoses
If you believe your Betta has Tuberculoses, be certain to wear sanitary gloves prior to submerging your hand inside the water. Tuberculoses can be transmitted to a human being, so be certain you have no open cuts prior to submerging your hand and arm. If you do get Tuberculoses, you’ll end up with a skin infection and should immediately go to the doctor to cure it.
If you notice swollen or scale protrusion, a loss of weight, skin defects and/or discoloration, loss of scales, loss of appetite, slow and tired swimming and clamped fins then he may have contracted Tuberculosis.
For additional info about Betta, make sure to take a look at the entries, read this list of the Best Betta Care Guides. My favorite is the Betta Lovers Guide – it’s the one guide that encompasses absolutely everything you’ll need to keep your Betta happy.
