How to Know if a Betta is Sick

There are many signs that a betta has a disease, from a lethargic posture to white spots on the body of the fish. As soon as you suspect a betta has a disease, you should separate it from other fish, as many diseases can be contagious. ^{[1] X Research Resources} Alternatively, you can also find medicine for betta fish at the aquarium store. If you can’t find it in stores, you can buy it online. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Table of Contents

Watch out for signs that your betta is not healthy

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Observe the phenomenon of fish discoloration. When a betta is sick, the color of the fish may fade or even lose its color completely. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Pay attention to the fins of the fish. The fins of a healthy betta fish will remain intact, while the fins of a diseased fish may be torn or punctured. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Another sign that the betta is sick is the fins that appear to be closed to the body of the fish; ie the fins do not spread out as usual. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Observe the fish’s lethargic appearance. If the betta is sick, the fish’s activity level will drop and it will not be as active as usual. The movement of the fish will slow down. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Another sign is that the fish will be more likely to nestle at the bottom of the tank than usual. ^{[7] X Research Sources}
The lethargic state of the fish can be caused by the temperature in the water being too low or too high, so you need to make sure the temperature in the water is at the right level.

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Pay attention to the betta’s eating habits. When suffering from certain diseases, fish can stop eating completely. If the betta doesn’t seem to want to eat, it’s probably sick. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Check for spots. Look for small white spots, especially around the fish’s head and mouth. This symptom could be a sign of certain types of parasites, called ich. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Detection of respiratory problems in fish. Checking for breathing problems in fish sounds quite strange, however, if the betta is constantly coming to the surface to get air, it is not a normal sign. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Betta fish also occasionally swim to the surface to breathe, but it’s not okay if it continues like this.

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Observe the fish’s rubbing or scratching behavior. If you see a betta rubbing itself against the wall of the tank, that could be a bad sign. Likewise, if the fish tries to rub against plants or objects in the tank, it may be sick. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Look for other physical symptoms. Protruding eyes can be a sign of disease. Notice if the fish’s eyes are bulging. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Raised scales can also be a symptom of the disease. ^{[13] X Research Source}
Look at fish gills. If the gills don’t close then it’s probably swollen, and that’s another sign that the fish is sick. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Treat constipation

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Check for signs of swelling. If the betta is suddenly swollen, it is probably constipated. You must soon cure this disease for fish. ^{[15] X Research Source}

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Stop feeding the fish normal food for several days. The first thing to cure constipation is to stop feeding the fish its normal diet for a few days. This will give the fish time to digest and eliminate food from the body. ^{[16] X Research Source}

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Feed the fish live food. After a few days, start feeding the fish again. However, you should feed the fish live food for a while. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Live foods that can be fed to bettas include sea shrimp or bloodworms. A general rule of thumb is to feed the fish just enough to feed the fish in two minutes. Feed the fish twice a day. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

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Do not overfeed the fish. Constipation is often a sign that you are overfeeding your betta. So when the fish start eating again, you should feed less than before. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Diagnosis of fin/tail rot and fungal infections

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Watch out for torn fins and tails. ^{[20] X Source of Study} This disease may affect only the tail or fins, but still leaves the fish looking tattered. ^{[21] X Research Source}

Note that some varieties of longtail fish such as semicircular bettas will bite their fins when the fins become too heavy. In this case, you need to pay attention to other symptoms of the disease besides tearing the fin.
In addition, you also need to pay attention to the darkening of the tip of the tail. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Observe for white patches of fungal infection. You can usually recognize this disease by the white patches on the fish. The fish’s fins may also stick or the fish may be more sluggish than usual. Although a fungal infection is different from fin rot, the treatment is similar. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

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Water exchange. The first step is to change the aquarium water. Of course you need to move the fish to another tank when changing the water. This disease usually develops in dirty water, so you need to provide clean water for the fish. ^{[24] X Research Source} You should also clean the tank before releasing the fish back into the tank. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

The best way to clean an aquarium is to use a 1:20 solution of bleach mixed with water. Leave the bleach mixture in the tank for an hour. You can soak fake plants in the solution, but do not soak rocks or gravel, as they may soak up the bleach. ^{[26] X Research Sources}
Remember to rinse the tank several times after cleaning with bleach.
For gravel in the aquarium, you should bake at 232 degrees Celsius for an hour. Let cool before placing back in the tank. ^{[27] X Research Source}

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Use medicine. You will treat your betta with tetracycline or ampicillin added to the water. The amount of medicine put into the tank depends on the size of the tank; Read the instructions on the package of the medicine. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

You also need to use a fungicide. This medicine will get rid of the fungus in the water. ^{[29] X Research Sources}
If only a fungal infection is present, the betta will not need tetracycline or ampicillin, but a fungicide. ^{[30] X Research Source}

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Repeat the treatment. Change the water at least every 3 days. Add medicine after each water change. Stop using the medicine only when you see that the fins appear to have grown back; This process can take a month. ^{[31] X Research Source}

With fungal infections, see if the white patches and other symptoms have disappeared. Then you can treat the tank with Bettazing or Bettamax to kill the fungus. ^{[32] X Research Source}

Velvet disease treatment

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Shine a flashlight at the fish. One way to observe velvet disease is to shine a light on the fish. Light will help you see the yellow sparkle or rust color on the fish scales caused by this disease. Betta fish will also show other symptoms, such as lethargy, loss of appetite and rubbing against the walls or decorations in the tank. The fish’s fins can also close to the body of the fish. ^{[33] X Research Sources}

This parasite can be prevented by adding aquarium salt and water softener to the tank periodically. ^{[34] X Research Source} Mix 1 teaspoon of salt per 10 liters of water. You can add 1 drop of water softener to every 4 liters of water, however, you should read the instructions on the package first. Only add salt when changing water, do not add medicine when adding water. ^{[35] X Research Source}

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Use Bettasing. This is the most effective medicine for velvet because it contains 2 active ingredients that fight the disease. Mix 12 drops per 4 liters of water. ^{[36] X Research Source}

You can also use a medicine called “Maracide”. ^{[37] X Research Source}
Continue treatment until fish no longer show symptoms.

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Treat the entire aquarium. Sick fish should still be isolated, but you should treat the whole aquarium. This disease is very contagious. ^{[38] X Research Source}

To isolate the sick fish, you must transfer it to another tank with clean water. Both tanks need to be treated.

Treatment of ich

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Notice the white spots all over the fish that look like salt. Ich is a parasite that causes spots on fish. You also need to watch out for sticky fins and lethargy. Fish may also refuse to eat. ^{[39] X Research Sources}

Like velvet, this parasite is preventable if you treat the water properly. ^{[40] X Research Source} Mix 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt per 10 liters of water. If using a water softener, you can use 1 drop per 4 liters of water, but you should also read the instructions on the package first. ^{[41] X Research Source}

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Try raising the water temperature to treat ich. If the aquarium is large, try increasing the temperature in the water to 29.5 degrees Celsius to kill the parasites. However, you can accidentally increase the temperature too high to kill the fish if the aquarium is small in size. ^{[42] X Research Source}

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Change the water and clean the fish tank. To treat ich, you should change the water. In addition, you will also need to clean the tank as described in the treatment for fin/tail rot and fungal infections. ^{[43] X Research Source} With a smaller tank, you can remove the fish to another tank, rinse the tank, and increase the temperature in the water to 29.5 degrees Celsius before releasing the fish back into the tank. ^{[44] X Research Source}

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Water treatment. Remember to add salt and water softener to the tank before releasing the fish back. This step will prevent the parasites from re-entering and attacking the fish. ^{[45] X Research Source}

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Use Aquarisp. Add 1 drop of this medicine to every 4 liters of water. It is advisable to continue taking the medicine every day until the fish gets better. The medicine will kill the parasites. ^{[46] X Research Source}

Without “Aquareisp”, you can use Bettazing as needed. ^{[47] X Research Sources}

Treatment of bulging eyes

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Notice the protrusion of the eyes in the fish. The main symptom of this disease is the bulging eyes of the fish. However, sometimes this phenomenon is a symptom of another disease. ^{[48]X Research Source}

For example, bulging eyes can be a sign of tuberculosis. ^{[49] X Research Source} If you have tuberculosis, usually the fish will not recover on its own. ^{[50] X Research Source}

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Change the water and wash the aquarium. With bulging eye disease in fish, you need to provide clean water for the fish as mentioned in the previous section. In addition, you also need to clean the tank. ^{[51] X Research Source}

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Use ampicillin. Ampicillin can cure this if it’s not a symptom of a more serious illness. You need to add medicine to the tank every time you change the water and wash the tank, do it for 3 days. Continue this regimen for a week after the symptoms are gone. ^{[52] X Research Source}

Advice

Humane euthanasia is also an option if you think the fish is suffering from pain. However, you need to make sure it’s not just a minor illness before doing this!
Don’t worry if the betta changes color. This phenomenon is known as marbling and is common in betta splendens. Color change is considered a sign of disease only when the color of the fish is lighter than the previous color (occurs suddenly at the same time, as opposed to the gradual color change in each area when the fish turns marble), for The fish is stressed, or when the fish’s tail is scuffed and the tip turns red or black due to fin rot.
Fin tearing can be caused by sharp rocks in the tank or plastic plants, so get rid of those. Keep the water in the tank warm and clean, the fish will recover on their own.
If the fish stays in one place all the time, it may have an infection. But do not rush to the store and buy medicine or fungicides in a hurry, you should make sure the fish is not bored, sad or hungry first, then think about buying medicine.

Warning

Some “symptoms” are not symptoms at all. The fish’s lethargic appearance may be due to cold water (no heater) and chipped/torn fins may be due to the fish preening or entangled with sharp objects. Do not rush to take medicine when only one symptom appears! Consider other clues as well.
Watch out for tuberculosis ( Mycobacterium marinum ). The disease is contagious, fatal, and can be spread to humans. ^{[53] X Source of study} Fish symptoms: Lethargy, protrusion, bone deformity/curvature of the spine. Symptoms in humans: enlarged and red cystic tumors, often found where bacteria have entered (eg, an open wound). If you think you have fish-borne tuberculosis, go to your doctor and make it clear that you have fish to help prevent a misdiagnosis.
Betta fish can suffer from other diseases that cannot be cured. For example, edema is a fatal disease that bettas can contract. When suffering from this disease, the fish’s belly will swell, and when viewed from above, you will see that the fish scales are not close to the body of the fish but raised. You cannot cure this disease on fish; However, you need to isolate the sick fish if you notice any signs of illness. ^{[54] X Research Source}

Steps