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Post by 1mysterygirl on Jul 14, 2020 22:20:31 GMT -5
Trying to help a friend treat a betta. He developed symptoms I haven't seen before and though we're 3 days into a treatment plan and have been seeing improvement, we'd love to know if you can ID the problem and help with next steps. 1st pic is before treatment. At first a spot above his upper lip looked pink as if skinned. From that, a larger area started looking raised and lumpy with swelling into the right eye. There seemed to be fluid shifting about causing areas and the eye to go up or down through the day, and causing the bubbling you see in the pic. I was guessing bacterial and have had good luck with Kanamycin + salt with Popeye, so we got him into a 3g QT tank with fresh treated water + .6tsp/gal salt, started with Kanaplex, and 2 baths/day with that water plus 1/4 tsp/gal epsom salts.
2nd pic is 1.5 days after starting treatment.
You can see a lot of improvement already and he's been more active/perky. 3rd, 4th pics are 3 days after starting treatment. Swelling has stayed down, but still lumpy overall + concerned about skin 'pulled back below the eye.. almost looks like skin is separated away underneath.
He's got one dose of Kanaplex to go tomorrow (for 3 total), so we need to plan next steps. I realize he could have more salt, not sure if that would help 'more' so waiting for your input. Thanks so much for any help with this.
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Post by Carl on Jul 19, 2020 10:25:25 GMT -5
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Jul 21, 2020 10:47:50 GMT -5
I think it would be a good idea to get a complete parameter check, including GH and KH.
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Post by 1mysterygirl on Jul 21, 2020 18:09:32 GMT -5
Thank you so much Carl and Devon for your responses! All I can tell you re: age is that he was bought in February and 'appeared mature', so we understand he could be an older fish.. but we have to try, right GH 9 and KH 5; using a little Replenish to help with it UPDATE: He finished the 1 round of Kanaplex (3 doses). and was improved per the pics sent. Being cautious about overdoing, we've held off and continued only with salt in-tank and Epsom Salt baths.. for the last 4 days 'to see' before dosing more.. Pics today show he's relapsed with more blistering on the face starting up, plus his eye has changed. It actually appeared red inside...bloody? a few days ago, now looks like there's an opaque coating that looks like his scale colour/sheen, so this is puzzling. Given your suggested treatment and reading, I'm gathering that you're thinking this is Columnaris? I'm so surprised because I've never seen or read about these symptoms and they don't match anything I've read or seen with Columnaris... just to say very interested if you could elaborate a bit on this? We're going to go ahead with: Doses of (combined) Kanamycin + Nitrofurazone (Furan-2) with the basic .6 tsp per gallon salt in-tank, + 2 baths daily with the medicated water adding Meth Blue @ double strength (2 drops per 2 cup bath), plus swab MB after each bath. We'll withhold the epsom salts. Here's pics from today. Thanks again guys and for any other info or thoughts you may have for us.
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Post by Carl on Jul 23, 2020 12:18:43 GMT -5
I actually was not assuming Columnaris, as a diagnosis, but since you used Kanamycin with only partial results, this furthered my assumption. Generally Nitrofurazone is needed in the proper combination with Kanamycin to be effective (which can be difficult with Furan 2 due to different dosing schedules). The article I sent also included Fungus diseases, which treatment would be different I would need an extreme close up to know for sure as per the article. This also may be a viral infection as these growths can be caused by viral pathogens. For baths, you would also want to use NaCl along with Epsom salts and would be even better along with BettaMax used in place of MB. However if Viral, the use of Usnea in thebath might help more (antibiotics would be useless) For swabbing, especially if MB is NOT staining, you would be better off with Merbromin (AAP Wound Control) Further as to proper fish baths: www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2009/07/fish-baths.htmlResources: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquatronics.html
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Post by 1mysterygirl on Jul 30, 2020 15:18:01 GMT -5
Thanks again Carl!
I haven't had an update for a few days but since your reply treatment continued with the Kanamycin and Nitrofurazone as above and Epsom Salts were resumed in the baths.
The MB WAS staining apparently at the edges of the disrupted area (blistered), so that has been continued. If fungal, it's certainly NOT saprolegnia. Not 'matter' growing whatsoever, just the blistered appearance with fluid under neath as mentioned earlier.
The area did flatten out quickly again once treatment resumed with the 2 meds.. an order was placed with you for additional Furan 2.. also the bloody appearance of the eye improved but the eye now is covered with what looks like a layer of the fish's outer colouring i.e. bluish + white and iridescent (actually both eyes).
I will pass on an update when I get one and try to post pics, if only to close off this thread for everyone's information.
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