BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish Parasites Part 2

Okay it's been exactly eight days since I completly cleaned the tank very good. Washing everything down in HOT tap water and even letting it soak. The only thing that wasn't cleaned/treated was my fish. I didn't treat him with anything because I didn't see anything on him. Now I've got those things back! I don't know what it is. Can't find anything on the internet and the guy at the fish store didn't know, just said it sounded wierd.

Yesterday my fish looked sick. Stayed at the bottom and had white? around his gills but he ate voraciously. Just before I went to bed I checked on him. I was shocked with how he looked. His face which is normally dark, the bottom was drained of all color. I could see a little green iridesence from his scales I assume. He was also pretty bloated, the area where his side fins are. As I was watching him I saw him go up for air frequently and saw him alot of coughing/burping/choaking. Before I went to sleep I prayed for him.

This morning I checked on him and he was back to normal. Swimming around and eating normally. But this afternoon I noticed those little white bugs were back!

So for now I've taken him out of the tank and am treating the tank with copper that I got from the fish store. I'll give the tank two weeks to clean out, but in the meantime watch to see if the bugs get in the vase the fish is in.

What would I treat my Betta with? Should I just leave him in the tank while it's being treated? What else can I do?

I really wanted a cycled tank and this is going to set me back.

Patricia

Hmmm. I have once or twice heard about the little bugs and I'd really say just leave them. I believe they are okay and that they go away.

I think his being sick was constipation, which passed. Watch his food - don't overfeed!

Also, don't treat your betta with copper. Too strong and I don't think he needs it.

I just seem to remember something about the wigglies being harmless.

I'd say go ahead and cycle your tank.

Thanks!

I feed him 3 pellets of Betta food twice a day. Is that too much?

I feed mine half that, one pellet three times a day. Six might be pushing it a little.

if you feed him six pellets broken up in a day, that's prbably okay. don't fed him more and give him a once a week fast day to clear his system. if he is sensitive intestine-wise, you will have to half the amount like Elisea says. or maybe feed two pellets twice a day. you need to see what works for your betta; they are all individuals. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Okay, thanks!

Okay, I think I found it. The bugs are most likly copepods, which are tiny crustaceans. They apear to live on alegae and bacteria. I think I keep getting them because of the Cycle that I put in the water. It says on the bottle that you can't overdose so I've been putting it in liberally to help set up my new tank.

I did a big water change, but didn't clean out the whole tank. Then I got some Ghost Shrimp. Hopefully the shrimp will eat them, while the copepods keep my tank free from algae. I won't put in anymore Cycle and will probably have to do another water change if the shrimp don't keep up.

My Betta seems to get annoyed when there are to many. The tank gets so crowded with them.

Patricia