BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish Scum on Water - Fish Sick

I am ready to give up on Bettas. I do everything I read that is supposed to give me healthy, happy fish, but they keep dying on me!

There is a fairly thick scum on top of the water in my 1 1/2 gal. tank. When I skim it off, there are some white thread looking particles along with the scum and water. I took out the filter holder thinking maybe it needed a more thorough cleaning and the tube replaced. I have been skimming the tank and adding fresh water about every other day.

I can't see any fin problem nor white spots, but the Betta has clumped fins and is hanging out at either the top or bottom of the tank. The appetite is still good.

Can anyone tell me what might be going on and what to do?

Thanks! Edna

Last night, I removed the gravel and the plastic plant, cleaned the tank & filled it with clean water that I brought to the same temp as the old. I removed the heater, cleaned it, put it back in the tank. I left out the gravel, the plant, and the filter.

I did not feed the fish last night or today. There has been no poop last night or today so I fear he is constipated. I tried to get him to eat some green pea, but no go. He comes up to the top when I approach the tank like he's wanting to be fed so I presume he would eat if I did not have him on a fast.

In the past, somewhere, I have read to use Epsom Salt for constipation. Does anyone here recommend it?

Also, I am now seeing white under his mouth. It seems to be quite a bit of white and I don't recall seeing it before.

The water is also starting to get the heavy film on it, but the fish has been blowing quite a few bubbles over in one corner.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Dear Edna Mae,

I am very sorry about your sick fishy.

It sounds like it could be a bacterial infection or body fungus that you would treat with Maracyn medication for fish that you get at the aquarium store or fish department of a pet store.

Yes, salt, but not Epsom salt - there is much discussion over this - but, the correct answer is the aquarium salt you buy in an aquarium store or the fish department of a pet store. This is a good remedy because it is not as harsh on your fish as medications and it has the possibility of curing various ills. This should be done in a separate hospital tank.

There is also Epsom salt for constipation, like you said, though - that involves putting 1 Tablespoon of of epsom salts into a gallon of water and putting your fish in for 15 minutes and watch to see if he gets unconstipated - that is, if you see him poop. You can do this up to 2 times a day, but it's easier on your fish if you can get him to eat the pea as I explain it below:

Yes, you are right about the pea - it has to be cooked, peeled, cooled and fed in tiny, tiny pieces for him to safely eat it.

I hope he gets better soon. Constipation can be serious - sometimes caused by eating all the same kind of food with no variety and especially those freeze-dried bloodworms they usually like so much if they eat too many of them. Clean water is usually the key, though - and it has to be kept at an even, warm temperature and a water test kit is a good idea, too.

Mary