Betta Sick

Question
QUESTION: I've searched many internet sites for the disease my betta has but I've had no
such luck. For the last two weeks Jem has not been himself. He holds his long
pretty fins very close to his body and will not use them. Also he has not even
moved them since then, almost like he's paralyzed. He has a white spot under
his chin I never noticed before and his bright blue color has faded and is
turning gray. He does have some dusty colored spots on the clear fins near
his head. He still eats fine, I feed him two pellets a day and a bloodworm
because I do not want to overfeed him. He is in a 2.5 gallon tank with a filter
and his water temperature stays between 78 and 80 degrees. It doesn't seem
like he has Ick and I don't want to treat him unless I know for sure what it
is.I'm not sure how to fix him and any information you could give would be
very appreciated

ANSWER: Kate,

With everything you have said it sounds like Ich and Velvet. If when you look at him and he looks like he has been dusted with copper colored powder then it is definitely Velvet.

Velvet treatment: copper at 0.2 mg per liter (0.2 ppm) to be repeated once in a few days if necessary, or as per directions on the medicine. If not use correctly can lead to copper poisoning.

Ich treatment: This one takes a bit more time to do everyday. It takes Ich 14 days to complete its life cycle at 70 degree water. It only take 5 days if the water temp is 80 degrees. If your fish can handle it, I would turn the heater up to about 85 degrees. Do this slowly so you don't shock your fish. Then follow the directions on the Ich medicine bottle.

Salt water bath (dip): Get a container that can hold 1 gallon of water the same temp as the tank water. Add 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt that has been dissolved before adding your fish to that water. If you don't dissolve it first it can burn your fish. Let him swim in this water for 15 minutes, watching him closely the entire time he is in there. I want you to watch him in case he starts to have a problem, you can remove him from the salt water immediately. I would do this 2 times a day, but never in the same water. Always make fresh salt water every time you put him in. Some people say if you add aquarium salt to the tank, it helps prevent this problem.

When you up the heater, the oxygen level in the water goes down. Adding an air stone to his tank while treating him, puts back the much needed oxygen. Also, in that size of tank, he doesn't need a filter. When you treat with meds, and you have a filter, the carbon in the filter removes all the medication so that might be why he is not getting better. 25% water changes every week, along with a good water conditioner, will help reduce the chances of him getting Ich or Velvet.  After he is all cured, try to keep the heater at a steady 82 degrees. The temp fluctuation does more harm than good.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the great info! I flashed a light on his scales and I don't believe he has velvet. My description wasn't very accurate I'm afraid. There are spots on his clear fins near his head but they look gray almost like his fins are dirty. He has no other white spots on him like all the pictures I've seen of Ick. I started doing the salt baths and he seems to love it. I raised his temperature to 82 and bought an air stone for him but it was too powerful so I will be returning it and buying one that doesn't cause such big waves in the tank. I took the filter out also and he seems to like that so I will just have to change 25% of his water more often.
My question is, I looked at him from above while he was in his salt bath and his spine is crooked. This is definitely a recent thing and I was wondering what causes this? I looked up fish tuberculosis because a curved spine is a symptom but he lacks all of the other symptoms. I also saw a few pictures and his spine is no where near as bad, you can't tell his spine is curved from the side only from the top view. I'm just not sure what he could have and any advice would be most helpful.

thanks!

Answer
Kate,

Sometimes the bent spine will happen and we don't know why. Sometimes its due to poor water and/or food quality. There is really nothing you can do for that but watch him and make sure its not hurting him. Sometimes, when they get older, they will have this problem too. Us old guys, lol i am only 40 but feel older, just get ailments that comes with old age. I am glad he likes the salt baths, mine do too. 25% weekly water changes should do just fine for him, for that is how I do it. I have to changes 11 adult tanks every week and I think I too am growing gills. I doubt he has TB and i feel there is no need for any treatment for the spine. I am glad he seams to be doing better. If you use a pump that has air tubing attached, you can buy a 2 way splitter, for like 20 cents and add the air stone to that. It has a control valve on it so that you can set the air slower, but not too slow because he needs the oxygen that it brings to the water.