Beta is dying!!

Question
QUESTION: My beta is dying. I don't know what to do. He has not eaten in about 3 weeks. I even went to the vet yesterday to see if he would euthanize him. He said that he would inject his head...not what I was expecting. Then, someone on the internet said never give up on a Beta (and he just won't die).

It started with a white spot on the top back of his head (about 4 months ago). I guess I didn't act quickly enough. It is coming out of one of his scales. It looked like a cropped fungus, but there was only one spot I could see. It got larger and then was the shape of a scale, more oblong.

About a month ago, I tried Pimafix...didn't work. Someone on the internet said it would affect Beta's breathing, so I stopped. Within the past 2 weeks,  put him in a 2.5 gal bowl with mini heater, mini underwater filter, his apartment (a tiki head that he loves to live in), and a plastic plant. I have tried API liquid fungus cure twice for about 3 days (made him very sick), and Jungle parasite clear (fizzy tablets).

Last night, I saw on the internet that it may be columnaris, but whatever it is, it didn't act quickly. Last night, I added erythomycin in proper dose. I also added this to my 36 gal tank, and another 16 gal tank as well,  (where I have put a single minnow that has some white glob by his fin).  

I love my Beta because of his personality. He used to be in my 36 gal tank where I have 2 blue ram angels, 5 otos, now 3 minnows, and a zebra snail. His name is Mr. In Charge because he was in charge of the tank. He was gentle for a male beta. At least, he only chased the fish when he thought it wasn't looking. He is very hardy and really wants to live.


Please help!

Carol

ANSWER: Hi Carol,
Since your 2.5 gallon bowl didn't have time to cycle, unless you used water from your 36 gallon tank, I would first check for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.  It is very important that your ammonia level is zero, nitrites zero, and your nitrates should be low.  You can have these checked at your pet store.  If your water chemistry is off, I would do complete water changes every 3 days using stress coat.  Medicate him with "Korden Ick Attack".   This medication is organic, and will not harm your betta.  It also cures fungus, protozoans, and dinoflagellates.  It is like getting 4 medications in one bottle.
If you see that he is still suffering after you have tried this medication, it would be best to put him out of his misery.  The best way to do this is:

http://thegab.org/Articles/Euthanasia.html

I hope it doesn't come to this, and that he will recover.  I know how attached we are to our bettas.
Lynda




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

QUESTION: Followup:  I took the water from the original 36 gal tank. The ammonia was OK, but when I used API liquid fungus cure, the ammonia levels increased to 0.5 ppm. I am changing 25% of water daily.

Right now, I am using maracyn and maracyn-two, plus parasite clear. I am dipping him in methylene blue twice a day. That is what some other sites on the internet said to do.  I looked at the lesion on the back of his head with a magnifying glass and it does not look like fungus. possibly either parasite or bacteria, I think. It is smooth, comming directly out of his scales, only one location.

He never scratched, is lethargic, jjust stays near the surface to breathe, and is not eating or moving much. I did not by the ICK treatment because it is not that, according to the disease charts.

Ammonia right now is at 0.5 ppm, probably because of all the medication. I will change a little water with that from my big clean tank. Whatever I do has to be drastic because it is internal. I did study all the internet regarding euthanasia for fish before I contacted you. All, including clove oil seemed inhumane to me. I decided that the only humane way was to use buffered tricane methanesulfonate. At least this would put the fish to sleep. However, ordinary people do not have access to this. That is why I went to the vet. Thanks for your help. The real problem is diagnosis.

Answer
Hi Carol,
If your betta has internal parasites, your betta would be eating normally, but he would be very skinny.  Internal parasites come from live food such as live worms.  It is very very rare to have to deal with internal parasites.  If you suspect internal parasites, try Betta Zinc, but I really do not think this is the problem.  It is quite impossible for me to diagnose what is wrong with your pet.  
A betta may get a bacterial infection for many reasons, even stress can trigger a bacterial infection.  Bettas may develope open sores, even hote-in-the-head disease.  I would try a good antibiotic such as Tetracycline or Ampicillin.  If you can find "Kanamycin" this would also be a very good antibiotic.  Follow the directions on the package, be careful not to overdose, and keep him in the medication until you see that he is cured.
Maracyn, and Maracyn-2 will not help him, you will have to find him a good antibiotic.  
I hope this will help, and that he will pull through.
Lynda