Betta with TB?

Question
QUESTION: 2 year old male betta sick approx. 2weeks. Lays on bottom of tank on side with head pointing upwards. Very hard for him to swim. Spine looks crooked but straightens when swimming somewhat. Eyes somewhat "popped' out. Has no other outward symptoms. Has been only fish in his tank for 1 year, with the exception of adding 2 snails from my outdoor pond for algae cleaning. Have him in sick tank with heat @ 80* with salt. Normal temp for him. Tried Melafix..no response to it.Scales are kinda raised in "pine-cone" shape.but not bloated. He's kinds sunken in.

ANSWER: Hi Pigtails,
The symptoms you describe sounds like he has Swim Bladder Disease.  Swim Bladder is usually caused by constipation, and poor diet. Bettas should have a varied diet.  Pellets one day, Betta Flakes the next, dry daphnia, and blood worms should be given once a week.  They should also have a well cooked frozen pea once a week.  You cook a frozen pea until it is cooked, and tender.  Remove the outer skin, and cut it into small pieces.  You then feed it to your betta one piece at a time making sure he eats it.  The day he has the pea, he should not have anything more to eat.   This cleans out his system.  Water changes are very important too.  His water should be changed every week, and more depending on the size of his living space.
It could also be Popeye.  Popeye is usually caused by poor water conditions.
Swim Bladder or Popeye are curable if caught in time.  If your Pet Store has it, buy Kanamycin.  This is a good antibiotic for Swim Bladder disease, and for Popeye.  If you cannot find Kanamycin, buy tetracycline, or Furan2.  Follow the recommended dose.  This should help him.  Bettas are quite tough, but you must make sure that they are no nitrates or ammonia in his water before treating, and always keep his water free from these.  Ammonia is the number one killer of fish.
Hope this helps, and that he pulls through.  Good Luck
Lynda

I just want to add that the symptoms for TB are loss of scales, loss of coulour, lesions on the body, and wasting.  The Betta would be very thin, and deformed.
If TB is diagnosed, and you are sure it is TB, it is better to euthanize him along with all the other fish that came in contact with him.  Treating him would be long and painful for him, and you probably wouldn't save him.  He also would have curved spines.  If the symptoms I have described you for TB are what you suspect, it would be better to take him out of his misery.  Be very careful too, wash your hands everytime you come in contact with the water.
Just thought that I would add this, just incase.
If I saw the fish, I would know right away....but from what you wrote, it could be Swim Bladder.
Lynda

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Sparkle #3   QUESTION: Hi Lynda,
I took several pics, hope they are good enough. Here's my private email () for more pics if you want them. I didn't know how to upload more than one at a time.
"Sparkle" seems to be "thinning" but is still brightly colored & has no lesions. I fed him pieces of pea tonight, but he's not eating. He is pooping, don't know if that matters or not. His eyes are popping out quite a bit. I put some melafix in his tank. If it were TB, how could he have caught it? He's been the only fish inhis tank for 1 year. I added 2 snails to clean up tank a couple months ago.
Thank You!
pigtails

ANSWER: Hi!
Looking at this picture, your betta has all his colours, but looks thin.  When treating a Betta with Malafix, never give the recommended dose.  I have a feeling that it is the Malafix that is making him more sick.  Change all the water completely, and add a good conditioner.  Stop all treatment with Malafix.  This medication is not helping him right now, and is making him worse.  Add one teaspoon of aquarium salt to his tank.   Let him rest in normal water...no medication.  This doesn't look like TB or Swim Bladder...at least from what I can see on this picture.  They erased your e-mail addy so I cannot write to you to see more pictures.  
Does he have a silk plant to rest on?   Malafix is a good medication, but not for all diseases.  When used with Bettas, we must be very careful as this medication is too strong for the Betta.
Don't feed him the pea if he is pooping.  It could be Popeye, but remove all the Malafix and put him in clean water. He will probably need a good antibiotic.
It is hard to know how TB gets in an aquarium.  It usually comes in with wild caught Bettas, but they can get it too when bred.  The snails might have brought disease into the tank.  I never put snails in a tank, especially if they were in a pond.
 See how he reacts in normal water, and the write back to me please.  I really hope we can do something that will help him.
Lynda


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QUESTION: Hello Again Lynda,
If Sparkle does indeed have fish TB...do I need to dispose of everything he & his tank water has come into contact with? Heater, plants gravel etc.?? If it is TB how long will it take before his demise? Will he definately get lesions with TB?? I've read all kinds of theories on this disease & don't know which to believe. Some say the same, some do not. He's still acting the same.
Thanks Again!
pigtails

Answer
Hi Pigtails,
If your Betta has TB these are the symptoms you should be looking for:
He will lose his appetite
Loss of weight
He will have folded fins
Eye protrusion
His body will be deformed
He will stay near the surface of the water
Skin defects, blood spots, open wounds
Scales will loosen, and fall off
General swelling will occur.
He will have lots of waste.

The time it takes to develop these symptoms depends on the general health of the Betta.  
Since we are not sure, and it is impossible to say right now that he does have TB, try treating him with a good antibiotic as soon as possible.  As a precaution use gloves when in contact with the water.  If after the treatment, he is not better, then it would be better to put him out of his misery.
If he has TB you will have to disinfect everything.  Wash you aquarium with javex, gravel, etc.  Throw away your filter material.  
It is very rare that humans contact this disease, but be careful.
In curing a Betta for whatever disease they have, one must act quickly.  
I hope it isn't TB, but don't take chances.  It is very hard to diagnose TB as many of the symptoms resemble other diseases.
Hope this helps, and that you will be able to save him.  I know only to well how attached we get to our Bettas.
Lynda