Betta w/ circles on tail

Question
Remember me?  My betta had what I called 'circles' on his tail?  Well, I'm still trying to care for him. I almost narrowed it down to a fungal infection and have treated the tank for such.  Anyway, he still has the wierd things on his tail and the blood spot on his gill.  I want to try my new description and see if that helps you diagnose our problem?  okay, you know how betta tails are long and fan-like?  Well, at the very tip of his tail, it looks as if some of his tail has fused together and the "circles" (actually look like 2 spades on the tip of his tail) are at the VERY end of his tail.  They are still there.  Sometimes they seperate from the rest of the tail and stand up straight.  Well, get this . . .last night one of the 'spade shapes' turned into a big bubble on the end.  It stayed like that for a few hours and then settled down and flattened out again.  Does that help you make a diagnosis?  i have searched every possible site online and have turned up nothing.  

Answer
Hi Marie,

This is not something I have personally experienced. You know how they say "a picture is worth 1,000 words" - well, how about a pic? Have you a digital camera? If so, you can e-mail me a picture at platytudes@gmail.com - I'll probably be online for another hour or so.

I did find something on the web that matches your description, although I am suspect that the fungus you spoke of (which may actually be Columnaris, let's hope not) the other day is all one illness, with these ulcers manifesting themselves as a symptom rather than a separate ailment.

Look here, for a pic that is similar to what you described:
http://www.aquariumfish.net/information/signs_of_stress_and_disease_p2.htm

You can click on their separate links and read what they have to say, although I suggest you take the advice with a grain of salt. I personally would never recommend treating with Quick Cure unless you have a definite diagnosis. Malachite Green and Formalin are known carcinogens. Deadly toxic stuff! It is very efficacious against protozoal outbreaks such as ich primarily. You could try it, but I would definitely not use it full strength and I wouldn't mix it with whatever other medications you may be adminstering, if you are... if you don't have any other course of treatment going at the moment, you may wish to pick up some Quick Cure and use it at a half dose, every other day, once a day for 6 days. That and aquarium salt at the concentration I previously mentioned (uh, whatever it was!)

Do try and keep your betta warm. Sick bettas really like their temperature to be in the high 70s to low 80s. Keep up those daily water changes as well, of course.

Goodbye for now, Marie, have a nice weekend if I don't hear from you again.

Nicole

P.S. Do you Google? It's really the best search engine out there...hands down. I worked with librarians for 4 years, these ladies and gents went to college for 12 years and they all universally agree, that for adults performing general searches, Google is IT. I can give you some search tips if you'd like, it wasn't hard for me to locate that pic... :)