White cottony stuff

AndiH

Large Fish
Sep 17, 2009
104
0
0
The Iron Range of Minnesota
#1
My betta has a white, somewhat raised, cottony-looking material on his head. There is a similar patch behind his lower jaw. I switched him to the 1g tank after a salt water bath with some salt in the water in the 1g as well.

My tank is 14g. I tested parameters earlier today and ammonia was 0.1, nitrite 0, nitrate 0. Ph was 8.0. The tank has been up and running for roughly 2 weeks in this reincarnation though I changed the substrate yesterday from gravel to sand. I have 4 cories in the tank as well (which is why I changed to sand).

I'm trying to get pictures, but I'm having absolutely no luck with the camera available.
 

Last edited:
Feb 27, 2009
4,395
0
36
#3
My betta has a white, somewhat raised, cottony-looking material on his head. There is a similar patch behind his lower jaw. I switched him to the 1g tank after a salt water bath with some salt in the water in the 1g as well.

My tank is 14g. I tested parameters earlier today and ammonia was 0.1, nitrite 0, nitrate 0. Ph was 8.0. The tank has been up and running for roughly 2 weeks in this reincarnation though I changed the substrate yesterday from gravel to sand. I have 4 cories in the tank as well (which is why I changed to sand).

I'm trying to get pictures, but I'm having absolutely no luck with the camera available.
This website may be helpful to diagnose and treat the fish's issue:
Tropical Fish Disease Identification with pictures and cures.

From your description, it may be body fungus.

Best of luck to you and your betta.
 

AndiH

Large Fish
Sep 17, 2009
104
0
0
The Iron Range of Minnesota
#4
Well the patch on top of his head is gone, but he now has a patch just behind his pectorals. I'm still doing the salt water baths (thankfully I had water treated since the well pump failed this morning!!). Hopefully he can/will last until I can get to a shop .. which is who knows when with the water situation :(
 

AndiH

Large Fish
Sep 17, 2009
104
0
0
The Iron Range of Minnesota
#5
Hrmm I looked at the link (thanks for it Orange :) but it doesn't seem to quite fit anything. It looks like the fin fungus except its not on the fins. It isnt as overwhelming as the pictures of columnaris or body fungus but maybe thats because I caught it early. I'll keep up what Im doing currently and hope.
 

AndiH

Large Fish
Sep 17, 2009
104
0
0
The Iron Range of Minnesota
#7
More fuzz, this time on his anal fin's leading edge, but Im not seeing the spot on his jaw as much. Maybe I just need my eyes rechecked?

I'm gonna be able to get some meds tomorrow (unless water messes up again lol) so I know I should get some of that Jungle antifungal. My main concern atm is a couple days ago I had posted in Betta Care that his head was turning brown/rusty black and had wondered if it was a color change coming on. Now Im wondering if it wasn't something else that I should be taking care of. I still dont have a decent pic :(
 

AndiH

Large Fish
Sep 17, 2009
104
0
0
The Iron Range of Minnesota
#8
Okay, I figured out he has some sort of fungus. I have a new question now, which med to give him? I went and got some meds today and all say they're good for fungus, just about all were recommended on some webpage or another, so I'm looking for some practical experience. What I have on hand to use are Melafix, Pimafix, Jungle Clear, and an Ich solution containining malachite green.