Black spots = Betta pattern?

Jun 15, 2006
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Okay, so about three weeks ago I rescued three male bettas from a petsmart and since then I have been finding more and more problems with my fishies. I have two crowntails and a veiltail. My red crowntail (Draco) has pretty bad fin rot, and I began treating him with bettafix, only to see no improvement after the initial 7 day treatment window. I forgot petsmart and went to a family owned pet shop where the owner sort of specializes in fish and has 25 yrs of experience YAY! He recommended using ampicillin for him, which I've since started and three days later I already see improvement. Just before I began the ampicillin treatment I noticed a very slight thinning and a hole in my veiltail's (Ilarius's) tail fin. Itook a look at my other crowntail (Nightshade) and noticed he had some slight curling in his fins as well (the first symptoms I noticed in Draco). So, I started all of them on ampicillin. YAY, everyone looks like they're doing better.

HOWEVER.......(after all, why be in the disease forum if everyone is healthy and happy?)

Nightshade, who is black bodied with green and blue fins is now covered in black spots. He originally had some perfect black spots that were placed on his bottom fin on the membrane between his spines, they went in nice neat little lines and so I assumed that it was part of his patterning. NOW, the spots are appearing on his dorsal fin and they are much smaller, have no clear pattern (are randomly places all over), are very numerous, and in some cases are small lines instead of actual dots. I've read a lot about Black ich/ Black Spot Disease and I think that my little guy has it, but I took it to the little pet store and they don't think he has it, they merely think because he is doing better, he is showing his true pattern (his color is returning).

So....should I listen to 25 yrs experience and just finish the ampicillin and call it a day

Or....should I listen to my gut and treat my lovely animated little babies before it's too late?

PS, I also heard that Black Spot Disease does not exhibit such numerous spots?