Healthy Betta Fish Illness and Cure Information
The most important part of raising a betta is making sure that he/she has the proper care and should they get sick, you have the ability to get them back on the “fins.” We hope to be able to provide you with that much needed and valued information.

Signs of a Healthy Fish
Swims Easily
Aware of Surroundings
Eats Regularly
Good Color
Full, Complete Finnage
Nice, Streamline Body

Signs of a Sick Fish
Struggles to Swim
Distracted/Uninterested
Eats Little or Nothing
Faded Color/Grayish
Fins Stringy/Clumped
Bloated/Underweight

Please be aware that certain symptoms can point to many different illnesses. Investigate your betta’s illness very carefully before medicating, as treating for the wrong illness can be especially stressful for the betta. Please note that all cures provided are not foolproof and HB is not responsible for the loss of your betta.

Listing of Fish Symptoms & Illnesses:

Water in Fishtank is Too Cold
Symptoms: Loss of color, clamped fins, lethargic. (Be aware these symptoms may also indicate further illness or inadequate water conditions, but adjusting temperature is the logical first step to try to eliminate the problem).
Fix: raise the temperature of your betta’s tank to 80 degrees Fahrenheit

Columnaris
Symptoms: Fuzzy, cotton-like substance attached to body (looks like fuzz or lint), clear or white stringy material hanging from the body, erosion of the gills, heavy breathing, pinholes appearing in fins. Usually effects the mouth or head region. Also may appear as yellowish, white, or greyish areas on the skin, often surrounded by redness.

Constipation
Symptoms: Abnormally swollen abdomen. All other activity is usually normal.
Fix: View our Constipation Article

Dropsy
Symptoms: Largely blown-up/swollen appearance, pine-coning of scales away from the body, loss of appetite, lethargic.
Fix: View our Dropsy Article

Egg Bound Female
Symptoms in Female Fish: swollen abdomen, trouble swimming, loss of appetite, lethargic.

External Parasites
Symptoms: Rapid darting, scratching against tank decorations, heavy breathing, possible physical indication of parasites, clamped fins.

Fin & Tail Rot
Symptoms: Black tips, holes, or tears in fins that appear to be getting worse. Redness or bleeding of fins may occur in severe cases.
Fix: View our Fin & Tail Rot Article

(True) Fungus
Symptoms: Gray or white slimey looking material on the skin, may eventually turn into cottony-looking growth (distinct hair-like filaments).

Gill Disease
Symptoms: Swollen and/or discolored gills, erosion of gills, heavy mucus production in the gill area.

Ich
Symptoms: Looks as though fish has been sprinkled with white grains of salt, rapid darting, scratching against tank decorations, heavy breathing, loss of appetite, clamped fins, lethargic.
Fix: View our Ich Article

Internal Parasites
Symptoms: Weight loss for no reason, white or stringy feces.
Fix: View our Internal Parasites Article

Poisoning
Symptoms: Heavy breathing, rapid darting, try to jump out of tank, discoloration of gills, red streaking of body, loss of appetite, lethargic.
Fix: Immediately determine quality of water in tank. Did a chemical get in the tank? Did you forget to add water conditioner? Remove fish and place in bottled spring water with water conditioner at proper temperature until tank water is determined safe.

Popeye
Symptoms: Cloudy, protruding eye(s), large bubble covering eye area.

Septicemia
Symptoms: Bleeding or red streaks along the body or fins.

Slime Disease
Symptoms: Excessive slime coat mucus production, white stringy strands hang off of body.

Swim Bladder Disorder
Symptoms: Swollen abdomen, difficulty swimming upright, floating sideways at the top or hovering along the bottom of the tank.
Fix: View our Swim Bladder Disorder Article

Tuberculosis
Symptoms: Swelling and scale protrusion, unexplained weight loss, skeletal deformity, skin defects, loss of scales, skin discoloration, eye protrusion, fin rot, loss of appetite, clamped fins, lethargic. This illness is rare.

Please note: Humans are susceptible to this illness. Please handle fish items with care, wear clean gloves, and wash hands thoroughly if you suspect your fish may have TB.

Tumor
Symptoms: Abnormal lump or growth on the body, growing in size.

Velvet
Symptoms: Looks as though fish has been sprinkled with a gold dusting, rapid darting, scratching against tank decorations, heavy breathing, loss of appetite, loss of color, clamped fins, lethargic.
Fix: View our Velvet Article

View Healthy Betta’s Aquarium & Fish Medication Dosing Made Easy for simple 1-gallon fish tank medicine doses.

Related posts:

  1. Betta Care: Stress & Illness
  2. Fish Velvet
  3. Fish Ich (or Ick)
  4. General Steps for Illness Prevention
  5. Fish Fungus