White spot

[Rooivlerkie]

One of my bettas has white spot.
When i saw this i did a water change and make the temp. higher.
He is very active. he is swimming normal and eats. He even started a bubble nest.
He is in a 46 cm tank. Should I be worried. What else can I do to get rid of these pests.

[Reedfish]

I would use some sort of treatment.
Not sure if you can get it in SA, but there is a product called Esha 2000 which works really well.

[Firefly]

You really need to sort out your water qualities. 3rd fish in a month that has a disease.
Sorry for ranting.

[Rooivlerkie]

I bought this fish from a petshop. mabe he did get the disease there.

Will he heal? I will do water changes every second day.
The only treatment I have is Aquadene general treatment.

[ernstb]

I don't really know much about treating Bettas... but search the forum. This topic has been discussed at great length

[Skye01]

Hi Rooivlerkie,

I swear by Sera products. There is a broad spectrum/general tonic called Omnipur that works really well for all sorts of things. There is also Mycopur which treats fungal infections, skin and gill flukes, Costapur which treats Ich (White Spot) and other parasites and Baktopur which treats mouth and fin rot and bacterial infections. They also have Ectopur water care which assists the above treatments against ectoparasites and fungi. It can also be used as a replacement for salt and it contains oxygen releasing salts which also help with boosting the water parameters which assist not only in keeping your fish healthy and keeping some diseases at bay, but also assisting in the promotion of healthy plant growth.

HTH, just my 2c worth.
Kim

[Rooivlerkie]

My betta has build a huge bubble nest even now that he has white spot!
He look very happy.
Could I add salt to the water? Would it help?
Anything else?
Skye01 thanks for the help

[Skye01]

Rooivlerkie You should be putting salt into the aquarium anyway the dosage is usually 5ml to 50lt this helps in coating the fish's body and fins, it also helps with something else in the water for the fish (can't remember). Remember that white spote can only be killed when they are in the "free swimming" stage and not really when they are attached to the host, so you must keep up the treatment as advised and remember to do water changes too.

Fish seem to be almost like birds, they only seem to show the signs when it's really too late, but it sounds like your betta is doing well, but keep an eye on him anyway. White spot does not go away on it's own, in fact it gets worse if left untreated which leads to his death :bawling: and if there are other fish in the aquarium with him they too will be infected.

Remember as well that it is usuall started by stress, which can also be caused by problems with the water... HTH

[Dirk Bellstedt]

Hi Guys,

A few quick comments: the ich would have come with the fish and from the petshop it was bought from, go and complain to the owner of the LFS, he has sold you his problem and now he expects you to buy expensive medication from him, this is a cheek, he should give you the meds for free in actual fact.

Skye, it is NOT necessary to add salt to all water that fish are kept in and this story that it helps in coating the fishes body and fins is bs (and I don't mean brineshrimp) complete and utter nonsense.

Your comment that Ich can only be killed if in the freeswimming phase is also not correct. Medications such as Protozin actually kill the parasites in the spots.

You must treat these fishes or else the fish will die, it does not matter that it has laid eggs and looks healthy, it will be overrun by the ich and then die, the sooner you start treatment the better. Ich is also highly infectious to fry and will kill then within 36 hours after hatching.

Let me tell you about another little trick. Ich is a flagellate organism and there are flagellates that infect discus (I am not talking about ich here though). Metranidazole is used for the treatment of flagellates in discus and it will also kill Ich very effectively, few people know this. Use it at a dose of 7 mg/litre for three days, do a water change and repeat the dosage, and then perhaps repeat the treatment a third time if you have the feeling that the fishes have not fully recovered. Metranidazole can be bought as a generic from all pharmacies, trade names such as Flagyl and a few others are used, the stuff is cheap and far more effective than the meds from the petshop. This is also one of the safest medications to use and does not harm to the fishes or to the biological filtration.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[Firefly]

Let me tell you about another little trick. Ich is a flagellate organism and there are flagellates that infect discus (I am not talking about ich here though). Metranidazole is used for the treatment of flagellates in discus and it will also kill Ich very effectively, few people know this. Use it at a dose of 7 mg/litre for three days, do a water change and repeat the dosage, and then perhaps repeat the treatment a third time if you have the feeling that the fishes have not fully recovered. Metranidazole can be bought as a generic from all pharmacies, trade names such as Flagyl and a few others are used, the stuff is cheap and far more effective than the meds from the petshop. This is also one of the safest medications to use and does not harm to the fishes or to the biological filtration.

Thanks for this advice Prof. Never liked using the products LPS's sell me because I'm worried it will affect filter etc.
Sorry for hi-jack.

[Rooivlerkie]

Hi Dirk Bellstedt
I have read through the old post and saw that cure you have told me now.
I will try it. Will bought it tommorow and treat the fish. Thanks for the advise.
I really hope the fishie heal.

[Rooivlerkie]

Hi @ Dirk Besllstedt
How do I measure 7 mg?

[Rooivlerkie]

The tank is 12 L.
Hou much of a pill should I use?
Thanks

[Dirk Bellstedt]

Rooivlerkie,

you must use your imagination a little for the 7 mg......

Let us see, you need 12 x 7 = 84 mg of metronidazole. So, you can buy 100mg or 200 mg tablets. So, use a 100 mg tab or half of a 200 mg tab. A slight overdose with this med is not a problem (not to be done with other meds, please DO NOT TAKE THIS AS A GENERAL RULE).

Take the tab and squash it to a fine powder between two tablespoons then throw it into a mug, poor some cold water on it and swirl strongly with a teaspoon. All will not dissolve, but add this whole lot to the tank and it will take about an hour and then all will dissolve, don't worry about this. It also does not damage the plants.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[Rooivlerkie]

Thanks Dirk Bellstedt
Should I crush a tablet and mix it with water every day or only every 3rd day?
Thanks

[Dirk Bellstedt]

Every third day

[Rooivlerkie]

Thanks

[Rooivlerkie]

OK I have got the tablets. It was 200 mg. Cut it in half and done exatcly what you say. I hope it works

[Rooivlerkie]

My betta looks very healthy. Still blowing bubbles.
I think there are less white dots. He is still very activeand I did never saw him sratching on things Hope it is a good sign

[Dirk Bellstedt]

Hi Rv,

Glad to hear this. I would suggest that you do treat again after three days though, I want to make sure that you stop this thing properly. Keep us updated.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[Rooivlerkie]

I will treat him again after 3 days is over.
Thanks for all the help from every one.

[Rooivlerkie]

Day 3
I have treat him again. If there are any spots left then those are little ones. He looks much better. The spots on his is gone.
Thanks for all the help.

[Rooivlerkie]

Treatment was succesful:bigsmile: (javascript:void(0))

[Rooivlerkie]

I don`t see any white spots anymore and now I want to breed him. How long must I wait?

[Rooivlerkie]

My male is so funny
He flares at my finger!

[Dirk Bellstedt]

Hi Rooivlerkie,

I am glad to hear that he is better. Please let us know what this treatment has now cost you, because I want folks to realize how much cheaper it is to do it in this way than to buy a normal LPS medication.

Secondly, you must just be a little patient with him and keep him in this treatment tank for another week before you add any fishes to the tank and before you move him into another tank. You need to make quite sure that the parasites are dead and not infective any more. However, you do not need to repeat the treatment again as we see this improvement.

Finally, say "Dankie Dirk"!

Kind regards,

Dirk

[Rooivlerkie]

Hi there Dirk Bellstedt
THe treament cost me nothing. The person gave 3 to us for free.If you really want to I can try and find out what it would cost.
Just want to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

[Rooivlerkie]

My male has started a cute little bubble nest.
I think he is ready to breed.
I think the white spot are gone

[zipaxuys]

Hey All,

Noticed a few of my Pretty Tetras have whitespot, I just got them on Tuesday from the lfs, so went and
got Metro...... and have done the first dose today, for those wanting to know how much it is it was dirt cheap!
R17.55 for 20 x 400mg tablets, will keep you updated on the results

[zipaxuys]

Just looked at the label on the box ha ha ha

11735

[cools32]

Just wanted to say 'DANKI DIRK' for posting this 'little gem' of advice and information on the treatment of this parasite.

Not previously read of this 'Metranidazole', but it certainly sounds like a very good treatment.

Unfortunately, when trying to source this in the UK today, I have twice been told that it is 'prescription only' at UK Pharmacies :-( .

I was intending to use it on two recent additions, that have White Spot. They came from one of the UK's leading hobbyist breeders, which I think goes to show this parasite doesn't just occur in Newbies tanks, or in tanks with poor water conditions.

I have had my temperature at 32C for over a week, and have been feeding daily with Garlic Enriched Brine Shrimp. The Parasite has not spread to any other fish in the same aquarium (yes my BIG mistake I didn't quarantine, and trusted that they would be fine coming from an established breeder, but never again), which I have been checking several times daily. However, the two infected fish show no signs of improvement (in the past I have found raising the temp for 14 days has killed off this parasite) but still retain their appetite. I now have to do something else, and whilst I don't like adding chemicals / treatments, with Metranidazole unavailable to me, I have purchased an NT Labs treatment, that is indicated to be safe for biological filters, plants and 'ALL' fish.

The treatment indicated by Dr. Dirk Bellstedt sounds like VERY GOOD advice, and I will somehow try and source some Metranidazole as a stand by, for any future problems I encounter with 'Ich'. Another item I intend to purchase, is a UV Steriliser, again for stand by, for any further infections that I encounter.

Prevention is of course always better than cure, and the two occasions I have encountered White Spot problems, they have both come from someone else who has sold me infected fish. If I have learned anything from this latest mistake, it is that 'Quarantining' all fish when you buy them, is and always will be incredibly important. As I say, these two fish, were bought from one of the UK's most highly respected hobbyist breeders, and I made the stupid mistake of trusting that his stock would be fine.

Thanks again Dr.Dirk, for posting this advice, which I am sure it will help numerous fish keepers.

Best wishes

Mark in the UK.