Betta trouble

Hi folk,

I have a betta who is now around a year and a half old.

He has always been very healthy, and is fed on a staple diet of Omega Betta pellets, and a large amount of insect larvae.

His tank is around as old as he is, with a sponge filter driven by an air pump. It is a planted tank.

Several weeks ago, I noticed he had developed what looked like the fish equivalent of a cyst or a pimple beneath his mouth. It was and is the same colour as his skin - red with an overlay of blue. As I have learned not to panic when things go awry with fishy friends, I decided to leave it as is and observe.

Now today, it looks like it might well be a fungus of some sort, on his gill plate on the same side of his face. It is not cottonwoolly, rather a few specks of white. It is NOT ich.

His behaviour is unchanged - he is showing no sign of scratching or discomfort or anything out of the ordinary - in fact, when I went to check him, he came straight to me as it is his lunchtime! He is eating well.

I can't provide a pic - you'd need a really good camera to get a good shot. I also can't give water parameters as I dont have test kits.
Finally, I have a fungus medication - Tetra Fungirid - which I could use, but would have to remove him from the tank as there are other inhabitants in there that will be adversely affected by it. I dont have a hospital tank free - its full of endler fry :worried: Is it warm enough that I could medicate him in a bucket for a while?

Anyone got any ideas?
I'd be very grateful!

 

Tracy, I think with the heat we are having now, you could easily do that. I havent got one heater on my tanks currently and the temps have been peaking at 29 degs. So your toyboy will be fine. I would try the meds and see if it helps. I honestly have no idea what it could be. Is it not maybe a parasite of some kind?

 

Yes, I think he'll be fine for a few days - it's so hot that I'm sweating from just sitting at my computer! I don't THINK its a parasite - I've looked at him quite closely through a magnifying glass.

I think I'll give him his lunch then move him into a bucket with the meds as a precautionary measure for the weekend.