When it comes to household pets, betta fish are a delicate breed. The toughest hurdle I ever had to jump as a fish owner was when my pet would fall ill. It's hard to know exactly what's going on, especially with all the information available today. While there are plenty of resources out there, I created this article to serve as a decent guide to diagnosing the most common types of betta fish diseases.
Before getting into specific diseases, you need to know some of the general warning signs to look out for to know if your betta is sick. The big one to look out for is lethargy, and happy, healthy fish is usually fairly active during the day. For example, I'm looking across my desk right now at Gilbert, my own betta fish. He's swimming in and out of his hut and for some reason loves going over by his filter and swimming against its current. A lethargic pet is usually one that is either unhappy or sick.
Another sign to look out for are visible body markings or abnormalities. Examples of these could be porn fans, spots on the body, or a distended/bloated stomach. You must also realize that not all unhealthy signs can be attributed to betta fish diseases. If none of the diseases below seem to fit the condition of your pet, you should look into your lighting setup, water testing and quality, temperature, and/or feeding habits.
Here are the three most common Betta fish diseases you will encounter.
Ichthyophthirius multifilis: More commonly known as the Ich, this is a parasite that is disturbingly common in Betta fish. The most common signs to look for are not only the lethargy described above, by most importantly white spots. These can originate anywhere but generally start to be seen on the fins and then spread to the body. Also watch for a fish that rubs against things excessively in an attempt to dislodge the parasites.
Ammonia Poisoning: Due to an unhealthy build up of ammonia levels in your tank, the Betta's water becomes depleted of oxygen. Common signs of this illness are a fish that is gasping at the top of his tank and that forms reddish streaks around the gills. This is most often the result of a tank that is not properly cycled of that is too small.
Nitrite Poisoning: Commonly linked together with ammonia poisoning, this condition also result in a fish that gasps for air and has gills that take on a reddish-brown hue.
All of the above Betta fish diseases account for many pet deaths and knowing how to treat them is vital to becoming to good pet owner. Even so, this is just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to the knowledge you should have to give your betta fish a long, happy life.
Most deadly Betta care mistakes occur without the owner knowing what's going on. When an excellent Betta care resource saved my fish's life I decided to help others learn How To Take Care Of A Betta Fish by reviewing and offering up the best care guides available. Everything you need to know including my own story and reviews of the top Betta fish care guides, check out http://www.how-to-take-care-of-a-betta-fish.info Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T_L_Gallamore |
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