AboutAmber Worman Expertise I specialize in Gouramis, Black Moors, Fantail goldfish, and Bettas. I can answer questions about fish behavior, tank mates, diseases, and living conditions. I do not have much experience with breeding these types of fish, however.
Experience Fish are my passion - I have raised these types of fish for as long as I can remember. I am a college student at Purdue University where I have a major in Biology and a position as a lab technician in a fish laboratory.
Question Hi. I have had a betta for about four months now. He was origonally in a small tank, but since the end of december he was put in a 29 gallon tank with a divider giveing him about 6 gallons to himself. Last week I added a air pump that blows bubbles through a statue that has been in his tank. The air pump i hoped would keep his tank cleaner (it did). He has been doing well untill last night. I noticed that he was turing pale (hes orrigonally red) and not as active as he normally was. Today he is even paler where you can almost se through parts of his body. I came home after school (and after hanging out at my friends) and went to feed my fish and couldent find him in the tank. I did find him but he was burried under the rocks in the tank! I carefully dug him out, gave him food, and turned off the air pump, thinking that maybe the problem. Its been about a half hour and he still doesnt look okay (though he seems a bit more active). He also seems to have a white film on him. Please help me out.
Answer Hello Amanda-
A white film is a definite sign of infection - If it is "fuzzy" then he is suffering from a fungal infection, and will need to be treated with Maracide. If the film is more "slick" he probably has a Columnaris infection that you'll want to treat with Maracyn. Both can be purchased at PetsMart or online. Follow the dosage instructions and you should be fine.
