My old Betta fish has white spots and is hiding. How can I treat him?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Fish | Betta | Male | unneutered
Hello, my Beta fish has big white spots on his face, its quite old (2 years since we bought it and it was already an adult back then), and its been finding places to lay down and hide in in his tank for the past 5 days or so. We believe its a fungus/bacteria problem, a month ago we put rocks from our garden (cleaned) in the tank. Do you know what the illness is and how to treat him? Weve started by preparing a new, clean aquarium to transfer him. Any medicine prescriptions or other suggestions
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on May 1st, 2020
Maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. You can try an "all in one" product, such as Lifeguard by Tetra, to treat the condition. Find it in the local Petco or online. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert if indicated. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/tetra-lifeguard-all-in-one-freshwater-aquarium-treatment
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on June 19th, 2018
Get a small, submersible water heater. Bettas are tropical fish and do best between 78 F and 80 F. A small filter will also help maintain water quality. Maintain pristine water quality and feed a quality Betta diet. Hikari makes pellets specifically for Bettas. It doesn't look like popeye or ich. It could just be minor infection caused by the stress of his environment. Given clean water and the proper environment/diet, it could clear up on its own.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, I have a really important question. Recently, this past week, my fish has been growing a white lump/bump on his face. He’s a blue male betta fish. I’ve had him for almost a year and a half Andy this is the first time he’s had a problem. Hes also
It could be an infection. Maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. Look in the aquarium section of the local Petco for a broad spectrum treatment, such as Lifeguard (by Tetra) or Furan-2, to treat him. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My female betta fish has two white/silver spots near her gills. The spots are not raised and look like they could even be scales but I’m not sure. Today I moved her to a new tank with a filter and she soon had lots of white spots around her mouth and
This could be a fungal or bacterial infection. Less likely is a parasite. Maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes. Maintain water temp between 78 F and 80 F. Consider a broad spectrum antibiotic or an all-in-one type treatment. Either can be found in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated. You can also add in some plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) to reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in recovery. Dissolve up to 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. Salt can be used in conjunction with an antibiotic or other treatment.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Im unable to tell if my betta fish has ich or a fungus. He's been acting strange, he darts around the hospital tank and only comes up for air, otherwise he is at the bottom. he has white spots that I've been treating for ich with paragaurd, but they
It doesn't have the appearance of ich. He would have white spots, like grains of salt all over him. I don't see fungal growth either in the images. He does have some fin rot though. Check the water chemistry. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Confirm an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 40 ppm or less. maintain temp between 78 F and 80 F. This is the optimal range for a Betta. Maintain pristine water quality as well as temperature. Continue with the ParaGuard since it is appropriate for fin rot. Follow label directions. You can also add in a bit of plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) as a general tonic to decrease stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in recovery. Dissolve no more than 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water in a cup of tank water and gently pour it into the tan. Treat with salt for 10-14 days then reassess his condition. Partial
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My betta came home last Thursday and was fine and well. Yesterday, around midday, he developed a large black spot on his fin. After that, his health rapidly decreased. His fins began to disappear, his body became pale, and he looked like he was rotti
The black spot may be infection or ammonia burn. Check water quality using a home test kit or submit a sample for testing. Most pet stores or fish stores will do this for free or for a small fee. He also appears to be suffering from fin rot. If a new tank was not cycled, toxins (ammonia, nitrites and nitrates) can build up and cause infection or even death. The poor water quality will also affect finnage. Daily water changes may be enough to allow for healing. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Bettas do best in water between 78 F and 80 F. Conditioning products I recommend are AmQuel, NovAqua and StressCoat. Aquarium salt can be used at 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. Make sure it is dissolved completely before pouring it into the tank. Add only enough salt to the water being replaced, not the entire tank volume. If you can, turn down the filter flow to produce a weak current. If this does not improve his condition, a br
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My Betta fish has clamped fins and also spots on it's head. What is wrong with it?
Clamped fins can be indicative of stress. White spots may be bacterial, fungal or parasite infection. Check the water temperature and quality. The ideal water temperature is between 78 F and 80 F. When testing water chemistry, ammonia and nitrites should read 0 ppm (parts per million) and nitrates can be 40ppm or less. Perform a partial water change, no more than 30%, using aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent shock. Plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt) can be used to treat many conditions and aid healing. Dissolve 1 teaspoon per gallon of water into the tank or bowl. Treat for 7-14 days. This can be used concurrently with an antifungal or antibiotic for the tank. You can purchase either in the aquarium section of most pet stores or online. Follow label directions carefully.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My male betta fish has been in its 3 gallon tank for close to a month, today it was at bottom of the tank and is very slow. There is white fuzz behind its fins and at end of tail. Tail looks split too. There is a snail in the tanks as well and a smal
It could be some fin rot and fungus growth. The foundation for treatment and recovery is pristine water. You can use a home test kit or submit a water sample to confirm proper chemistry. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrites and 20 ppm or less nitrates. Perform a partial water change if indicated. Use aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Do this every few days to maintain water quality. To treat the fungal infection, you'll need a product such as Fungus Cure (API) or LifeGuard All In One (Tetra) . You can find them in the Aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment. Water changes and medication should resolve the infection in a week or two. The fins should slowly heal up afterwards. Perform regular testing and partial water changes to keep the tank clean. Remove any uneaten food to prevent fouling the water.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I asked about this the other day, but my beta has had a single, raised white dot on her head for about a week. I bought a parasite treatment, as I thought it was Ich, but now I just want to make sure as I've seen no change. Occasionally she swims wit
Maintain pristine water quality and temperature. Add no ore than 1 teaspoon of plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) per gallon of water and treat for no more than 14 days at a time. It doesn't look like ich, but it could be a local bacterial or fungal infection. You can treat concurrently with salt and a commercial broad spectrum medication, such as LifeGuard All In One by Tetra. Find it in the Aquarium section of the local Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have a Betta who is recovering from stress and had discoloration, but his color is slowly coming back. Except, I first saw this white line near his right eye. I gave him medication, but the white spot has gotten even more white? Could it be popeye
Maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes. Monitor water chemistry to confirm 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. Keep the water temperature between 78F and 80F to prevent stress. You can use plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt or Epsom salt) as a general tonic to reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in any recovery. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water in a cup of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess his condition. Do not treat with salt for longer than 14 days at a time. Perform water changes afterwards to reduce salinity. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My betta fish has a bump on his face between his right eye and his mouth. It wasn't there 2 days ago. He also looks like he has some white stuff on him, it looks weblike rather than spots. His behavior and appetite are normal so far. I noticed this y
Continue with the water changes to maintain water quality. Change no more than 30% of the total volume though. Use aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. Plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt or Epsom salt) can be used as a general tonic to treat minor infection and aid in any recovery. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water in a cup of tank water then gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess his condition. Perform partial water changes afterwards to reduce salinity. Do not treat with salt for more than 14 days in a row. If there is no change, consider a broad spectrum antibiotic. One can be found in the Aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Chronos (my fish) seems to have a sore and a missing scale under his top fin, and up till now his top and bottom fins have sections that are see through but doesn't present any of the symptoms of fin or tail rot. He is in his "hospital" tank with bet
Maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Maintain proper temperature as well. Both are important for treatment and recovery. Bettas are tropical fish and do best between 78 F and 80 F. Treat with the aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) for no more than 14 days in a row. Use no more than 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. Reassess afterward 14 days. If necessary, an antibiotic, antifungal or 'all in one treatment' can be used. Look in the Aquarium section for these products. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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