how to treat Betta fish fungal issues

[LivedFree]

My betta has white patches on its fins, looks like fungus. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Tank is 5 gallons, heated to 78F. What's the best treatment?

[oceanwave8]

Sounds like cotton wool disease. I'd start with aquarium salt, 1 tsp per gallon. Also, bump the temp to 82F if your fish can handle it. Fungus hates heat. Keep the water clean with daily 25% changes. If it doesn't improve in a few days, try antifungal meds like API Fungus Cure.

[Duskfire]

I've had luck with Pimafix for mild cases. It's plant-safe if you've got live plants in there. Just follow the dosage and keep an eye on your fish's behavior. If they're still eating and active, that's a good sign.

[florien]

Sounds like cotton wool disease. I'd start with aquarium salt, 1 tsp per gallon. Also, bump the temp to 82F if your fish can handle it. Fungus hates heat. Keep the water clean with daily 25% changes. If it doesn't improve in a few days, try antifungal meds like API Fungus Cure.

Yep, salt and heat are my go-to first steps too. Just make sure to dissolve the salt in water before adding it to the tank. Dumping it straight in can stress your fish.

[fairbrook]

Had a similar issue last month. Used Maracyn and it cleared up in a week. Also, make sure your filter isn't too strong. Bettas don't like heavy flow, and stress can make fungal stuff worse.

[flakeon]

If you're using meds, remove any carbon from your filter. It'll soak up the meds before they can work. And yeah, keep up with those water changes. Dirty water is basically a fungus party.

[dalerose]

Had a similar issue last month. Used Maracyn and it cleared up in a week. Also, make sure your filter isn't too strong. Bettas don't like heavy flow, and stress can make fungal stuff worse.

Totally agree about the filter flow. I use a sponge filter in my betta tanks. Gentle flow and great bio filtration. Plus, it's cheap to run.

[drift42]

Check your tank for dead leaves or uneaten food. Decaying organic matter can spike bacteria and fungus. A turkey baster works great for spot cleaning.

[regrex]

If you're gonna use salt, don't forget to taper it off after treatment. Sudden changes in salinity can shock your fish. Do 25% water changes every other day to dilute it slowly.

[Coralix9]

My fish had this once. I just did more water changes and it went away on its own. Sometimes they just need cleaner water.