How To Treat Betta Velvet: A Betta Owners Guide To How To Cure Rust And Gold Dust Disease
Betta fish are unable to naturally produce the oils necessary to keep their skin healthy. This is why Bettas are prone to diseases like Betta Rust and Betta Gold Dust. Treatment for these diseases varies in severity but there are a few common factors that are present in every case. Luckily, with a little research and some time, you can cure your betta fish price in no time. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about treating Betta Velvet as well as the causes and treatments for this disease.
What is Betta Velvet?
Betta velvet is a condition in which your betta fish’s skin becomes discoloured and loose. It most commonly affects the head and fins, although it can affect any part of the body. Velvet is caused by a bacterial infection, which is transferred to your fish when they are stressed or injured. It can also be caused by an abundance of unhealthy bacteria in the tank or poor water quality. The result is a shiny, wet appearance to your betta’s skin. Betta velvet can be difficult to treat, as it typically affects only a small number of fish in a particular tank. The bacteria that causes it is difficult to kill completely, so the condition can reappear over time. In order to achieve 100% cure rates, it is necessary to treat the disease early on in its lifecycle and to treat the entire tank.
Causes of Betta Velvet
The bacterial infection that leads to Betta velvet is named fancy gold or velvet disease. The disease is caused by a group of bacteria, known as Pseudomonas. These bacteria are naturally present in all tanks with tropical fish, but the infection rates increase in bacterial numbers when a fish is stressed, injured or suffering from poor water quality.
Stress: Betta fish are very social animals and are typically kept in pairs or small groups. When one of your fish is stressed, it is more likely to pick up the bacteria that is present in other tanks.
Improper Water Quality: This is probably the main reason for velvet disease. Betta fish are very sensitive to ammonia levels in the water. The higher the levels of this toxic Ammonia, the more damage velvet bacteria cause to the skin of your fish.
Tank-To-Tank Transfers: This is another huge risk factor for Betta velvet. When you are moving fish between tanks, the bacteria that causes velvet is more likely to be transferred from tank to tank. If a single fish picks up the bacteria, it is more likely to be passed on to other fish in your tank.
Bettas With Broken Fins Are More Susceptible: Betta fins are made up of a cartilage material called “sclerotia” that is vital for their body structure. Velvet bacteria can cause major damage to this cartilage in fins. Broken fins or damaged fins of any kind are a major risk factor for the disease.
How To Cure Bettas Of Velvet?
The first step in treating your Betta is to make sure that you treat the entire tank. There are two easy ways to do this. You can use a protein skimmer to pull toxins out of the water and increase water quality. This can be done with any type of skimmer (foam, PVC, etc.) but is most effective with a protein skimmer. The second way is to use an automatic fish feeder to feed the fish in their tank. For a protein skimmer, you will need to replace the water in the tank with new, clean water. Then, you will need to purge the new water of any unwanted bacteria. This can be done by filling a bucket with tap water and letting it sit for 24 hours. Next, pour the water out and fill the bucket with new, clean water. There are a number of ways to automatically feed your betta. If you have a canister filter, you can simply place some food in the filter. If you have a sponge filter or an undergravel filter, you can simply place the food there. If you have a hang-on-back or a submersible tank, you can simply place some food in the tank. You can also use a bubble wand to feed your fish.
How to tell if your Betta has velvet?
You can often tell if your betta has velvet by looking at the skin of your fish. If the skin is shiny and wet, your Betta is likely to have velvet. You can also try to pick up your Betta and feel the fins to see if they are really wet. If you are unsure of whether your betta has velvet or not, you can always do a bacterial test. Place a pinch of food on your fish’s fins and then wait 24 hours. If your Betta eats the food, you can be fairly certain that they have velvet.
Treatment for Bettas With Velvet Disease
There are a number of ways to treat velvet disease, depending on the type of bacteria that is causing the disease. These include feedings of erythromycin or copper sulphate, tank water changes and daily chloramine or bleach treatments. Some people also use a copper-based product called Aquaflow to kill bacteria. Copper treatments are effective in killing bacteria, but they are also toxic to fish. They are best used to treat an outbreak or when switching water sources, as copper can stay in the water for up to two years. It is important to note that copper is not safe for long-term use.
Conclusion
If you’ve made it this far, then it’s safe to say that you want to cure your betta’s velvet as much as we do! Betta velvet is a very harmful disease that can be difficult to treat. However, with a little know-how, and a little patience, you can get your fish back on track. There are many things that can cause Betta velvet, including poor water quality and stress. Luckily, there are many steps you can take to prevent or cure your betta’s velvet once you notice it has gotten worse.
