Flesh Eating Disease?

[Kelvin Tan]

Hi

Was scooping betta out of a fren's betta tank and found a orange which seems to have its flesh 'eaten' from the top and possibly the anal fin.

Quickly got it home and went thru the rituals of standards med but seems like the wound remains fresh and scaleless, and a tiny bone sticknig out more and more from the top (located just before the dorsal fin)

Using anti internal bact (ulcer?) yellow powder, methylene blue with no effects. resorting to melafix but keeping fingers crossed.

Anyone any idea?

[Chris Yew]

I've experience that before (or rather one of my bettas and not me, lol) in the community tank. Like you said, it seems to be 'eaten' off by other bettas and not cause by disease.

Personally I think if the flesh is being eaten and not cause by disease, the best way is to prevent it from been attacked by bacteria and viruses since the flesh is exposed. If the betta has strong resistance against infection, I think the flesh will grow back by itself if it's not a fatal bite.

Just my guess...

[Chris Yew]

I've experience that before (or rather one of my bettas and not me, lol) in the community tank. Like you said, it seems to be 'eaten' off by other bettas and not cause by disease.

Personally I think if the flesh is being eaten and not cause by disease, the best way is to prevent it from been attacked by bacteria and viruses since the flesh is exposed. If the betta has strong resistance against infection, I think the flesh will grow back by itself if it's not a fatal bite.

Just my guess...

[Foo Hong]

As Dr Fred Chua said. I do think one shld used too many medications, especilly concurrently as 1+1 could be '0'.

I ve not experienced this problem before. Closest I get is badly bitten breeding females. These are caused by physical factors[attack by male] than disease altho if u dont treat it, a secondary infection will take place soon.

Yellow powder / mthy blue seems effective for females recovering. Melafix as well but it is not an effective bacteria killer like the first 2 medications.

[Foo Hong]

As Dr Fred Chua said. I do think one shld used too many medications, especilly concurrently as 1+1 could be '0'.

I ve not experienced this problem before. Closest I get is badly bitten breeding females. These are caused by physical factors[attack by male] than disease altho if u dont treat it, a secondary infection will take place soon.

Yellow powder / mthy blue seems effective for females recovering. Melafix as well but it is not an effective bacteria killer like the first 2 medications.

[Dr Hsu]

Original cause may be many and Foo Hong's suggestion is a good one - some kind of trauma origin. Subsequent to that, you can get bacterial invasion and destruction of associated infected tissue. The thing sticking out is likely a bone of some description, either from the spine, or remnants of the dorsal fin bones that support the rays.

If you get the right antimicrobial to kill the offending microbe, and the fish is able to seal off the wound and osmoregulate properly, then the tissue may grow back to some extent, but usually not 100%.

The proper way to diagnose is to do some smears for cytological examinations, and a culture and sensitivity of the region.

BTW, Melafix has been shown not to be antibacterial - it just seems to stimulate good healing and resistance in the fish.

[Dr Hsu]

Original cause may be many and Foo Hong's suggestion is a good one - some kind of trauma origin. Subsequent to that, you can get bacterial invasion and destruction of associated infected tissue. The thing sticking out is likely a bone of some description, either from the spine, or remnants of the dorsal fin bones that support the rays.

If you get the right antimicrobial to kill the offending microbe, and the fish is able to seal off the wound and osmoregulate properly, then the tissue may grow back to some extent, but usually not 100%.

The proper way to diagnose is to do some smears for cytological examinations, and a culture and sensitivity of the region.

BTW, Melafix has been shown not to be antibacterial - it just seems to stimulate good healing and resistance in the fish.

[Foo Hong]

Hsu, This melafix things had for a long time smelled like 'hong-yiu' to me, ie eucalyptus oil from chinese herb shops. I will be trying such on my fishie and if proven to be similar, then why the hack pay 20 bucks for a bottle when u can get it for 5 bucks? kekeke

[Foo Hong]

Hsu, This melafix things had for a long time smelled like 'hong-yiu' to me, ie eucalyptus oil from chinese herb shops. I will be trying such on my fishie and if proven to be similar, then why the hack pay 20 bucks for a bottle when u can get it for 5 bucks? kekeke

[Kelvin Tan]

under observation.......yeah could be at attack frmo other fish but kinda weird if they choose to attack the top strip of the fish.

hated melafix so much....but recently had a stubborn case of finrot, all my 4-5 fin rot med didnt work and only melafix helped.

[Kelvin Tan]

under observation.......yeah could be at attack frmo other fish but kinda weird if they choose to attack the top strip of the fish.

hated melafix so much....but recently had a stubborn case of finrot, all my 4-5 fin rot med didnt work and only melafix helped.

[Eric Yeo]

I've experience this on my Orange Black with thier head biiten to white until it look like Marble. The problem could be the bettas were not well fed (hungry). I ran out of worm for 3 days (busy) so I fed them with dry bloodworm, then the problem started with a least 5 to 10 dead fish at the bottom tank each day. Now my fish are all well fed and OK.

[Eric Yeo]

I've experience this on my Orange Black with thier head biiten to white until it look like Marble. The problem could be the bettas were not well fed (hungry). I ran out of worm for 3 days (busy) so I fed them with dry bloodworm, then the problem started with a least 5 to 10 dead fish at the bottom tank each day. Now my fish are all well fed and OK.