Vet Q&A-Fish

My Betta fish has a bump on his head. The bump is the same color as his skin. It showed up rather quickly, within 10 hours or so. He's had it for twp days. I've had the Betta fish for 1 1/2 years. Whats' the bump and how do I get rid of it. Thank you Becky

Without an image or exam, it is difficult to say with any certainty what the lump may be. Infection or injury would be likely culprits. If he has anything sharp in his bowl, remove it. Check the water quality and chemistry as poor water quality can predispose him to infection. 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. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with a nitrate level of 20 ppm or less. Partial water changes can be done to stabilize chemistry and improve water quality. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. Change no more than 30% total volume at one time. You can try using plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) as a general tonic. It can treat minor infection and helps aid in 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. Perform water changes afterwards to reduce salinity. Do not use salt for more than 14 days in a row. If there is no change, a broad spectrum antibiotic 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.

i need help treating my betta fish for swim bladder

Swim bladder issues can be caused by bacterial infection or constipation. These reasons can be compounded by poor water quality. Use a home test kit or submit a sample of water for testing to confirm 0ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Partial water changes can be done to stabilize chemistry and maintain or improve water quality. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Bettas do best between 78F and 80F. Once you have pristine water quality, fast him for 3 days. Resume feeding bits of cooked and shelled green peas until defecation and swimming are normal again. If this doesn't help, consider a broad spectrum antibiotic. You can find one in the aquarium section of the local pet store. Look for Furan, Maracyn 1 and 2 or Kanaplex. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

My black moor is sick I just got him from the fish store along with a goldfish to add with my other goldfish in a ten gallon tank I did a big water change because there was slot of nitrate and nitrite when I put him in the tank after that I noticed he would only stay to one corner of the tank now he is sitting at the bottom with his eye resting against an object please help me

Check the water quality again use a liquid home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia AND nitrites. Nitrates can be 20 ppm or less. Perform another partial water change, no more than 30% total volume, at a time. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Goldfish are cold water fish and do best between 65 F and 72 F. Additionally, a 10 gallon tank may be insufficient for 2 goldfish and a Black Moor. Goldfish produce a larger than average bio-load (waste) which can quickly overwhelm a small tank and after. Ideally, provide 20 gallons for one goldfish and an extra 10 gallons per fish. The filter should be rated for at least twice the volume of the tank. Even with a string filter, partial water changes and regular cleaning/vacuuming will be needed to maintain water quality.

I got some new fish yesterday but I am not sure what type they are as they were s gift. They are black and a bit small. I want to know what type of fish they are and what they would need. Can you please help me with what type pf fish they are and what I should buy for their tank to keep them happy?

As for what kind of tank you will need: Basically a square fish tank, do not get a bowl. You will likely need a heater and an air pump, and a thermometer, It is easiest to by a complete kit at a pet shop. As for size of tank: The bigger is always the better....however a minimum size will be determined by the type of fish and their average size they will grow into, So once we know what type of fish you have and how many, we can tell you how big your tank needs to be and what type of "furniture" (rocks, plants, gravel) you will need.

I’m trying to cycle a 10 gal fish tank. I have been adding your biological booster for a month now and nothing is happening. The ammonia is holding steady at .5 ppm and I’m not seeing any nitrites. Is there a way I can test to see if there are actually live bacteria in the booster. I’ve checked everything else I can think of.

Unless you submit a water sample for culture or microscopic exam, you won't be able to determine if there are beneficial bacteria. With ammonia at the current level, there are bacterial populations. It takes time and patience to cycle a tank, sometimes up to 6-8 weeks. I'm not a fan of the "boosters", since you don't know how long they have been on the shelf or if the biologics are even active. Sprinkle some flake food in the tank and allow nature to run its course. The bacteria will feed off the flakes and populate the tank. Perform a 10-15% water change using conditioned water as needed during cycling.

My fish is laying down at the bottom of the tank.

If persistent this is a very concerning but generic sign, which requires a logic but quite radical approach. Begin by submitting a water sample for quality testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or a nominal fee. High ammonia levels, PH imbalances may be responsible for that. Oxygen concentration and quality of the filters should be determined as well. If water quality is good and there are no major imbalances, your fish should get examined to look for any sign of bacterial/fungal infection and eventually water should be treated. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

My goldfish has a blood spot in between its eyes , what does that mean, is it a disease?

It could be an infection (bacterial or fungal) or it could be due to trauma from other fish or tank furniture. Confirm proper water quality and chemistry. You can try some plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt or epsom salt) as a general tonic. It may reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in recovery. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess the condition. Perform partial water changes to decrease salinity afterwards. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Goldfish are cold water fish and do best between 65 F and 72 F.

Is it safe to buy a UV Sterilizer Green killer filter for my turtles? The water gets dirty really fast and I've pretty much tried everything, but the algae keeps growing fast. The problem is that I've seen a lot of negative reviews on that filter, saying that it got their fish killed. Now, I've done some research on that and found out that that UV lights could damage both animals and humans, however the very few reviews that were written by turtle owners were positive. Is it totally safe?

A UV sterilizer is safe to use in a turtle tank. To maximize benefits, be sure the water filter is rated for at least twice the volume of the tank, remove uneaten food promptly, monitor water temp closely, perform regular partial water changes and use a timer for the "regular" light. These actions will minimize algae growth.

Hello, my dog Raven has been itching for awhile. I have been giving her Zyrtec allergy medicine for 2 months but I’m not sure if that’s been helping. Just the past 4 days I have started giving her Salmon Fish Oil Omega 3 with Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil from Zesty Paws. I have given her those supplements before but stopped months ago. I noticed today she has these red bumpy spots under her belly and some other spots she has flaky skin. All these spots are near her back side under/top. Thank you.

Thank you for using Boop by Petco. From your picture it appears that Raven has a skin infection. This usually occurs secondary to allergies as they lick and scratch leaving the skin more susceptible to yeast and bacteria. I would recommend a vet visit to get her on appropriate antibiotics and possible a medication for allergies. There are many treatment options to try for an itchy dog.