Sick betta? Here is a matrix of the most common betta fish symptoms and their corresponding illnesses and diseases to help you identify a diagnosis. This is not a complete list of all betta illnesses and not every betta disease is cut-and-dry. Our betta fish symptom checker is a tool to get you started.
Symptom Checker
Sick Betta Fish Symptom & Disease Identifier
| AFFECTED AREA | SYMPTOM | POSSIBLE ILLNESS/DISEASE | PRIMARY TREATMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| EYE | Cloudiness | Physical Injury (Wounds) •Infection |
Clean Water Antibiotic |
| Swelling or Protrusion of one or both eyes. | Popeye | Antibiotic | |
| GILLS | Partially open operculum | Gill Hyperplasia •Parasite Irritation |
•Clean Water •Aquarium Salt •Anti-parasitic |
| Rapid or Labored Breathing | Gill Hyperplasia •Infection |
•Clean Water •Antibiotic |
|
| Redness or Discoloration | Physical Injury (Wounds) Gill Hyperplasia |
•Clean Water •Aquarium Salt |
|
| Stringy Discharge, Growths | Flexibacter Columnaris •Overactive Slime Coat |
•Clean Water •Antibiotic •Lower Water Temperature |
|
| FINS | Blackened or Bloody Fin Tips | Fin Rot | Clean Water |
| Clamped Fins | General Symptom of Stress & Illness | Varies | |
| Loss of Fin Tissue | Fin Rot •Fin Biting |
•Clean Water •Antibiotic •Reduce Stress |
|
| Ragged Fins | Fin Rot •Fin Biting |
•Clean Water •Antibiotic •Reduce Stress |
|
| HEAD | Change in Color | Aging •General Symptom of Stress & Illness |
•None •Varies if caused by illness |
| Rapid or Labored Breathing | Gill Hyperplasia •Infection |
•Clean Water •Antibiotic |
|
| BODY | Blackened Tissue | •True Fungus Septicemia |
•Anti-fungal •Antibiotic •Clean Water |
| Bloated Abdomen | Constipation Dropsy |
•Dietary Adjustment •Clean Water •Antibiotic •Epsom Salt |
|
| Color Loss | •General Symptom of Stress & Illness | Varies | |
| Cut, Open Sore | Physical Injury (Wounds) | •Clean Water •Antiseptic |
|
| Fuzzy or Stringy Growths | Flexibacter Columnaris •Overactive Slime Coat |
•Clean Water •Antibiotic •Lower Water Temperature |
|
| Gold or Bronze “dusting” Sheen | Velvet Parasites | Anti-parasitic | |
| Horizontal Stripes | Stress | •Reduce Loud Noises •Reduce Jostling •Reduce Movement |
|
| Lump or Bump | Physical Injury (Wounds) •Tumor |
Clean Water | |
| Missing Scales | Physical Injury (Wounds) | •Clean Water •Antiseptic |
|
| Multiple White Dots (size of salt granules) | Ich Parasites | Anti-parasitic | |
| Raised Scales “Pineconing” | Dropsy | •Clean Water •Antibiotic •Epsom Salt |
|
| Redness or Red Streaks | Septicemia | Antibiotic | |
| Single White Dot | “Pimple” | Clean Water | |
| Vertical Stripes | Breeding Stripes | None, (indicates betta is in breeding condition) | |
| BEHAVIOR | Appetite Loss | General Symptom of Stress & Illness | Varies |
| Inability to swim upright | Swim Bladder Disorder Constipation |
•Clean Water •Antibiotic •Epsom Salt •Dietary Adjustment |
|
| Lack of Defecation (Poop) | Constipation | Dietary Adjustment | |
| Lethargy, Sluggishness | General Symptom of Stress & Illness | Varies | |
| Spastic, Jerky Swimming | •Parasite Irritation •Exposure to Toxins |
•Anti-parasitic •Clean Water |
|
| Stringy White Waste (Poop) | Internal Parasites | Anti-parasitic |
You should also check out the complete guide on Betta fish diseases and treatment
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