Sick Betta Disease Guide (Symptom Checker)

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