How to treat Betta fish fungal infections

The sub forum dedicated to one of the most incredible fish in our hobby. Betta ask your questions in here!
Post Reply
User avatar
aquatic
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 12:19 am

How to treat Betta fish fungal infections

Post by aquatic »

My betta has white fuzzy patches on its fins, looks like a fungal infection. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Tank is 5 gallons, heated to 78F. What's the best treatment?
User avatar
Aurorix
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2022 5:54 am

Re: How to treat Betta fish fungal infections

Post by Aurorix »

Sounds like cotton wool disease, fam. Gonna need to hit it with antifungal meds like API Fungus Cure. Also, bump the temp to 82F to speed up their immune response. Keep the water pristine with daily 25% changes.
brazon
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:47 pm

Re: How to treat Betta fish fungal infections

Post by brazon »

Yep, fungal infections are a pain. I've had success with Seachem Paraguard, but you gotta remove any carbon from the filter first. How often are you feeding? Overfeeding can mess with water quality and make things worse.
Foldo
Posts: 10
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:04 pm

Re: How to treat Betta fish fungal infections

Post by Foldo »

I'd recommend adding aquarium salt, 1 tsp per gallon. It's gentle and helps with mild infections. Just make sure your fish isn't super stressed, 'cause that'll slow down recovery.
apneato
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2024 4:05 pm

Re: How to treat Betta fish fungal infections

Post by apneato »

My dude had the same thing last month. Tried salt and it didn't cut it, so I switched to Kanaplex. Worked like a charm, but it's strong stuff. Maybe save it as a last resort.
raysun
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 2:02 pm

Re: How to treat Betta fish fungal infections

Post by raysun »

Aurorix wrote: Fri Aug 15, 2025 6:51 am Sounds like cotton wool disease, fam. Gonna need to hit it with antifungal meds like API Fungus Cure. Also, bump the temp to 82F to speed up their immune response. Keep the water pristine with daily 25% changes.
Totally agree with the temp bump. Higher heat slows fungal growth and boosts their metabolism. Just watch for signs of stress.
Luminous
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:37 pm

Re: How to treat Betta fish fungal infections

Post by Luminous »

If you're using meds, remember to dose correctly for your tank size. Overdosing can harm your fish. Also, consider isolating them in a hospital tank if you have tankmates, as some meds can mess with beneficial bacteria.
silverfox
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 9:43 pm

Re: How to treat Betta fish fungal infections

Post by silverfox »

Had a similar scare last year. Turned out my filter was too strong and stressed the fish, making 'em prone to infections. Maybe check your flow? Bettas prefer calm water.
User avatar
Renewer
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2024 11:51 pm

Re: How to treat Betta fish fungal infections

Post by Renewer »

brazon wrote: Fri Aug 15, 2025 7:14 am Yep, fungal infections are a pain. I've had success with Seachem Paraguard, but you gotta remove any carbon from the filter first. How often are you feeding? Overfeeding can mess with water quality and make things worse.
Paraguard is solid, but it's also worth checking your tank's bio load. Overstocking or dirty substrate can contribute to fungal issues.
User avatar
aquatic
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 12:19 am

Re: How to treat Betta fish fungal infections

Post by aquatic »

Thanks for the advice, everyone. Gonna start with salt and temp increase, then move to meds if needed. Appreciate the help!
Post Reply