Comments on: 10.16. Graphite Disease in Bettas

By: Taylor H

Taylor H — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 09:07:21 +0000

I think my betta Blueberry just died of this, and I’m devastated. One day he was fine, and literally the next morning a large part of his fins had just melted off. He died within a day or two, despite attempted treatment, with his fins continuing to just disintegrate, leaving actual fin chunks on the bottom of the hospital tank. He seemed to have chronic fin rot his whole life that kept coming back, but maybe it was a chronic mycobacterium infection, followed by an acute infection. It used to be that blue was the most common betta color! I had a blue betta growing up that was always healthy. I had never even heard of such a disease. I did not know when I bought my recent blue betta. RIP Blueberry. :’(

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 20:25:06 +0000

In reply to Eve Taylor. In reply to Eve ... Trying to sterilize out mycobacterium marinum can't be done. As mycobacterium marinum is found literally everywhere (tap water, dust particles, fish bodies, gravel, etc.) it is pointless to even try to sterilize it out of any system. Mycobacterium marinum is very difficult to kill. So there is no need or even any point to getting a new tank. Just follow good filtration practices and feeding practices with your old tank and equipment and you should be just fine.

By: Eve Taylor

Eve Taylor — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 15:02:14 +0000

I have a question in regards to a tank and equipment exposed/contaminated with mycobacterium marinum. My fish has been euthanized, I am getting a new tank, filter, plants and gravel. Using sodium chlorite – can I disinfect the heater and reuse it? Also – is there a way to safely disinfect the UV sterilizer?
(On a side note – is it ridiculous to get another Betta? do they all come with it?)
Thanks for any advice,
Eve

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 03 May 2024 21:48:13 +0000

In reply to Brian Jones.

In reply to Brian …… I’ve never had a fish “Take off” like that with that medicated food. Understand that prognosis is not good for your betta. Old age and graphite disease are generally fatal.

By: Brian Jones

Brian Jones — Fri, 03 May 2024 14:37:40 +0000

I made the medicine food as you described in your article (that gelatin smells bloody awful!) and gave some to my betta this morning. It is all white and has that graphite looking saddleback which then turns into a bright white (as he has gotten older he went from pure white to a pinkish hue, thats why the other white stands out so much). He ate the food and then since he has been zooming around the tank like something is chasing him. thats not normal for him and he has never done that till I gave him the food. I gave him about 2 pin heads worth of the medicine food. Any ideas on the “zoomies” ? Did I give him too much? My other non negative though is the medicine started attacking the parasite and didnt like it and he can “feel” that somehow but doesn’t know what it is… thanks for any help!

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 02:07:53 +0000

In reply to Hollie Cotner. In reply to Hollie .... Unknown

By: Hollie Cotner

Hollie Cotner — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 20:04:12 +0000

Can humans get this disease?