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Betta fish with a small white growth by the gill and one cloudy eye

What they asked

I rescued a calico betta fish. His/her gill has a tiny white growth next to it, and one eye is cloudy. He/she is still eating and swimming to the surface to breathe, although swimming seems to be taxing. How can I help him/her?

Dylan Wilson, DVM Verified VetKY license 293504

Sorry to hear about your betta fish. Try to set up a hospital tank where water can be changed easily. There are products that protect their slime coat and I recommend getting one. I would try to find a veterinarian that could prescribe antibiotics. The fin is likely a fungal infection, while the eye is bacterial. Regardless, they will need prescription drugs.

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