Common Illnesses and Treatments
Preparation
Before you even get your fish settled in his new home, you should have a sick fish ready just in case it is needed. 
Buying items that treat bacterial and fungal diseases can make all the difference in treating your fish. In my treatment kit I have Herbal Relief for Bacteria and Fungal Diseases and I have treatment for Ick. Both of these ailments are quite common fish diseases that if caught in time are highly treatable. In the next few sections I am going to discuss two common Betta diseases and how to treat them.
Sick Fish Symptoms
*Not eating
*Hanging at the top or bottom of the tank
*Not swimming around much
*Dull color
Fin/Tail Rot
My very first Betta fish got severe fin rot. He is pictured to the right, as you can see his tail is a mere stub when it shouild be full and flowing. Fin/tail rot needs to be taken serriously, it is a potentially deadly disease. There are a number of precautions that can be taken to prevent fin/tail rot. 
In order to keep your fish healthy and fin/tail rot free make sure their living environment is clean. Do weekly water changes, take out all the tank decorations and rinse them off, and change the filter monthly. When changing the filter make sure to wash it out before putting in a a new cartridge, this will ensure that the water is staying clean. Also I suggest buying some aquarium salt to treat the water with. Aquarium salt promotes gill health and reduces stress.
However, if your fish does get fin/tail rot quick action is the difference between life and death.
Symptoms of Fin/Tail Rot
*Shrinking fins
*Holes in their tail fins
*Black or red along the tips of the fins
*Pieces of fin falling off
Treating Fin/Tail Rot
The first thing you need to do when you notice the onset of symptoms is clean the tank immediately. Remove the fish by placing him in a container with some of their water. Then do a 100% water change and clean the entire tank (rocks, tank decorations filter, ect.) Do not clean any of the tank or the decorations with soap becuase this can harm the fish.
Once you have done this refill the tank with new and fresh water before putting the fish back into the tank. Then, follow the instructions on the back of your Bacterial/Fungal Treatment bottle and keep watching your fish's health.
Ich
Ich is also a common fish disease. It is a parasite which is temperature dependant. It is a highly contagious fish disease and can easily be spread to other fish within the tank. At home my parents have a large aquarium and one hte fish got infected with ich. Quick action is key to your fish's survival.
Symptoms of Ich
*White spots all over the fish
*Clumped fins
*Scratching himself against tank decor
Treating Ich
When caught early enough ich is highly treatable. As with fin rot remove the fish from the tank and preform a 100% water change. When refilling the tank do not put tank decor back in. Many of the treatments for ick will stain decor blue. Follow the insructions on the back of the bottle and keep an eye on your fish.
Preventing Illnesses
Most fish illnesses can be prevented by regularly cleaning the tank. Illnesses stem from poor living conditions and by taking the proper steps to ensure that your fish's envrionment is clean.
