Betta Breathing Fast And Hard Time Swallowing, Plus Minor Fin Rot.

[keithp]

The betta I rescued is doing better since being properly fed and given clean water. But she is always breathing fast and has a hard time swallowing food, sometimes spits food back out, but eventually eats it. (she is gaining weight and pooing normally) Where the gills are (the flare gill) on the edge they are whitish as if they have been damaged or nipped at. The fish also has small areas of black along the edges of the fins but it no longer is getting worse since the water change.

My question is was all of this caused by very dirty water, because the fish was in brown,smelly water when I got her and I suspect that is the culprit. As long as I keep the water clean (and add a small amount of aquarium salt and Aquarisol) will that be all she needs, or is there certain meds for this?

She does not stay at the top gasping for air she swims around often and is active.

 

[lilacamy931]

Hey what food are you giving her hon? As to the symptoms you will need to read a little up on that as not the best to advise! Can you get a closer picture to see? Keeping her in fresh clean water will certinaly help her recover but if she has something really wrong with her (thinking of the gills) then she may need meds. Might be best posting in the emergency section of the forums and explaining situation got her in, her water parameters, what you have fed her on and how is has been acting, also if at all possible to get some pics.

 

[loraxchick]

as for the food try soaking them first till theyre soft. probably why hes having a hard time swallowing them.
as for the gill problem, probably due to ammonia levels being very high before you got him. keep his water clean as you suspected and you hopefully will see improvement. although truth be told, the damage might be irreversible. but not to worry. im sure he is much much happier now! as long as behaves normally, eating exploring etc., hes in a much better place than before you got him
good luck

 

[keithp]

For the gill picture it's would be very hard to get. Look at this page at the first gill picture where it says "The outer rim or edge of the gill seem to be pale, frayed or white." That describes my betta 100% - http/www.koicrisis.com/symptoms/gill.html

As for the food I have been soaking the pellets even crushing them into tiny bits, the betta just wont eat them! I did however get her to eat bloodworms,brine shrimp, daphnia, and a piece of a pea. She eats until her stomach starts to get large, so she is eating good! She poos very quickly her tank can be clean the first day and the next day full of poo! She digests the food very quickly so I feed her small amounts 2 times a day to keep up until she keeps the weight on.

 

[loraxchick]

well thats actually good news if that is what you think it is. clean water will be the best medication. most likely damage from ammonia exposure.
as for not eating pellets, i have one boy that no matter how hard i try (for the last 9 months) simply wont eat them. eats everything else, just dosnt care for pellets. just like you describe ive tried crushing them soaking them etc. and he always spits them out (fussy fussy). he was very very small when i got him and fed him nothing but bloodworms for about 3 weeks (its all he would take) and eventually got him to eat flakes which are now his staple. he also LOVESSS his peas. so as long as he is eating other things, dont worry about it. sounds as if he's in ok health and with nice clean surroundings, hopefully his gills will clear too. hows his berathing now? getting any better?
as for her fins, just keep up the water changes. that black edging is also most likely ammonia burn, just like her gills, and will clear VERY fast if kept in proper conditions.
all the best

sorry for calling your betta he...just reread and its a SHE!

 

[keithp]

Her breathing is better slowed down a bit which is good. She had a hard time getting air as if the swim bladder made it hard to go up for air at an angle, her back end floated somewhat up, she is also getting better at that.

I would not be surprised if she is very young still and perhaps that could account for all the issues and mabye her swim bladder is still developing, and why mabye pellets are such a fuss. Her eyes are pure silver, usually only young bettas have those adults usually have colors here and their in the eyes.