Betta dropsy.

[Dreaded]

It's been determined that Victor does in fact have Dropsy. He was by far my prettiest betta. Thank Goodness, though, it's not Eddie. Eddie is my very first betta. Victor was my third though, and that is still very sad. It's only a matter of time now. His scales are sticking out alot and it's only been about 24 hours since I posted that he was bloated.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Dreaded

I'm sorry to learn that Victor has dropsy. It's sure makes us feel helpless when the little guys get something like that.

I'm sure he had an excellent life, though, thanks to you.

 

[wuvmybetta]

awwww Dreaded

I've only dealt with dropsy once and it was horrible and slow

 

[Scarab]

awww...sorry to hear that

I've encountered dropsy once as well...it's really hard to watch them suffer through that

 

[Dreaded]

I just got back from the LFS and they said they had stuff they used to try to treat it, but he's pretty far a long and they said they didn't think it was worth it to buy the medicine. And if they're not trying to sell me a medicine, I assume they feel that I really wont have any luck with it. I don't have the money, either. So later tonight I'll be putting him out of his misery.

This may seem like a strange question, and I read the humane executions that you're supposed to do, and I'm certainly not going to flush him LIVE down the Toilet! That's cruel... Anyway. Do fish bleed much? If they do, I'll have to get my dad to do it for me.

 

[puffbumle]

Awww...Poor Victor Sorry to hear he has dropsy. I'd probably euthanize also if it was my fishy. With dropsy being so fatal it would be hard for me to let it suffer.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Dreaded,

If you Dad will help you with this, let him. You don't want to have to do this yourself if you have any alternative.

Or, you could just let nature take its course. I lost a cory to dropsy a short while ago and it didn't take too long. Then, I looked at it and it was breathing and a few minutes later it wasn't. It was like she went to sleep.

You don't have to put him down and have sad thoughts to remember him by.

 

[IHaveANewHobby:)]

Im very sorry to hear about Vic.

He's a b-e-a utiful betta.

 

[BettaBoyz]

don't give up, Dread. my boy Pierce suffered from dropsy after becoming constipated, and he drug himself through it without a single water change. i didn't have the heart to kill him, or the guts to risk contaminating my water-change equipment.

he may pull through, just hope for the best and give him all the love he needs.

 

[LiquidLife]

Fortunately, we haven't had a case of dropsy since we quit feeding black worms but back when we did (feed black worms and had epidemics of dropsy), we weren't able to save even one of the sick fish. However, I've heard that it can sometimes (not usually) be done but it's a long process and you're fish will look really bad a lot of that time. You have to do epsom salt soaks and use antibiotics, if he's still eating try to feed him food containing antibiotics. But if his kidneys and liver are damaged from the infection, even if he recovers he probably will have further bouts of bloating and not live a long life since his organs no longer work properly.

If you do euthanize, it is a hard decisions but you as the caretaker must sometimes make just so your little guy doesn't needlessly suffer. Get your dad to help--a backup helper is useful. A betta doesn't contain lots of blood but he does have some. And he may move around even after you've done your death stroke so be prepared. It's traumatic to you but know that you are doing the kindest thing. Also know that just feeling scared and not "enjoying" this is a healthy sign. Make it quick and decisive. Most of us have had to do this so know you aren't alone and are being a responsible animal lover.

 

[Dreaded]

Thank you, Liquid. I have tried the epsom salt bath, and used tips from Bettatalk.com. He doesn't seem to be getting any better, but worse instead. I fear that he wont pull through. If he gets much worse, I'm going to euthenize him. I just can't bear to see him suffer. He's still eating, but verrrry minimally. And not with his usual gusto.

 

[LiquidLife]

Well, eating is a good sign. All of the fish we've had with dropsy always quit eating a few days before they died so we couldn't even try to get some nutrition and antibiotics inside of them (you can roll his food around in some antibiotics before feeding him). Be brave! Everyone I know who has a fish that has recovered from dropsy said it was a very very long, drawn out ordeal--many months of continual treatment--iwth the fish often looking like it can't possibly be still alive and yet the fish pulled through. It doesn't happen frequently though, and often the damage dropsy does to a fish's kidneys and liver make life afterwards short anyway.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Geez!!!... they can put a man on the moon, but they cannot find a cure for Dropsy....I've never heard of an effective cure for it. Sorry to hear.

 

[StrontiumDog]

Geez!!!... they can put a man on the moon, but they cannot find a cure for Dropsy....I've never heard of an effective cure for it. Sorry to hear.

Ludwig, Mate this thread is nearly 5 year old.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Geez!!!... they can put a man on the moon, but they cannot find a cure for Dropsy....I've never heard of an effective cure for it. Sorry to hear.

Ludwig, Mate this thread is nearly 5 year old.

Well!!... then I'm sure that Betta is dead!!