Betta Got Sucked Up Cleaning Tube

[murphyk32]

name says it all, accidentally sucked the betta up a cleaning tube. came out the other end ok, but has some marks where scales are missing (cant tell if there is open wounds or not).

I have some "E.M. Erythromycin" from api and some melafix.. wondering if i should use either

 

[SlyPolak]

I would wait a day or two to see if its getting better by itself. .. If you see some fungus in the "wounds" or the betta just doing "bad" like acting lethargic or not eating I would add some bacterial meds. GOOD LUCK

 

[murphyk32]

thanks, I did determine there appears to be open wounds but they dotn look too deep or anything, at this point he is acting fine. I felt horrible, never done that before... he was just too small for the tube i think thats why it tore him up a bit...

 

[frankie21]

If you don't have "aquarium salt" in the water I would consider adding some. As long as you buy aquarium salt API makes some it actually helps heal wounds and it doesn't make the water salt water so don't be concerned about that. It's more like a natural medicine.

 

[murphyk32]

So as of right now, he doesnt seem to be swimming properly. He is having issues staying in one spot, keeps floating to the top of the tank and leaning somewhat sideways at the top. He can swim when he wants to, but then he will just float back up top. Wounds seem to be the same as before, no update really. He is in a fluval edge so its filtered, nothing aggressive in with him (a couple neon/glow light tetras that had grown enough that he doesnt eat them), water and everything is good. He was eating no problem. Wondering if I should be adding meds, removing him from the tank to a "hospital tank", and doing anything else?

He has a white/grayish coloration to part of his belly right by the gills and his lower head but I cant determine if its external (scales being ruffled/removed from the incident) or something else. His body doesnt appear to be 100% straight, it seems to have a "~" shape to it, but only very slightly so I dont know if its anything or not, just trying to provide lots of info. he is struggling with the current from the filter, I turned it down a lot to make sure he doenst get banged up but it wasnt very high to begin with. He has no problems finding the air hole in the fluval edge so that isnt a problem. Fins look fine, arent torn up or missing.

what should I be doing/expecting?

thanks

 

[murphyk32]

bump

 

[BethK]

I would pop down to your LFS and get an anti-fungi/finrot treatment. If you can get him in his own tank, that would be even better.

It could be the basic shock, which would run down his immune system, which in turn would lead to infections.

So, to be on the safer side, I would put him ina tank on his own and use an anti-fungi treatment x

 

[walkers101]

also while your at the LFS get a better gravel cleaner so he can't get sucked all the way through

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

also while your at the LFS get a better gravel cleaner so he can't get sucked all the way through

Good idea.

Can you post a picture of what he looks like now?

 

[loraxchick]

the coloration near his gills, does it look silvery? some bettas naturally have an area (i call it their "chin" for lack of better description) that lightens up as they get older. just keep an eye out for white fluff/fuzz in that area. as for his floating, he likely damaged his swimbladder from the tubing. it may heal. it may not. while he looks like a pathetic state, many fish with swimbladder problems do just fine. so long as he can eat and breathe from the surface, just keep his water very clean for the next week or so. a temporary hospital tank may not be a bad idea for a week or two-just to keep an eye on him and give him a "break" from the filter.
hope it sorts himself out.
cheers

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

as for his floating, he likely damaged his swimbladder from the tubing. it may heal. it may not. while he looks like a pathetic state, many fish with swimbladder problems do just fine.
cheers

That is true; one of my goldfish had swimbladder problems and it certainly didn't do him any harm

 

[murphyk32]

I have some "E.M. Erythromycin" from api and some melafix.. which, if either, should I use?

thanks for all of your help, and yes definitely not using that tube in that tank again. He still seems fine, swimming/eating no problem, just still floating up. No fungus or anything as of yet, and yes the mark by his gills is a silvery area, its on the backk side of the gills though not the head, so I wasnt sure if it was normal or not (I never noticed it before but Im also a little paranoid about what injuries he has)

 

[BethK]

Melafix would be good to use, if he has any type of damage or bacterial infection, the other one I wouldn't use Erythromycin x