Betta Help Needed! (lost Sight + Smell)

[Loen210]

All/any help and guidance would be greatly appreciated.

I have a male betta. Poor guy. He was a blood worm lover for a long time (hated pellets). But about a week ago, I asked a family member to give it a few worms for me, as I was unable to that night. The next day, when I saw him (the betta fish), I saw that his stomach was bulged out immensely, and I was quite worried. The person who helped feeding apologized (they don't know anything about fish, and I do not know much), that a bunch did slip in. Well, I did not feed him for 3 days, so that he would digest.

3 days later, he was darting around to get food. I put some on, and he seemed to always miss it, when jumping to eat it. And finally got a piece of one. Next day, did not get any. Seemed still hungry, as I still could swim around quickly. But stomach still somewhat bulged. Even popped his mouth up at surface, how he does whenever hungry. Since then, every night I have spent much time even moving the food right in front of his mouth. Up till yesterday, he might once in a while try to eat it, but miss it.

We figured out that he is now blind. He does not see the food, when I stick and let it float, literally right in front of his face, even on either side, or in front of his mouth. He does not see it. And we assume does not smell it either. ( Changing the water today, we noticed tha the is bumping into things frequently too. Poor guy! He is already a couple of years old, so I know he is getting elderly, but please help me out on this.

Suddenly went blind (after an overindulge night), doesn't seem to have smell, and is still bloated. But it's been the first time ever where I have to remove all the food that I put in. Today bought several kinds of food (blood worms, baby shrimp, Tetra color). No luck yet.

Please help me out, and I request you also send me an email directly which will help at getting info quickly.

Thanks so much,
Hana

 

[JamesCarden]

gosh...I'm so sorry! I hate it when these things happen. well i'm not totally sure. but whenever my bettas get constipated i give them 1 cooked pea! always seems to do the trick! sorry i couldnt be more help. i'm sure there is someone on here who can give you a better remedy! good luck!

James

 

[Loen210]

James,
Thank you so much for replying so quickly. I am new on this forum. I had done a lot of online research, especially yesterday, and had tried giving it the green pea chopped up. Same reaction to all the food. Would not notice it when I put it in, and so never ate it. I assume it couldn't smell it too, as even blood worms, he doesn't seem to notice at all when I put right in front of face. (

I'll try to check on here as much as possible.
Thanks again for your warm words. Any happy fishies to you.
Hana

gosh...I'm so sorry! I hate it when these things happen. well i'm not totally sure. but whenever my bettas get constipated i give them 1 cooked pea! always seems to do the trick! sorry i couldnt be more help. i'm sure there is someone on here who can give you a better remedy! good luck!

James

 

[knt5005]

Oh, and in addition to the email I sent you...bloodworms need to be used as a treat only! They need pellets for the nutrition. If he won't take them, fast him. When he's hungry, I guarantee he'll eat whatever you drop in.

One more thing: whenever you leave your fish, I would take some time to explain to whoever was going to be feeding them that overfeeding will kill them. It's better they miss a day than go a day overfed!

 

[Loen210]

Knt,
Thanks so much for your quick reply. You guys are great for your care. I had read about the frozen peas, and had taken a frozen one, warmed it until defrosted, cut up into small pieces, and gave the inside. No reaction, but I don't think could smell or see it either.

I had already fasted him for 3 whole days after he overate. It could have been coincidental too, perhaps of overeating, but actually gotten a virus or illness? ( So, I don't know how much longer I should fast him. In the last 3 days he's eaten only part of one bloodworm that he was able to get a hold of (the other part, he missed, and couldn't get).

At PETCO, the fish department man was very nice, but doesn't seem to know much about Betta fish. He has only salt water fish. He said that I could bring him into the store in a cup, so he could try to diagnose him, according to a book they have. Not sure if it is worth it unless it's a vet who really knows, although it was so nice of him. I don't even know how to find a nearby fish vet.

Thanks for your notes though. Hope things will look up soon.

Hana
==================

Oh, and in addition to the email I sent you...bloodworms need to be used as a treat only! They need pellets for the nutrition. If he won't take them, fast him. When he's hungry, I guarantee he'll eat whatever you drop in.

One more thing: whenever you leave your fish, I would take some time to explain to whoever was going to be feeding them that overfeeding will kill them. It's better they miss a day than go a day overfed!

Loen210,

knt5005 has sent you this email from http/www.fishforums.net/index.php.


I can't imagine he would go blind from over eating. Have you heard of feeding bettas peas? It helps to clear their systems out.

Take a frozen pea and microwave it until it has thawed. Take the pea out of it's casing/shell and give the betta a bite of it. I've noticed when mine eat peas their stomachs bloat a little, so I suggest just feeding him a small, small piece.

The other thing I would suggest would be fasting. He should be fine for a few days if you skip his food for the day. This will prevent constipation and ultimately death. I learned this the hard way as a few of my babies died from constipation.

So I would try a piece of pea first, and then I would say fasting. I would fast him for maybe two or three days. I know mine started acting funny when they were constipated, but once they were healthy again they perked up and acted normal.

Good luck, let me know how he does!

 

[-germ-]

Don't disappear, bear with me 5 minutes...

 

[-germ-]

dug out my fish illness book...
Considering the ineptness of your helper (debatable) could they have put any tap water into the tank?
Temporary blindness can be caused by a sudden increase in chlorine.
If not with the bloated tummy i'd treat for a parasitic infection.
But other possibilities;
Eye flukes (diplostomum) , no treatment, but you'd see little cataracts on the fishes eye?
or gas bubble disease, unlikely are there any bubbles on the fish?

 

[Loen210]

Hi Kariann,
Thanks again so much. I will check out that site, which I remember seeing a while ago. I have tried giving several pellets. I have also given at least now and then the Hiraki Gold (heard was high recommendation), and he would always very take it in only sometimes, and unhappily. All other pellets I tried, he would take in and then spit out.

Now I have some flakes which I just bought as well as shrimp and worms.

Thanks for both your email and postings. I now will be able to know whenever there is a posting, as I get an email from the website letting me know. (I'm a complete newbie on this site, as you can probably tell.)

Thanks again,
Hana

===============
[In a message dated 6/24/2007 11:26:09 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, Knt5005@psu.edu writes:
Hey Hana,
Have you looked at www.BettaTalk.com? Faith is a guru of bettas. She has a section on diseases, symptoms, and treatments that is complete with pictures. I wish I knew how long you could safely fast a betta, but I would really try and get him to eat a pellet instead of a bloodworm. Mine used to get them all the time, until I realized the constipation it caused. I hope he perks up for you.
Kariann]

 

[-germ-]

Fast him for a bit, bettas are greedy!
No protein, except daphinia which is the best live (or freeze dried food) for getting the guts moving in fisies.
Do you have any algae wafers?

 

[liz2]

Wow I have read this quickly but I might be repeating helpful advise.

When you go away don't feed them just leave them I do that to mine. Try to get him to eat a pea, put some mushed pea in a little cup with tank water and pop him in there, cover and leave for 10 minutes, smaller the cup more chance of finding it. Not sure what size tank.. but when mine are off colour usually a total water change with water cond and tiniest amount of aqua salt helps. One of my faves looks very off colour so I am just going to do this to him.


Hope your boy is a bit better keep us posted about him please.

 

[Loen210]

Qerm,
thank you for your posting. I do not have algae wafers. But I yesterday I stocked up at PETCO and have now:
- Tetra baby shrimp
- Kikari Betta Bio-Gold (pellets)
- Tetra Color (flakes)
- Blood worms (freeze dried)

Thanks, Hana

Fast him for a bit, bettas are greedy!
No protein, except daphinia which is the best live (or freeze dried food) for getting the guts moving in fisies.
Do you have any algae wafers?

 

[Loen210]

Liz2,
Thanks for your reply. I did try the peas in the tank, but I suppose as he can't see it, even when I put it in front of his face, no luck. Your idea for feeding him in a smaller cup is such a good idea! Except people here have been encouraging it seems, to fast him for a bit. His stomach/chest looks still quite bloated. It's got to be something wrong in his intestine. Now, as changing all water (had done it 3 days before too), definitely seems blind and no smell. Bumping into things. I suppose when time is ready to try again feeding, I should do in a cup, as you suggested. Thakns again, Hana

Wow I have read this quickly but I might be repeating helpful advise.

When you go away don't feed them just leave them I do that to mine. Try to get him to eat a pea, put some mushed pea in a little cup with tank water and pop him in there, cover and leave for 10 minutes, smaller the cup more chance of finding it. Not sure what size tank.. but when mine are off colour usually a total water change with water cond and tiniest amount of aqua salt helps. One of my faves looks very off colour so I am just going to do this to him.


Hope your boy is a bit better keep us posted about him please.

 

[Lynda B]

I have a male betta that lets bloodworms bounce off of his nose. You'd think he couldn't see them. But then, when I leave the tank, he zooms around and gets them all. It's like he figures if I'm able to see the worms, I might eat them before he can get to them. Silly boy fish.

I was curious though. How long are you leaving the food in his tank?

I hope your guy ends up getting better.

 

[Loen210]

Thank you Lynda,
I used to just feed, and then boom, it was gone. He'd find it quickly and devour. And if he had one fasting day, was gone in a blink of an eye. But first two days, as I thought he was sleepy, left the food there, and next day was still floating so of course took out.

Now never seems to find the food. So, have to take out after 10-30 minutes.
Thx, Hana

 

[Lynda B]

I just remembered that my husband was concerned because his black skirt tetras weren't eating.... so I told him to just leave the flakes in there.... and sure enough, after a little while, they did eat. They had like one day where they just were lethargic for some weird reason.

I never panic when my don't eat for some time. Because I know they can go for awhile without food.