Betta Sick-911!

[bymauldin]

One of my bettas is sick and I'm having a hard time figuring out what is wrong with him and how to treat him. I've had him for about 3 or 4 weeks now. When I first purchased him he acted and looked fine. I kept him in a 2 gal tank. After aquiring other bettas I had to switch some tanks around and for the time being he is in a 1 gal tank. When I switched him over to the 1 gal he acted a little frantic but eventually settled down. A couple of days after switching him I started to notice him laying on his side and he was constantly staying at the top. I noticed when he would try to swim to the bottom he would just float right back up. Then I noticed that his stomach was swollen. At first I thought it may be swim bladder and thought he might have injured it when I switched him over to the new tank but now I'm not exactly sure since that happens so infrequently. Then I thought it may be constipation but he still has a healthy appetite. I've been feeding him about 5-6 pellets once a day-every other day. I haven't noticed any other physical signs of illness. Just can't swim to the bottom, always laying on his side, and a swollen stomach. I certainly hope someone can help. Right now he's just laying helplessly at the top blowing bubbles... Please help!!!

Thanks.

 

[Phoenixbaby]

is his water heated?

are his scales sticking out?

 

[i love bettas]

i think that i tis just he dosent like being in a smaller tank

 

[bymauldin]

No his water is not heated and no his scales are not sticking out. I agree that he doesn't like the smaller tank. Should I switch him out again to a larger tank or would that stress him out too bad right now?

 

[Phoenixbaby]

i think that i tis just he dosent like being in a smaller tank

oh what rubbish!!

him being swollen and laying on the bottom isnt that he doesnt like his tank

he prob has an internal bacterial infection and needs treatment asap!

bymauldin, are his scales sticking out?

No his water is not heated and no his scales are not sticking out. I agree that he doesn't like the smaller tank. Should I switch him out again to a larger tank or would that stress him out too bad right now?

ok well theres your 1st problem, they need to be in water that is about 26c in temp

how often are u changing his water?

can u post a pic

 

[bymauldin]

His scales aren't sticking out. Posting a picture wouldn't do any good because physically you can't tell there is anything wrong with him besides his swollen stomach. I do water changes once a week. I have 4 bettas and none of the tanks are heated. None of my bettas in the past have had heated tanks and it's never caused a problem. I've had bettas live 3 years without heated water. I realize it's preferable but not always possible.
What should I treat him with?

 

[Phoenixbaby]

well without more info its hard to say

he cud be bloated due to constipation, or this cud be dropsy progressing

id fast him for a few days, then feed him a cooked de shelled pea, and see if that helps

but really, they shud be in heated water, they are tropical fish after all

also it helps doing a water change on his 1 gallon more than once a week

imo, it may be dropsy brought on by poor water conditions, due to lack of water changes

for a 1gallon it shud be changed every other day atleast

 

[bymauldin]

My avitar is a picture of my sick betta (Flash). I agree that water changes should be more frequently in a 1 gal. I just put him in the 1 gal 4 days ago and he started swelling and having problems swimming after 2 days in the new tank. I don't know that poor water conditions could cause problems that quickly.
But I appreciate your help anyway and I'll look into dropsy.

 

[Esfa]

sounds like dropsy to me, too

 

[Phoenixbaby]

ok its a bit small to see anything

id treat him with an anti internal bac medication, and fast him too, deshell a cooked pea too

it cud be just hes constipated, or it cud be the onset of dropsy

my male dave was bloated for weeks b4 he pineconed, even after treating him, so tbh i wudnt like to say whether its dropsy or constipation

but i would get him a heater, it should help him perk up, or even pop his tank onto a heat mat

 

[bymauldin]

Thanks I'll definitely give it a try!

I read somewhere that epsom salt at the rate of 1/8 a tsp to 5 gal will help draw the excess fluid from the betta. Has anyone tried this? Is this too risky?

 

[Phoenixbaby]

tbh im not the best person to ask

in my experience, i used epsom salt, and an anti internal bac, once i used and interpet one, which was good, and the most recent esha2000 which is pretty good

ur in the us? look in the emergency sections for what meds to use

heres the link

http/www.fishforums.net/content/Tropical...edications-Usa/

its under bacterial