Can You Scare A Betta To Death?

[urbinsissy]

My workstation desk lamp accidentally fell over and hit the rim of my betta's bowl. He freaked out, swam around the bowl about 5 times, tried to jump out, then went to the bottom. For the past couple of hours he's been bent into a weird shape and he alternates laying upright and turning upside down at the bottom of the tank. Is this a typical stress reaction? Could I have caused him to have a heart attack? I put a shield of sorts around the bowl so that he can't see anything and when I peek in he looks like he MIGHT be recovering. I feel so bad about it though

 

[The_Dude]

I'm pretty sure it's possible to scare anything to death. But I've dropped a book about 1" thick,and an industrial sized fan, totally by accident though, on the table that I keep my baby on, and he is an unusually calm fish most of the time. He just looked at me as if he were saying, "You dumb***!" Anywho, he flared at me and that was the end of that, but most are used to being shaken by those little monsters most people call their children, so I wouldn't worry. But you may want to monitor him for an hour or more.

 

[WILDER]

Didn't electricute him did you as a bents spine can be due to that if the spine bent.

If the fish was shocked via a faulty heater, pump, etc. or via lighting (striking a pond or surging through a house), this can result in a bent spine.

 

[The_Dude]

I never considered that option. What if it did electricute poor Mr. Splendens?

 

[WILDER]

Not good as it bent the spine, just have to see how he goes, add some salt for the shock.

 

[The_Dude]

Go with what that person said, I've never fried a fish with old sparky before but I really wouldn't expect them to live after it. You must have Bionic Betta or something.

 

[urbinsissy]

Thanks for the reassurance. He wasn't electrocuted; the lamp just glanced the bowl and made quite a racket. His spine has straightened out and his little fins aren't clamped anymore, so I think he's getting back to normal.

 

[WILDER]

Ok thats good news then, I would still add some salt for the stress.

 

[knt5005]

That's good to hear that he's getting better! I'm sure he's just momentarily freaked out. I would be if something that size fell towards me.

 

[kewskills]

thats true, if a balloon burst near me i cry

 

[The_Dude]

I've met death, pretty cool guy. Just DO NOT TOUCH HIM! naw j/k. I've been stabbed, shot, hit by a car, caught on fire, and attacked by dogs. I'm freakin' hard to kill, knock on wood, so I pretty much impossible to scare.

 

[liz2]

If the lamp hit the bowl it would have made shock waves which prob did really scare him. How the little fella will be OK.

 

[WILDER]

I've met death, pretty cool guy. Just DO NOT TOUCH HIM! naw j/k. I've been stabbed, shot, hit by a car, caught on fire, and attacked by dogs. I'm freakin' hard to kill, knock on wood, so I pretty much impossible to scare.

It that true or making it up, if true good god.

 

[Maxta]

I've met death, pretty cool guy. Just DO NOT TOUCH HIM! naw j/k. I've been stabbed, shot, hit by a car, caught on fire, and attacked by dogs. I'm freakin' hard to kill, knock on wood, so I pretty much impossible to scare.

It that true or making it up, if true good god.

 

[catherine896]

Lmao, sounds like your lucky to be alive!