Dropsy, Eggs, Or Constipation

[ileopard]

Hi,

My female betta's "face sides" both have visible blood, and her stomach is starting to bulge. Early signs of dropsy it looks like.

I think it's dropsy, but my camera phone won't let me get any decent pics. There is a small white thing bulging from a small part of her stomach.

Do you have any ideas of what I could get for her? She is very small (I'm thinking it might be five-seven weeks old, but I'm not sure). I can get it right now, since I know dropsy's not the thing you can say "oh one night won't hurt"

Thanks so much!

- ileopard

 

[Himmel]

the white spot is her egg spot most likely, I dont know about the dropsy I have never had a fish with dropsy.

 

[lisie]

Yah, the white thing is called an ovipositor. It's where the eggs come out when they spawn.

Are you sure she isn't just full of eggs? It's normal for a female's belly to bulge with eggs.

But if she's abnormally bloated it could be dropsy. Are her scales pineconed at all? Is she acting sick?

 

[ileopard]

To breed, don't they need a male in the tank? A male was in the same (divided with those "two fish in one" tanks) tank, but then I separated them. If it's dropsy, I'm glad I did.

I was conditioning them to breed, but the male and the female couldn't touch each other (because of the clear divider). Maybe she somehow is prepared to do so and thinks there is a male in there? I put their tanks next to each other.

She is also having problems swimming. She does still eat though (strange).

thanks!

- ileopard


No scale pineconing yet.

- ileopard

 

[lisie]

To breed, don't they need a male in the tank?

To breed, yes, obviously. But the ovipositor's still always there.

She is also having problems swimming. She does still eat though (strange).

Aha, I was waiting to hear that, haha. She's probably constipated then, and it's affecting her swimbladder. Don't feed her, except for cooked, de-shelled pea if she'll take it. Sometimes just a fast will fix it, but you should give her Epsom salt baths if it doesn't clear up soon and if she won't take the pea. One tablespoon of Epsom salt per gallon of water for 15-20 minutes once or twice a day.

 

[ileopard]

I'm going to go to Wal-Mart and get dropsy medication, a 10 gallon tank and all the medications required for breeding, and some peas. Better safe than sorry.

Also, her blood is going away, and she's starting to swim normally. Temporary thing I suppose? I was moving the tank to another table so maybe she got scared, but my other one never has problems with that (male).

- ileopard


I'm also searching for my digital camera so I can take a quality picture of her.

- ileopard

 

[ileopard]

Here she is. It's night here, so the picture quality is not the best (due to the lighting). I did some Photoshop work and adjusted the brightness and contrast to make it more visible.

(Edit: I don't think attachments are enabled for my account, so I uploaded it to ImageShack.)

http/img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=whiteqa5.gif

Thanks!

- ileopard

 

[ileopard]

The "white thing" (probably eggs) is now starting to "come out" of her body. I don't think she can wait 24 hours (for the glass tank to "get ready") if it is eggs.

Do you know how long she might be able to wait?

Is it safe to put them in there before 24 hours are up? I am using BettaCentral's guide at http/www.bettacentral.com/breeding.htm.

Thanks!

- ileopard

 

[33moths]

The 'white thing' has a name. It's called an ovipositor.

http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovipositor

I personally can't tell anything from that photo. Try it again in the daylight. Do you have a proper digital camera? It would work better.

 

[ileopard]

I'm going to go take another picture.

I just realized "Power Save" was on, on my camera. And I thought I shut it off (lol).

- ileopard

 

[ileopard]

The batteries in my camera are dead, and I don't have any more, so I'm waiting for them to recharge.

I did give her an epsom salt bath. We'll see if that improves.

Thanks!

- ileopard

 

[starrynightxxi]

hmm... are you trying to breed these fish, ileopard?

if so, may i suggest you hold off for a bit and do some research because it doesn't sound like you know a gret deal about breeding bettas. it can be a very delicate process at times


[edit] ah, yes, you ARE trying to breed (just saw the link you provided earlier). I really think that you should hold off. your female may drop her eggs, but she will make more if you are intent on breeding them. i think that you will save yourself a lot of trouble and heartache if you wait a bit longer and do more research.

 

[33moths]

If you don't know what the 'white thingy' is that deposits the eggs, even! Then don't try to breed. Research.

 

[ileopard]

I said "white thing" because I wasn't sure if it's an ovipositor or if it was constipation.

But I really don't want to kill her eggs if she is having eggs, that's cruel. The only reason I'm breeding now in the first place is because it's kind of "forced."

- ileopard

 

[tetras4me]

wow um ok (weirded out)

well if the she keeps trying to swim into the males tank let her in with them but only if the males made a bubble nest and take her back out after the breeding imbrace and she laid her eggs.

oh! and if they dont imbrace after like a min or if the male attacks her please take back out..