Female Betta Emergency; Has Been Attacked

[puppyduck]

one of our female bettas, Heather, has been attacked by the three other girls in the tank. She is much much smaller than the others and gets hassled for food alot. I've started taking her out and feeding her alone in a jar just so she can get something to eat.

Anyway, this evening, I looked in the tank and spotted her. As soon as I saw her, the other three went for her. She was a very bad colour and her fins were shredded to bits. She was very weak and didn't fight back. She also couldn't swim away fast enough and our largest girl, Jasmine, caught her in her mouth by the tail and dragged her thru the water until I tapped on the glass to get her to stop.

I took Heather out and put her in the jam jar to seperate her. She was very still and kept to the service breathing. She seemed just stressed. I put a black legwarmer over the jar to conserve heat and calm her down, but when I took it off to see how she was, she was spiralling through the water and there was a kink in her spine.

I have no idea what to do. She looks so weak and miserable and I dont know whether she will make it. Is there anything I can do?

 

[*Fishkies*]

Well you could try adding some bettafix, to prevent her from getting any infections, that is if she has been bitten.

Make sure her water level is not to high, that way she does not have to swim so far to the top to get air when she needs.

I'm not sure there really is much you can do for her. Keep an eye on her and see how she is doing. If you think she really is suffering though it might be best to let her go.

Best of luck! I hope she can pull through!!!!


Here is a LINK that could possibly help you out with your situation!!!

 

[liz2]

she could be ok...try to keep her warm and quiet....dont keep looking at her as I found this stresses them when they feel ill....good luck

 

[WILDER]

Have they always not liked her as fish will attack a fish when its not well.

 

[puppyduck]

Well they picked on Ariel alot. They all turned up around the same size, but Ariel was the biggest. Jasmine and Belle got larger, whilst Tinkerbell and Heather stayed much smaller. Ariel died suddenly and Jasmine and Belle started picking on the smaller 2. Tinkerbell learnt to defend herself, but Heather chose hiding to help her. She seemed to have perked up the other day and I started feeding her away from the others but this afternoon they just suddenly went for her poor thing.

She has stayed as skinny as the day we got her. The others all grew. She's the size of a tetra.

Are all female bettas like this? Do we need more? Cos I'm worried theyll start picking any new ones off one by one as well.

 

[WILDER]

She's a poorly fish thats why they are picking on her.
If she skinny and has a bent spine looking at fish tb to internal parasites.
What does it look like when she goes to the toilet, is the anus red inflamed or enlarged.

 

[WILDER]

Did the fish mess the fins up.
I would take a look here to rule it out.
http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html

 

[puppyduck]

Well thats the thing, although shes been skinny since we got her, her bent spine has appeared after they attacked her this afternoon. She goes to the loo fine as far as we've seen. She eats well when she's on her own and not being chased. May be internal parasites, you're right. Is there any way we can tell?

EDIT: Just checked the site. I'm pretty sure the fish got her fins this afternoon. She looked healthy last night (albeit very thin) and even got a little bloated after her food last night as well.

How fast does TB take hold?

 

[WILDER]

Internal parasites signs are a fish being really skinny, never seem to grow, or can even bloat up with them, long stringy white poo, worms prutruding from the anus, bent spine.
Finally red inflamed anus to enlarged.

 

[puppyduck]

Ok. Have checked her anus. No signs of any red. There's a small dot but it looks like where her fins were had by the others.

Its scary since they are all loitering around the breeding net where we're keeping her in the main tank at the mo. She doesnt seem to be able to move, but the filter suction is kinda holding her in place near the water surface so she can get air.

 

[WILDER]

To be honest she not well and I would end her suffering, she got a bad desease of internal parasites to fish tb.
I would do some water changes on your tank, and keep an eye on the other fish for signs.
Sorry not nice.

 

[puppyduck]

ok. We have no clove oil though. I couldn't do it any other way, I'd feel terrible.

Is there any better way to do it?

 

[WILDER]

Hitting the head with a hammer or chopping its head off, not for me them methods.
I just get a jug of coldwater very cold, add ice cubes till its really cold, it dosn't take long about 20 seconds.
Sorry bless her but she not well.

 

[puppyduck]

Thanks for your help anyway.

We're keeping her in the breeding net overnight to see if she perks up at all. I just couldn't euthanase her. We did try when our glassfish Fester had a severe swimbladder infection and he actually perked up. What killed him was the fact his spinning had grazed off his nose/mouth area and a huge patch on his head. He began swimming upright but I put him in the main tank too soon. He couldnt cope and when he went back in the hospital tank the water was too cold.

I feel bad for doing it but I always have to try.

 

[*Fishkies*]

Awe so sorry to hear that your going to have to put her down. The best way is to freeze the water about an hour before, break the top layer of ice then freeze the water for another 30mins. and break it up again, then add your fish. I have done this to my fish before and they go quick. Especially since it sounds like she's small, she'll go quick.