Help! Betta Injured During Shipping

[JoLtNbolt]

Hey all... I'm new to this forum and need some help!!! I recently purchased a crowntail betta with Blue Angel coloration online and had him shipped from California to Washington DC overnight. The package arrived and there was hardly any water in the bag, and there was a heat pack in the styrofoam chest. I'm guessing that water leaked out of the bag (crumpled packing paper was wet), and the box was too hot. The fish looked awful. The fins were shriveled, and the fish had turned from blue and white (the picture shown on the website) to an unhealthy looking black/blue and beige. Is there anything that I can do to rehabilitate this fish?

-scott
scott@moonman.us

 

[BettaMomma]

Get him into some clean water with a bit of aquarium salt. Get him some stress coat if you have any. Or Prime will work too.
Give him plenty of time to rest. It's possible he could have sustained some internal permanent damage, but give him some time to try to recouperate.

That's horrible, I'm really sorry.

 

[JoLtNbolt]

Well the water conditioner i used has aloe vera in it... supposedly to help with the slime coat... and stressed out fish. He just looks so sad, and his colors are all dull. The fish is eating though, so I guess that's a good sign.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Very sorry. This is why we double bag, shippers! Definitely get him in clean water quick. Maybe lower the water level if he is having trouble getting to the surface. Keep the lights low to minimize stress. Give him a couple of days to rest, and I would presoak his pellets so he can eat easier. In a few days you will know what the damage done was.

 

[JoLtNbolt]

Well the bag was doubled... but the packing materials were still wet as well. He was in about half as much water as one of those cups that they keep the bettas in at the pet store. I'm wondering if it was the heat pack that did the damage. It was already a fairly warm day.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Hmm, the heat pack might have just been there to keep temps regular. That is fairly common. I'm just wondering what punctured the bag. Could the heat pack maybe have melted it? Odd. I would contact the seller and just let them know what happened. So maybe they can change the way they ship. Also, I would call whoever shipped the fish.

 

[JoLtNbolt]

well the bags were tied closed... and i guess water leaked out of the knot. I just can't imagine that the health of a betta could deteriorate that much from shipping overnight across the country.

 

[BettaMomma]

You would be surprised - most likely apalled at the journey that fish have to take in a shipping box. I am honestly quite amazed to hear that fish make that journey alive let alone healthy most times.

 

[JoLtNbolt]

I feel bad that I bought this fish from someone in CA and had him shipped across country. I hope that this was a fluke and not something that happens to every fish that this company ships.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Hmm. I hope so too. What company was it? Make sure the shipper always puts something like, LIVE FISH or even THIS SIDE UP or FRAGILE as packages tend to get shook up in overnight ships.

 

[JoLtNbolt]

www.bettaboys.com The box did have arrows that said this side up on it, but it didn't say anything about Live Fish. The package was shipped by USPS overnight express mail. I also ordered 2 of their baby moss balls, which arrived ok, and look so cute in my tank.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Hmm. SOunds like a fluke accident. I would still contact both shipper and seller, so they can correct the issue. Good luck treating th fish.

 

[JoLtNbolt]

http/bettaboys.com/Cart/index.php?cPath=...2db874f8b55a68e

My betta looked similar to the Blue Angel on this page.

Has anyone ever tried Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Splendid Betta BettaFix Remedy ?

Here's the description from the petco.com site:

Antibacterial medication made especially for bettas.
Use whenever your betta exhibits signs of bacterial or fungal disease, such as red ulcers, frayed or torn fins, slimy patches, or cottony growths.

Also helps heal open wounds and tissue damaged by handling, netting or fighting.

Easy to use, just add to the water in your betta bowl.


Think this might be useful?

 

[Synirr]

Bettafix is great for infections and wounds, but definitely not something I'd use on a fish that just sounds stressed from shipping. Giving him a few days in clean water in a dark, quiet place to recuperate is probably the best thing you can do for him at this point.

 

[JoLtNbolt]

Thanks for all of the help... at least he's eating.. but all of his fins look fried