Help, Forgot Water Conditioner

[Rediahs]

My fish is a betta in 3.5 gallons.

Okay, so I thought I did my water change as normal.... but about an hour and a half after the water change I went to check on my fish - he was floating vertically in the tank, against the side, and he NEVER does that, and I suddenly realized I had forgotten to do anything to the water at all! I had forgotten to add water conditioner, or salt either. This was just now... I quickly scooped him out, added the appropriate dose of water conditioner, then dumped him back in. Now he is alive, but he is sitting at the bottom of the tank, moving only occasionally, with his mouth REALLY wide open - you know like when they yawn? But he's got it stuck open and he only closes it when he moves.

Is there ANYTHING I can do? Is he going to die? He was in untreated tap water for an hour and a half and he is definitely acting odd, but at least he's not floating vertically with his mouth at the surface...

I can't believe I did something so stupid I love my fish... I dont' want him to die...



Edit: Okay, he has closed his mouth, but he's got strong stress stripes going...

Another edit: I guess he just got tired, he's opened his mouth again and he looks like he's "shivering"...

 

[moeldner]

I doubt it is a chlorine problem that quickly (I thought cvhlorine poisoning was a progressive thing).

In my humble opinion, it is more likely shock from the very different water conditions (i.e. salted to non-salted water).

Happy to be corrected by others though .

Also - check the temperature - jhas it changed significantly?

 

[Don155]

I'm not sure there's anything more you can do for him at this point. You did the best thing possible already: removed him from the toxic environment as soon as you realized the mistake.

I'm hoping he pulls through, but even if he does come back from this, he'll be severely weakened and you'll have to watch him closely for signs of disease. He may not want to eat for several days if he's in pain and that might weaken him further.

Maybe someone else knows of a way to make him more comfortable.

 

[Rediahs]

The temp did not change, he had been acclimated to the water and it was about the same temp as what he was used to.

He stopped shaking, and someone else advised me to turn the lights out, so now he looks like he is sleeping, and he's not in any weird positions. I'll feed him tentatively over the next few days. He looks normal now but we'll see...

moeldner: I didn't add salt right away, and he was acting weird before I added the conditioner. I added salt about 5 minutes after I added the conditioner, I think the salt was added after I posted this thread.

 

[moeldner]

Does he normally have salt in his water - or did you add it as a treatment?

My point was that if you normally have salt in the water, and the salt level was reduced by your water change - the sudden change in the water chemistry could shock him. This could be what you are seeing.

 

[Rediahs]

Oh... yes I normally have salt in. Good point....

He is kinda gasping at the surface now, I don't know if it's just cause he's sleeping or if he's having trouble breating...

 

[Rediahs]

It took a night, but I think he is back to himself again He ate this morning just as hungrily as ever. Thanks everyone.

 

[moeldner]

Glad to hear!