Help!

[halfbloodprincess]

Please help my female betta!!! Please help I think she is dieing. She is just sitting in the corner at the top of the tank gulping for air every so ofen. Her belly is big and white. I thought she was just filled with eggs. She seems like she has a brown spot on her. I dont know what to do and she is my favorite fish ever and I dont want her to die!!!!!!

She also has raised scales

HELP!

 

[ox5477]

Maybe its a bacterial infection. If you can post a pic that would be much help!!!


Nothing to be alarmed if she is gasping for air, they are a laberynth fish (they breathe air) and I would say she is full of eggs too if her belly is full. But the scales and white I'm not sure of so please post pic

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Maybe its a bacterial infection. If you can post a pic that would be much help!!!


Nothing to be alarmed if she is gasping for air, they are a laberynth fish (they breathe air) and I would say she is full of eggs too if her belly is full. But the scales and white I'm not sure of so please post pic

Actually, Sometimes gasping for air can be a sign of a weak fish, even with laberynth. Is she having trouble correcting herself when she swims? This could also be bloating due to constipation or swim bladder. The white may also be something bacterial. I would isolate her if she is in a aquarium with other tank mates. And get a picture up here ASAP.

 

[halfbloodprincess]

I cant post a pic since I dont have the cord for my camera at the moment. I called petco cause I was desperate, and they said to put her in a sepurate tank and watch her. They said to come straight there in the morning to get treatments.

So I put her in a goldfish bowl and she is not doing well.

She does seem really weak. Do you think she will make it through the night in time so we can treat it?

 

[Tommy Gunnz]

She also has raised scales

This could be a sign of dropsy along with the bloated belly. I am not the betta expert by no means, but these two characteristics are symtoms of dropsy. I believe it is easily treated, however I would suggest that you be very careful with any medicines you place into the tank. Most times it is better to filter the tank with the meds in it (but with any activated charcoal filter media removed as this will soak up meds quickly). Most any fungal/bacterial product will work but please learn from my own mistakes and read directions carefully. Most times you must do a water change between doses or risk an overdosing situation. IMO, meds are sometimes a high risk endevor and can be worse that the disease/sickness they are meant to treat if used improperly.

I agree that even labrynth fish gasping for air is a bad sign. Do you have an airstone in the tank or does your filter return flow create surface disruption (sorry, that is a bad way to explain that, cant think of the exact term right now). Anyways, it is important to note that the bubbles from an airstone are not the main source of dissolved oxygen in your tank but it is actually the disruption of the surface water when the bubbles hit the top of the tank that promotes the best gas exchange in the water (meaning CO2 out of the water, O2 in). A filter's return water flow can also do the same and it may help to keep airstones out from underneath the filter return to create more surface disrutption over other areas of the tank.

Lastly, do you keep a male betta fish in the tank with your female(s) on a permanant or regular basis? I do not know if a female betta fish will generate eggs if a male is present or not, so that is why I ask. If so, some of the problem could be from stress to the female by the males and the two should only be placed in the same tank for an hour or two for breeding and then seperated again. I did not know this and just learned about it and thought that was interesting and noteworthy for you possibly.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[wendyngd]

Hi- I wanted to know how the Betta's doing? I lost 2 precious males (separately) earlier this year and forum memberes were quite helpful and supportive with suggestions. I would suggest looking on the fish emergency forum where they have a list of diseases from a to z and how to treat. YOu might post a message there if there's a space (or at the Betta forum). Also, try the Betta Forum. Some very sweet forum members were so supportive and helpful when Imy my favorite fish was ill.

The disease glossary states that dropsy is an internal bacterial infection--which is not really curable--but they do suggest meds to treat so I never give up hope. It might be dropsy because of the pinecone quality of her scales.

We will put you in our prayers--Wendy

 

[stang1]

I had a similar problem with my female betta and I posted on the forum. I had a reply from Wilder who suggested putting a pea in the tank. You have to shell it first, then break it up in the tank. My female ate it and it seemed to do the trick, I think she was constipated! Worth a try.
P.S. I never did thank you Wilder, so THANKS.

 

[halfbloodprincess]

Bad news, she has died. When I woke up this morning I went to check on her and she was at the bottom of the bowl. The brown spot had spread and it was covering her whole side.

I told my mom to go to petco and get treatment and an extra airstone. So she did and another suprise! Which I did not want at all. I dont want to get another female betta, or buy any more fish from petco. But... I come home from school and there in the tank is another female betta. And shes from petco too! I really wanted to wait to get another not straight after mine died! Well it's to late now.

My mom said that petco said that it was probably a reproductive problem and females have them alot. Is this true???

Luna!!!!!

 

[halfbloodprincess]

The new female betta has died as well along with the platy I had gotten last friday. She didnt seem to be doing that well. And the platy had clamped fins and a brown spot too just like luna the old female betta.