Ill Betta

[mathiepe]

Hello there!

One of my betta fishes has been ill for about 3-4 days now. It is turning whiter and whiter on the belly or so it seems, looks swollen and scaled. He doesn't seem to move much and when he does it's not in his normal movement. He often jumps from plant to plant on his way down, sometimes by his side instead of horizontally. He is still able to move quickly though.

So, I've read on the internet he could be overfed and that it could be solved by feeding less and keeping the water in a good state. I also read it could be a swim-bladder disorder. I don't know exactly so I'm counting on more help by you guys with, please check these pictures. Any ideas what it can be and how he can be healed (with or without medication). Just now I put him apart from the other fishes.

I also called with the pet-store where they told me it could also be that my tiger-barbs attacked him as tiger barbs like to bite and attack fishes with long fins. I didn't see that happen once (they're in the same aquarium for about half a year now). I personally don't think that is the case but you never know...I'm thinking about one of the previous two options which are both possible.

Greets.

 

[5teady_2012]

Sounds to me like its bloated, you will be best off heating up a pea, de-sheeling it and the smudging it up in your fingers and feeding it to him, this will help him to poo.

 

[woodstock]

Looks extremely bloated to me. Hopefully it's not dropsy (although I've never actually seen it before, so I wouldn't know much on it). +1 on Livebearer's advice.

I have no idea how the store came up with that advice on the tiger barbs. Seems nearly irrevelant.

Doubtful that it's swim bladder disorder as well. Hopefully he's better soon, good luck !

 

[loraxchick]

the photos were extremely helpful (a picture says a thousand words!). he is likely constipated (overeating/overfed) and IS experiencing swim bladder problems. i do not think at all it is any sort of external bacterial infection. do not rule out dropsy but nothing you can do if it is really, other than to TRY to get his bloating under control and keep him comfortable.
a very important question: is he still eating? or even showing interest in food?
good that he is on his own now. you can begin treatment. first off do NOT feed him for up to 4 days. keep the bottom of his tank bare so you can see his poop (or rather, make sure he's pooping). if he hasnt pooped in 2 days of fasting, feed him no more than a quarter of a cooked, deshelled chopped pea (simply putting a pea, frozen or canned, into a cup of hot water for a few minutes will do, then squeeze it between your fingers to get the insides out of the shell. cut a half of a half into tiny pieces and feed him. do not feed again for 2 days).
in the meantime, go get some epsom salt. you can find these easily and VERY cheaply at any pharmacy or store where they sell medicines. their active ingredient (or rather chemical make up) is magnesium sulfate. do not confuse this with table salt/kosher salt/aquarium salt! add 1 tablespoon per 5 gal directly into his tank (just use some tankwater to dissolve the salt before adding). Epsom salt helps to draw fluid out (people use it on sore swollen feet/achy muscles in the bath). aquarium/table salt works the opposite and will push fluid into tissues, which is why you are not to use those...will make it worse! addition of epsom salt will help him poo (if he is in fact constipated) and draw fluid out of his body, hopefully diminishing the bloating and making easy to right himself. if he is severely constipated (dont worry-it happens) then it will help with the swimbladder problem once the pressure is off the organ(allowing gas exchange as per usual).
hopefully he will begin to look better in a few days. remember only to redose the salt into the water you are replacing, otherwise will build up in concentration in the tank. do not be lured into buying "swim bladder medication" which will be of no use. certain swimbladder disorders are caused by bacteria but it is very rare and difficult to treat, evn with very powerful meds.
he is very very bloated (hence the scale raising in the belly), but try the epsom salts and fasting/pea and see if it helps. really about all you can do. oh, one more thing. if he is finding it difficult to reach the surface to breathe, lower water level.
let us know how he gets on.
good luck to you both.
cheers!!

 

[Chard56]

the photos were extremely helpful (a picture says a thousand words!). he is likely constipated (overeating/overfed) and IS experiencing swim bladder problems. i do not think at all it is any sort of external bacterial infection. do not rule out dropsy but nothing you can do if it is really, other than to TRY to get his bloating under control and keep him comfortable.
a very important question: is he still eating? or even showing interest in food?
good that he is on his own now. you can begin treatment. first off do NOT feed him for up to 4 days. keep the bottom of his tank bare so you can see his poop (or rather, make sure he's pooping). if he hasnt pooped in 2 days of fasting, feed him no more than a quarter of a cooked, deshelled chopped pea (simply putting a pea, frozen or canned, into a cup of hot water for a few minutes will do, then squeeze it between your fingers to get the insides out of the shell. cut a half of a half into tiny pieces and feed him. do not feed again for 2 days).
in the meantime, go get some epsom salt. you can find these easily and VERY cheaply at any pharmacy or store where they sell medicines. their active ingredient (or rather chemical make up) is magnesium sulfate. do not confuse this with table salt/kosher salt/aquarium salt! add 1 tablespoon per 5 gal directly into his tank (just use some tankwater to dissolve the salt before adding). Epsom salt helps to draw fluid out (people use it on sore swollen feet/achy muscles in the bath). aquarium/table salt works the opposite and will push fluid into tissues, which is why you are not to use those...will make it worse! addition of epsom salt will help him poo (if he is in fact constipated) and draw fluid out of his body, hopefully diminishing the bloating and making easy to right himself. if he is severely constipated (dont worry-it happens) then it will help with the swimbladder problem once the pressure is off the organ(allowing gas exchange as per usual).
hopefully he will begin to look better in a few days. remember only to redose the salt into the water you are replacing, otherwise will build up in concentration in the tank. do not be lured into buying "swim bladder medication" which will be of no use. certain swimbladder disorders are caused by bacteria but it is very rare and difficult to treat, evn with very powerful meds.
he is very very bloated (hence the scale raising in the belly), but try the epsom salts and fasting/pea and see if it helps. really about all you can do. oh, one more thing. if he is finding it difficult to reach the surface to breathe, lower water level.
let us know how he gets on.
good luck to you both.
cheers!!

I totally concur with Loraxchick . That was an excellent diagnosis and treatment suggestion. I usually give them a 10 to 15 minute epsom salt bath rather than adding it directly to the tank water twice a day.

 

[mathiepe]

Thanks a lot for the very helpful advice all! I will try the pea-trick once, give him the epsom salt-bath and won't feed him for a few days. I'll keep you informed. Thanks again!

 

[betta fish]

The fish looks like a female which could mean she is very egg bound and from the photos she does look like she has dropsy in it's advanced stages, once they reach this stage it is very difficult to make them get better, even in the early stages there is usually very little hope but do all you can as others have advised and at least you know that you have tried, good luck with her.

 

[mathiepe]

Situation is still the same and didn't get any better while she is not showing much interest in peas. She might have eaten a slight bit but I don't think she has eaten of it at all to be honest. Meh, it's a pitty as she's laying on the ground for most of the time, only coming up to take a breath and go back down. Very little poop btw. Dropsy?

 

[mathiepe]

This disease is characterised by a swollen or hollow abdomen (Ascites). A concentration of fluid in the body tissues and cavities causes the fish's abdomen to become swollen and appear bloated. Swollen areas may exhibit a 'pine-cone' appearance caused by the fish's scales sticking out. You can best see this by viewing your fish from the top. Fish may also stop feeding, appear off-colour, become listless and/or lethargic, have sunken eyes, and hang at the top or stay at the bottom of the aquarium.
The condition affects the fish's internal organs, ceasing proper function.

Hmm, the explanation Wikipedia gives of dropsy is very much alike to the symptons the ill betta has. Does epsum salt damage healthy fish or is it good for prevention of this disease?

 

[Mauricia]

I would only use Epsom salt on a sick fish with bloating, not on a healthy fish. Fish aren't meant to live their lives in Epsom salt. If it really seems like constipation and she won't eat a pea you could try some daphnia, which works as a laxative and is more appetizing than peas. I don't really see any pine coning so I don't really think it's dropsy. If he keeps getting bigger then it might be the mystery bloat disease, which doesn't really have any good treatment.

 

[mathiepe]

Unfortunately she died this morning. She didn't show interest in the peas and was pretty much lifeless for the last few days. She did look a bit pined and turned more and more white near the end.

Thanks for you help anyway, appreciate it very much.

 

[jameshughes1989]

Sorry to hear that, I have had a few go this way too. Its tough but chin up

James

 

[silverrabbit]

Sorry she passed away

 

[loraxchick]

i am very sorry to hear that. however i would like to say a few things.
daphnia is better than peas, actually, as they are more digestible to carnivorous fish(such s bettas) and more individuals are likely to eat them. best to have some frozen on hand.
as for epsom salts. i agree dips (rather than treating the tank) are the way to go. but in a hospital tank (such as the OP) is fine for short term treatment, esp since it wasnt in the tank with other fish and being so bloated. my chosen vessel is a quart jar 30 mins 2x a day. and epsom salts are only if fluid retention compromises the fish's health, not an "all the time" additive.
prevention is key. it amazes me that fin issues are raised in this forum so often, granted they are the Most common betta ailment, but swimbladder/bloating issues are nearly as prevalent when you keep bettas for any length of time. best not to be caught off guard when it arises (especially with "older" bettas. youn one's dont seem to develop such issues which leads me to believe it is a chronic problem. likely due to over feeding and not the correct diet over their lifetimes). and i know there are a lot of "newer" folks on the betta forum in the last few months so id just like to raise the issue.
i do not like pellets for one simple reason, yet many folks say they are very necessary as staple. they are too big and absorb TOO much water for bettas. we as keepers tend to overfeed (they only need 2-4 pellets every 2 days and not all at once). it is the basis of saying freezedried are bad-cause constipation. flakes are a better choice as do not expand as much when added to the water and are less likely to "stop up" the fish. while with some fish pellets are fine, bettas digestive system is not designed to handle them well (down to breeding). if you feed pellets, please soak them first till soft. you will see how large they swell. a bettas eye is as big as its stomach. feeding more than will fit in their eye in a feeding session is asking for problems. that is why people recommend peas once a week with this particular fish. feed more frozen bloodworms and you will lessen the problem. sure, they are high in protein (what they eat in the wild, along with other smal critters), but are more natural than compressed,dry foods. like with any food, dont overdo it. 3 every few days suffices.
dropsy is another issue. it is not its own disease but more of a symptom of an underlying issue. FLUID RETENTION! im certain most betta keepers here are aware and afraid of dropsy. every owner should have epsom salts at hand. they are so cheap and easy to find it is worth having them in emergencies (constipation/swimbladder/"dropsy"-all high on the list of betta ailments).
i still believe there was a swimbladder issue with this particular fish, caused by severe constipation (girlie or not, that is not eggbound...that is swollen).
live and learn. i hope you dont dwell on it and get another fish that can use a clearly GREAT home!
all the best!
cheers