Omg

[starrynightxxi]

he ate! the poor yellow betta ate a pellet! I'm completely shocked. I figured he'd be dead by now. he hasn't eaten (i offered, he wouldn't take) in probably a month and in the last while he developed not only what appeared to be signs of dropsy, but a hole in his side ( ) I was sure he'd be dead any day now, but he's eating...! i know it doesn't mean he'll live, especially being in such a weakened state, but it gives me hope

 

[BWBettas]

Ooh pull through little yellow betta! hope he does well for you starry

 

[starrynightxxi]

well, i'm hopeful, but not getting my hopes up, if you get my meaning... but i guess you never know. part of me wonders if the hole in his side gave the medication a way into his body that it wouldn't have otherwise had. ick, i don't know why the poor thing is still alive (aside from the fact that i don't have the guts to euthanize him, though i've done it before).

then again every animal i've ever known has pulled this "look i'm getting better" crud, and then died the next day

 

[BWBettas]

Do what i would do and prepare for the worst. Then your no as upset as you would be if it dies and youll be really happy if it lives..!

Bret

 

[Joby]

Aww poor little fella sure sounds like a fighter, good on him

 

[starrynightxxi]

he has more energy tonight than last night. He's more active, swimming around the tank a bit, and still eating. fed him some pea and a piece of defrosted krill, both of which he attacked as though he hasn't eaten in forever. I did the math and realized that it has, in fact, been almost TWO months since he last ate anything, not one, so the fact that he is alive is beyond shocking to me. He's a tough little beastie. trying to resist the urge to feed him until he can't eat anymore because i know that will probably kill him. send good thoughts, he's not out of the woods yet!

 

[ezrock]

He looks pretty good for a fish who hasn't eaten in two months!!! Here's hopin for the best

-Ian

 

[starrynightxxi]

if he were healthy and hadn't eaten in that long, i'd be less inclined to be worried about him. although most fish (especially LFS fish) aren't bred from real sturdy stock these days, they ARE still bult to survive. it's like us, if we didn't have food, we would be unhappy, but we could live for a lot longer than you would think. It's something I learned when I was younger. i was really bad at remembering to feed my fish, but I never lost any of them to THAT. My losses were probably due to water quality. It would certainly explain th massive goldfish die out. But even that is something fish are more resilient towards than most people give them credi for being. I'm not condoning it, just pointing it out.

I just.. i can't believe he's survived whatever was eating him. I mean, it ate a whole in his side! I don't know what I was seeing (organs), but I know i should have been seeing them! He does seem to have a lot of fighter in him, Joby.

Anyhow, more updates, he's still eating and swimming a bit, though obviously very weak. he spends a lot of time resting at the bottom, or in that plant as it keeps him close to the surface. But his color is coming back, those slightly darker, silverish smudges on his face ought to be brown, and today they're beginning to show a bit better. Also when I went to feed him he flared his fins a little (so ragged! ) so i continue to hold out hope for the poor guy. it certainly seems like he wants to make it.

Feeding him one piece of krill and a bit of pea a day.

 

[snowyangel]

Keep your head high little betta.
He's a very purdy boy btw, starrynight.

 

[vanvran]

That's amazing! Maybe that's not the ONLY reason they're called fighting fish. Is it possible he was nibbling on plants? Assuming they're not silk hehe. Wishing you and your betta the best!

 

[bettas4me]

I'm so glad he's doing better!!!

 

[Loko17]

That's amazing! Maybe that's not the ONLY reason they're called fighting fish. Is it possible he was nibbling on plants? Assuming they're not silk hehe. Wishing you and your betta the best!

Bettas are mostly Carniverous so its unlikely that he would stay alive that long nibbling on plants. Thats why so many bettas die when people keep them in those betta vases with the lily plant and dont feed them because they think they will survive buy eating the roots, they dont. I'm also glad the little guy is doing better. Sending good thoughts his way.

 

[starrynightxxi]

-lol- they're silk anyhow, so no, he wasn't eating the plants.

 

[liz2]

I hope he pulls through. He is such a little trooper. If we all send good vibes he might make it. If he doesnt you will have given him the very very best chance anyone could have done. lol