Please Help

[Mugen]

My oldest fish, Mugen, has been having a little bit of trouble getting around lately. At first, I had him in a 2g divided tank with another betta, where he lived for about seven months with no problem. Then he seemed to be having a little trouble moving around so I moved him to his own 2g tank and cleaned the one he was previously in with a 100% water change. Even after being isolated, his condition has suddenly plummeted. I've always kept their water clean doing regular changes and keeping the temperature at a normal level.

His symptoms include bloating, an inability to keep equilibrium and floating on his side at the top of the water line. At first I thought it might be constipation, but he hasn't eaten anything in at least three days now. At this point he can't even really reach the food to eat it. His scales are seeming to pine-cone and I can't tell if they're merely doing that because of his bloating, or if it is actually dropsy. He is completely exhausted and totally stressed.. any time I even come near him he freaks out and tries to swim around. At the moment I have him in a small 1g tank with the reccommended dosage of a betta anti-bacterial that is very similar to Bettafix.. (I can't remember what it's called right now.) and no gravel.

If you have any suggestions or ideas I would really appreciate it.. please Mugen is extremely important to me.

Thanks

 

[Dibari]

My first thought was definitely swim bladder, but now that you've added pineconing, I'm not so sure it isn't dropsy. Is there any way you could get pictures?

Have you seen him poop at all? The not eating thing concerns me..
Is his whole body pineconing, or is it just his belly?

 

[Maxsmom]

If the pineconing is just around the belly - then I would say that it's swim bladder. Swim bladder can be a result of an illness or constipation. If he hasn't eaten in 3 days and he's still bloated and hasn't passed any poo... try giving him a small piece of the meat of a frozen and thawed pea.

How much, and what, are you feeding your betta?

If it's dropsy - then his entire body should be pineconed... and there's usually not much you can do at that point.

How often have you changed the water in the 2 gallon divided tank? 2 bettas in a small tank like that can produce A LOT of ammonia in a short time.