Rapidly Deteriorating Betta Help!

[DavyNix]

Hi All,

Firstly sorry for not searching the forum first – every time if try to search the page returns an error – my Betta is getting worse quickly so I need urgent help!

Ok, he’s normally very active and sports a stunning crimson and blue colouration. Within the last 48 hours he's lost nearly all of his colour and is barely moving.

The only changes to his environment have been the cleaning of the plump (slowly clogged up over time) which when cleaned significantly increased the current in the water. I’ve also changed the air pump, which is slightly more powerful than the old one. The tank is quite small 65L / 13 G so these changes have a noticeable effect on the tank.

All remaining fish in the tank are fine and well.

Any advice would be really appreciated!

Thanks,

Dave.

 

[devon_charm]

The sudded upping in water movement could have upset him but it sounds like it could be a little more that that. What are the water stats? and can you get a picture? Also does he look bloated at all?

 

[wilsonnw8]

Firstly Bettas cant cope with fast currents turn that thing off and put some tights or a deflecter near it the guy might be worn out. Secondly did you clean the filter with fresh water? what did you clean it with? Does he have any marks on him at all? First and foremost turn that filter flow down Bettas can die of exhaustion its increadibly stressful for them. If he is really bad get him out in his own water in a smaller container (not permanantly just so he can recover) and add a bit of stress coat.

 

[fish.com1]

''All remaining fish in the tank are fine and well.''

What other fish are in the tank? It might be these which are causing the problem. And like th other posts said turn the flow on the pump down.

 

[dusky]

if inactive & losing colour I personaly would start on anti internal bacteria meds . Is he still eating or is he losing weight? Any I've had go like this have always responded well to this treatment.

 

[DavyNix]

Hi All - Thanks for your comments.

Other Fish: 10 Neons, 2 Mollies, 3 Corydoras and a young Albino Shark - They were all put in within a month of each other so none of them are new and none of them bother the Betta.

It's a Jewel tank and so has the cheap nasty built-in pump which doesn't have flow control, I’ll find something to take the pace out of it (have also turned the air pump off for now... It's well planted and so well oxygenated). It was only the pump I cleaned, didn't go near the filter and it was done using water from the tank.

I've included a picture (he is still alive believe it or not) his body is normally the same colour as his fins.

If I was to move him into a bowl of his own would I need to add a heater?

I'll start him on some internal bacteria treatment while I await your responses - list anything I might need and I’ll get to my local specialist today (have already done a water change and added stress coat).

Thanks a lot - your help is appreciated.

Dave.

 

[Connor Rimmer]

im no expert but just from reading threads, i know that neons will nip at fins. They could have made him rather stressed. I know all forms of sharks are aggressive, they too could have been stressful for him!

If you move him to a bowl on his own you would need a heater I guess, being as hes tropical.

ill leave the final words up to the more experienced though

 

[Goodygumdrops]

When you say you cleaned the pump,what exactly did you do?If you stripped the filter and washed it you may have started an ammonia cycle,get some major water changes in.
Sorry,I just read,you didn't touch the filter.Although bettas don't like fast flow,I doubt it's that,he looks very ill.
Sorry,another edit,not quite sure what you mean about washing the pump out with tank water?

 

[betta fish]

It looks like your fish has dropsy, this is a bad condition i'm afraid that usually can't be cured, perhaps try some anti bacteria meds?

 

[liz2]

He does look ill. could be dropsy I have never managed to cure this. Fingers crossed for him.

 

[DavyNix]

Hi Guys - Thanks for all your efforts.. unfortunatly our little friend has just died.

...never thought i would become attached to a fish....gutted

 

[LauraFrog]

That's a shame, it's horrible when something like this happens but there probably wasn't anything you could have done.

Your betta had advanced septicaemia, or a bacterial blood infection that has resulted in dropsy, cloudy eye, finrot and the other symptoms you described. It's a good idea to treat the whole tank with melafix (which will not affect the filter) to thin out the population of bad bacteria.

 

[DavyNix]

Thanks Laura - will do