Saving My Betta...is He Too Far Gone?

[barb-e]

I bought a betta about 11 days ago. He is in a 2.5 gallon tank with a filter and a heater. Early on I noticed that he wasn't eating. He would just sit in the front of the tank and not move much and ignored all food. I removed some of the decorations in the tank and suddenly he became more active. He still wasn't eating so I tried giving him a pea but he wouldn't eat it. Surprisingly he still had energy and swam around. Then he started hiding under the filter all day and then I would go downstairs at night and see him swimming around like normal. Now things aren't looking so good. He is floating on his side. He spent most of yesterday laying on his side at the bottom of the tank. I noticed that he had stringy white poop and figured maybe he had a parasite so I added some parasite medicine. I gave him a salt bath...i've done everything I can think of. I keep checking in on him and he looks dead until I look at his gills and see that they are still moving. Has anyone ever had any luck reviving a betta that was this sick and had gone this long without eating?

 

[Better is Betta]

Was he active and healthy when you first brought him home? The damage may have been done before you bought him. I'm suspecting nitrate poisoning. Water changes with the aquarium salt to help. It takes me an hour to do that as abrupt water changes causes more problems, but if he is too far gone. It means his organs have been affected then maybe its too late. But don't give up I may be wrong and someone else may have a better solution

 

[barb-e]

when i first got him, he acted like he was afraid of everything around him and just sat in one spot in the front of the tank for a whole day. After I moved stuff around he was active. He still tries to swim but spends most of his time floating on his side. He has not eaten or even tried to eat since I got him. I dont have a water testing kit so I don't know my nitrate levels.

 

[Better is Betta]

It sounds like he wasn't the best when you bought him. You don't know how long they stay in their containers with putrid water or how they were treated in transport. Normally when I bring a betta home they seem to perk up because of the new water conditions and are eating within hours. All I can say is keep his water pristine and maybe away from light, it doesn't matter if he wont eat, they can go a week without food. Lets face it when you're crook the last thing on your mind is eating. Hang in there you are doing your best for him thats the main thing. Best of luck and keep us posted.