Sick Betta

[rdd1952]

My betta seems to have a swim bladder problem and just lays on the bottom. He's almost 2 years old. His color is good (checked and old thread with photos from when I first got him) and he comes to the top to eat when we feed him but then goes right back to th bottom. His fins seem to be clamped. There are no signs of disease or injuries. All water parameters are where they should be. I have fed him a cooked pea (after withholding food for 3 days) which he ate right up but it didnt seem to help.

From searching the forum, it seems that the clamped fins ar more a symptom of something else rather than a disease in itself. Any idea what I need to try to treat him with.

 

[knt5005]

My betta seems to have a swim bladder problem and just lays on the bottom. He's almost 2 years old. His color is good (checked and old thread with photos from when I first got him) and he comes to the top to eat when we feed him but then goes right back to th bottom. His fins seem to be clamped. There are no signs of disease or injuries. All water parameters are where they should be. I have fed him a cooked pea (after withholding food for 3 days) which he ate right up but it didnt seem to help.

From searching the forum, it seems that the clamped fins ar more a symptom of something else rather than a disease in itself. Any idea what I need to try to treat him with.

Well, hopefully someone comes along who can help you more than I can. I would suggest getting one of those breeding nets and lay him in that so he doesn't have to work as hard to get to the top for air. If you have a filter running, I would turn it down, or off, if at all possible.

Good luck.

 

[-germ-]

Clamped fins and resting on the bottom are common symptoms of;
adverse water conditions;
exhaustion; as a result of old age, hypoxia, over heating, spawning, aggression
swimbladder; as a result of disease/bacterial infection/injury
alkalosis; is he in hard or soft water?
chilling;
severe stress; possibly as a result of water change
If theres no other symptoms then your guess will probably be just as good as anyone elses.
No great help, both are signs of stress or irritation which can really be as a result of anything.
I'd agree with Knt's advice and then under treat with a good general med (if such a thing exists) i use tetramedica.

Good luck

 

[*Fishkies*]

If you can an easier thing to do would be just lower the water level in his tank.

Do you filter the tank?
How big is his tank?
Does he live alone?
How long have you had him?

It is possible that he is just getting older and may not feel like moving around a whole lot. I have been told that once bettas hit about the age of 2 years old, they slow down. I have seen this coming true in my 2 year old betta each and everyday.

Have you tried adding a little salt to the tank? Sometimes this cheers up a betta.

 

[rdd1952]

is he in hard or soft water?

No. Actually, we have very soft water. My GH & KH are both 0. Also, the pH in his tank is right at 7.0.

Do you filter the tank?
How big is his tank?
Does he live alone?
How long have you had him?

It is possible that he is just getting older and may not feel like moving around a whole lot. I have been told that once bettas hit about the age of 2 years old, they slow down. I have seen this coming true in my 2 year old betta each and everyday.

Have you tried adding a little salt to the tank? Sometimes this cheers up a betta.

The tank is a 5 gallon, filtered and he has it all to himself except for some plants. I've had him since October of 2005 so a little less than 2 years. As for salt, I have not used any but do have some aquarium salt. Is that the right type and how much should I use?

One thing I forgot to mention in the original post is that he eats but seems to have lost weight, not that bettas weight a lot anyway. He just seems to not be as fat as he used to be. In some of the threads I found, it was suggested that was a sign of internal parasites. Its hard to believe I've had tanks for 2 and a half years and am so clueless on diseases and treatment since I've never had any real issues.

 

[-germ-]

How is he RDD?
Try an antiparasitic medicated food, jungle do them apparently, i've never used their meds though....
If they have no medicated food add a liquid antiparasitic treatment (whatever the recommended amount is for standard treatment) to a little water and allow some freeze-dried food to float in it for 15 mins, then bung it in the tank....
Just on a personal tip i've always mildly undertreated...
Not that i've had many problems as yet.
Good luck

 

[rdd1952]

I went to the largest LFS in Charlotte today and the only thing they had that said it treated internal and external parasites was Parasite Clear from Jungle. I bought it and have added the first treatment to the tank about 2 hours ago. I undersreated slightly too as it said one tablet for 10 gallon (this is a 5 gallon tank) so I cut it in half and then cut about another third off that. He is still the same for now as I'm sure it will take a days or so at least for it to work.

 

[Kay1123]

Sounds to me like what happened to my last betta and my friends. Old age. I believe their life span is only 2 or 3 years. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Depending on how old he was when you got him it could just be that he's old. I thought there was something wrong with mine also when he started doing pretty much the same thing. It got to the point where he wouldn't move for half a day and I wondered if he was still alive.

Keep up treatment just in case it is a parasite but be prepared for old age.

 

[Suicidal_AZN]

sounds like your betta is at the last end of its life.
most bettas life span is only 2 year!!
but if your lucky then i might live up to 3 year.

 

[DarkEntity]

Most Bettas will live past 5 years easily if they are well bred and looked after. Unfortunately these days that doesnt happen. They interbreed parents with siblings and vice versa...this all damages the genes making for weak fish and generally poor quality.

If its 2 years of life with you then id go for 3 years old, and possibly at the end of its life. Thats the main probalem with buying Betta from retail outlets, you never know how bad or good the strain is that he/she has come from.

 

[rdd1952]

Thanks for all the replies. Just out of curiosity, how long does it take a betta to grow big enough to actually be sold? Is that in the 6 month to year range?

 

[rdd1952]

The first dose doesn't seem to have done anything. He hasn't been off the bottom in a while and I actually thouht he was dead when I walkd by a little earlier as he was laying on his side between a rock and the side of the tank. I tapped the side of the tank right at him several times and he didn't move but when I stuck in a pair of tongs to possibly lift him out, he moved but went right back to the bottom and laid back down. I guess now I am at the point of whether it's even worth the effort to add the second dose of medication or not. And also, since it appears that he is on his last leg and just lays on the bottom, should I put him out of his misery.

 

[-germ-]

Can't really say, euthanasia is personal.
I wouldn't euthanise unless the fish was seriously visibly stressed, even then it would be due just as much to my own discomfort as the fishes, really don't know.
See primary method 3.
I feel really sorry for you being in the situation and even more so for Fletch.

If it was me i'd probably continue treating and hope for the best.

 

[rdd1952]

In the past on the couple of occasions I've had tetras that I had to put down, I've put them in a zip lock bag and simply smashed them with a brick. I know it sounds gross but it's quick and Im pretty sure they don't suffer. I don't think I can do that with Fletch. I don't know why but it's different. I will add another dose of medication and see what that does. I also going to feed him something that will sink to the bottom so he can get it without having to come to the top and chase a floating pellet.

 

[happyannie]

He might not be so miserable.. I've had two old ones now that still keep trying even though they're old and have tumors. I agree with another poster about getting him a way of crawling up to the surface for air. I've used plants before and taken down the water level too. Unless there are outright horrible symptoms I'd just do a wait and see. Maybe he's happy being King of the Deep...??