Skinny Betta..

[catxx]

one of my rescue boys, who even at his worst point was fairly chunky, over the last few weeks i have noticed he's getting skinnier and skinner, but not a sunken stomach. he's still active and eating however, jumping at food and almost pushed a flare (but not quite) at a mirror last night.

his name is de niro, a combtail i think, and he came to me with stubs for fins after being shoved in a tank with paradise gouramis. they grew back after 9 weeks and are still fairly full and flowing, but his body weight has just dropped. he lives alone in a 5 us gallon hex (sand substrate, bogwood and live plants), the hex is fully mature (earthy smell and all).

he's fed between 3 and 6 attison betta pro pellets a day, which is more than my other bettas because of his skinny state. occasionally they'll all get jellied brine shrimp also.

he couldn't have something internal could he? i don't want this wee boy to go, he's already gone through so much! he was going to go on to an empty 7 gallon at my brothers in the next few weeks, but i'll only move him when he's healthy.

 

[WILDER]

So he's definately eating well but still looking skinny.

Being skinny means fish tb, old age, or internal parasites.
What does it look like when he goes to the toilet, is it long stringy white poo.
Check his anus to see if its enlarged, or red and inflamed.

 

[catxx]

i haven't seen him poo, but then i haven't seen any stringy poo at all either. i'll have a look at his bottom this evening!

fish tb is so rare i doubt it's that. but i am leaning towards internal parasites which i'm dreading.

my brothers last betta died from probable internal parasites or even fish tb (had a horrendously crooked back) i don't want to give him another sick one!

 

[WILDER]

Bless him.
Tb not as rare as you think, but don't really like to say tb as it hard to say anyway.
Yes internal parasites I would look at more first when a fish is skinny.
The problem with iinternal parasites is that they damage the organs, so if a fish is not going to the toilet organ failure.

 

[catxx]

there is a nice normal round poo sitting on the sand. nothing stringy, and no redness or anything around his bottom-area.
he's still very lively in himself, and pounces on food.

the day i got him: (almost a year ago)

9 weeks on from above:

Now:

 

[WILDER]

That's good then.
Does he flick and rub himself on things in the tank.

 

[catxx]

nope, no flicking and rubbing at all, see pics above.

 

[WILDER]

Would you say he was an old looking betta, as they can go skinny in old age.

 

[catxx]

that's what i was thinking it could be. there was no way to tell how old he was when i got him, he was a big boy though, so he could be almost 3 years old.

 

[WILDER]

Bless him only just find a good home.
It could be old age then,