Skinny

[Prizm]

For more than a few months, my betta fish has become extremely thin to the point of being almost translucent, and he's very lethargic. He used to be fat and energetic like a goldfish. Is there anything I can do?

I appreciate any help!

He does still eat, by the way.

 

[Liberty802]

Sounds like he has parasites! Try Jungle Medicated Parastie pellets, I've had great success with these, maybe combine it with a parasitic treatment such as aquari-sol.

 

[Prizm]

Sounds like he has parasites! Try Jungle Medicated Parastie pellets, I've had great success with these, maybe combine it with a parasitic treatment such as aquari-sol.

Oh my poor scaly babies! I had no idea..Do you think they'll be okay? I know a lot of you will want to whack me over the head for this, but I actually thought the male fish was depressed and that maybe he was lonely (because back in his healthier days, his aquarium was situated next to my female's tank and he was active then, whereas now the two tanks are separate and both are sulky) I broke a big rule and put "Dolphina" in the male's 1 gallon tank. I supervised them very closely for hours and continued to keep an eye on them for signs of conflict or fin nippage, but for a while the trick seemed to work! They don't seem to be threatened by eachother in the least, but in the span of only a few days, Dolphina became just as thin and now they lay near eachother in the same lethargic manner They eat together too, but struggle to the surface to do it. Swimming seems difficult for them. Are the parasites basically starving them to death? Should I feed them twice as often? I work at Petsmart and will be going in tomorrow to pick up my paycheck, so I'll pick up some Jungle Medicated Parasite pellets then.

 

[Taridan]

The very first thing I'd do... is Seperate them. They might be getting along now, but by moving the female into the males tank, even if she was healthy before, it sounds like she's picked up whatever he has. To save on treatment costs you could leave them in the same tank and just divide them, using a diy divider or a store bought one, but once they feel better they will probably start to fight, and its not a risk you should take. If you can't divide the tank, move the girl back to her tank, and maybe if you think ther're lonely try to find a way where they can see each other, but not be in the same tank.

2ndly, I would test your water and find out what all the stats are for it.
If everything is normal, I would then lower the water level to about half, since it sounds like they're having trouble reaching the surface.
Next, examine your fish. If the lighting isn't that good (Not sure what size tank you have) take them to a room where the light is bright, or use a bright flashlight, and examine them.
Do they have any odd colorations on them, any white, any spots, any fuzz? any red marks or sores?
You say they've had color loss, can you see anything odd around their gills?
umm, after you do that, report back with the details and either post them here or in the emergency section.

 

[Prizm]

The very first thing I'd do... is Seperate them. They might be getting along now, but by moving the female into the males tank, even if she was healthy before, it sounds like she's picked up whatever he has. To save on treatment costs you could leave them in the same tank and just divide them, using a diy divider or a store bought one, but once they feel better they will probably start to fight, and its not a risk you should take. If you can't divide the tank, move the girl back to her tank, and maybe if you think ther're lonely try to find a way where they can see each other, but not be in the same tank.

2ndly, I would test your water and find out what all the stats are for it.
If everything is normal, I would then lower the water level to about half, since it sounds like they're having trouble reaching the surface.
Next, examine your fish. If the lighting isn't that good (Not sure what size tank you have) take them to a room where the light is bright, or use a bright flashlight, and examine them.
Do they have any odd colorations on them, any white, any spots, any fuzz? any red marks or sores?
You say they've had color loss, can you see anything odd around their gills?
umm, after you do that, report back with the details and either post them here or in the emergency section.

Their colorations are noticibly bland, and their fins are a little stiff, but they don't have white spots or sores. The male has a red splotch on his head, but he has always had that marking and I've had him over a year now. I've noticed though that it deepens in color when he's sick. I can't see anything around their gills, but I remember being alarmed that Dolphina (the female) had very red looking gills, and that was when she was in her own 1 gallon tank. She was lethargic before I put her in with the male so God only knows what she had They are in a 1.5 gallon hex tank which is heavilly planted with a large, silky plant with big leaves and some fake grass on the bottom, and a light at the top which seems to heat the water (I don't have a thermometer on hand.) As for the water, would distilled water do? Or perhaps spring water? I'll buy what they need, but I'd like to avoid purchasing a testing kit, if possible.

*edits*
I just noticed that the female's gills are bright red on the inside. She took kind of a deep under water breath with her gills and I was able to catch a glimps inside and I noticed they are pretty red in color.