suicidal betta - Updated 4/6

[bunny]

Background:
3 gallon tank with biowheel filter
1 male betta
1 small snail
78 - 80 degrees C.
Nitrates - 0
Nitrites - 0
Ammonia - 0.25 (GAH!)
Tank running for roughly a year

I turned on the light in the tank this morning and my betta was nowhere to be seen. Pure panic. In the back of the tank there is a small opening a little bit larger than 1 inch square (maybe it's 2 inches). There are two cords coming out of the hole, one for the filter and one for the heater. The heater blocks a good part of the hole.

Somehow my betta managed to jump out of the hole and I found him on my kitchen counter. I don't know how long he was there, but he was still moist and when I picked him up, he flopped around. I put him back into the tank. He's very listless. There are no visible marks on him.

I've covered up the hole so he can't jump out again. I've done a water change, and will do another one, but I don't want to stress him out any more than he already is so I won't do it until later tonight. Is there anything else I can do to give him the best chance at surviving this stressful event? Why would he jump out?

 

[shadow]

bettas are very good jumpers. though i never had a problem with them jumping out of the tank, i did have a problem where i had one betta in a display "floating hatchery" and one in the tank and the betta jumped into the tank (luckly no one was hurt) so it doesn't happen again, i would lower the water level in the tank.

he's probably stressed out a bit so i would leave him alone for a while until he gets used to being in the tank again. good luck with the fish!

 

[Tropjunky]

never heard of a suicidal betta but some fish do need to see a shrink so lol. but i'd give it time to settle in like shadow said.

 

[wuvmybetta]

I agree, rest is what he needs. Also some sort of slime coat re-enforcement like Novaqua would be good. It's odd that you would have ammonia in such a mildly stocked,well established tank with a bio-wheel. Perhaps your dechlorinator is altering your readings.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Back before I knew better I kept my betta's in bowls. I never had a problem with them jumping out until I had to change the water, then it was crazy. I'd keep an eye on him, if mine can survive falling two feet and being covered in dog hair then I think your betta will be fine.

 

[bunny]

He's still in the tank swimming around a little bit. However, he'd not eating. And he doesn't look good. The underside part of his head is oddly dark and looks swollen or bloated. Even though he's swimming, he's still pretty listless as well.

Should I keep the tank light off?

 

[SnowyzMom]

Let us know how he manages. It almost sounds like he got a bruise on his head/chin....poor little guy. Hope he makes it. I definitely would turn off the light, providing it's not pitch dark in there. Any med/water treatment you could add that would boost his immune system would help....Aquasafe is one we have(used for chlorine removal but also helps protect). Melafix helps with wounds. Would anything like EasyBalance added to the water help? Really wondering what might assist him. He sure needs rest and no stress. Sorry I can't be more help.

SnowyZMom

 

[bunny]

He's not doing well. He looks like his head is swollen. In fact, his whole body looks that way. He looks like he has dropsy. Should I treat him as if he does? Maracyn-Two right?

 

[wuvmybetta]

Yes, you'll need to use the maracyn 2 along with tetracyline. Are his scales sticking out? Like a pine cone?

Dropsy is usually from kidney failure/infection, perhaps he bruised his insides up pretty bad while he was flopping around which weakened his kidney and allowed a bacterial infection to set in. Best wishes to both of you!

 

[bunny]

Well, I added the Maracyn-2, but it didn't do any good, he died.

But yet, his scales were sticking out. I think I read somewhere that dropsy brought on by injury to the kidneys is always fatal. But there is something I was wondering....

Is it within the realm of possibilities that there was something on the counter like soap or cleaner that he landed in and that basically poisoned him? When I found him this morning, his fins were pretty much deteriorated. Is that part of dropsy?

I'm sure he had dropsy, but the fin thing baffles me. This is why I'm wondering if the tank got contaminated in some way when I returned him to it and it just slowly killed him. *sigh*

 

[ger87410]

Bettas fins seems to disappear after they die.

 

[havoc_crazy]

.. sorry about your betta. i get the feeling that his fins might have been hurt by soap or something on the counter, causing them to deteriorate

 

[wuvmybetta]

Well, I added the Maracyn-2, but it didn't do any good, he died.

But yet, his scales were sticking out. I think I read somewhere that dropsy brought on by injury to the kidneys is always fatal. But there is something I was wondering....

Is it within the realm of possibilities that there was something on the counter like soap or cleaner that he landed in and that basically poisoned him? When I found him this morning, his fins were pretty much deteriorated. Is that part of dropsy?

I'm sure he had dropsy, but the fin thing baffles me. This is why I'm wondering if the tank got contaminated in some way when I returned him to it and it just slowly killed him. *sigh*

I see what you're saying, and it could very well be possible. I kept bettas in my kitchen forever, up until recently when I killed a beautiful purple female with a drop of cleaner that came off my hands when I reached over her tank to hit the garbage disposal switch.

Had it been stuck to his sides and then diluted in the water upon returning to his tank, your theory is quite possible.

I've never heard of the fins detiorating with dropsy, especially that quickly. From what I understand of dropsy, it's a slow death.