Swim Bladder Help

[liz2]

My Clancy who I adopted from Joby has slight swim bladder. Yesterday I didnt realise he could see my fancy fantail who I was cleaning out, and he flared at him for ages. Of course he is really stressed today, wont eat and is hanging round the surface of the water. I am thinking of really lowering his water level anyway but he is not a happy fish!

 

[liz2]

OK I have lowered water level and had to change his heater as well. He has eaten a bloodworm but he is a bit sideways, and his colour has paled. I have got sb meds but am unsure of whether to use it. HELP

 

[soritan]

Sorry to hear about your boy. Swim bladder happens to even the most persnicky of bettas.

I'm not sure I know what SB meds is, clarify for me, please? I suspect it's a regional medication, as I'm not sure I've heard of that in the US...

 

[liz2]

hold on i'll get bottle.

its interpet swim bladder stuff. It says to put salt in at the same time. Trouble is I hate putting stuff in in case it kills them. It looks lethatl stuff its got formaldehyde in.?

 

[soritan]

I've heard Epsom Salts works wonders for betta constipation, which is the most common cause of swim bladder. Maybe do a search on this forum and give it a read? I have a bottle of that stuff under my sink, but never gave it to any of my bettas simply because they always get better before I feel treatment is necessary (like, a day or two).

 

[liz2]

Thanks. I am going to put a speck of salt in the water and have a word with him!

 

[ron1]

how is he now and what did you say to him

 

[Joby]

Poor Clancy

I hope he feels better soon. Some will live just like that, on their sides most of the time, I had a PK male like it once, was hardly ever upright. Just lower the water level so he's comfy

 

[liz2]

Thanks Joby.

Hi Ron, I explained to him that I was lowering the water level and we would have peas for dinner so it would help him go to the loo!

ps if they dont want to eat peas..they wont!

 

[BWBettas]

Knowing you, the Northampton nutter you are HAHA you probably sat there and had a lecture with him about why peas make him feel better and by the time you finished he goes "hey im better now so you can go away "



Bret
From Lowestoft

 

[sukie]

Stop feeding him for a couple days. . . do the epsom salt bath and try to feed him a pea. . .

(you already know this stuff ~ I just like repeating what everyone else said! )

 

[liz2]

OK Bret...I will get you back soon


He didnt eat his pea, and I keep forgetting to get a turkey baster.


Dont feed any bettas on a Sunday but they all had bloodworms yesterday as a treat. So no food for anyone today!

 

[liz2]

he hasnt been to the bathroom yet (arent I polite?) any ideas...very sluggish...got some clean water ready going to change him again tea time. I think he needs to go thats the problem!

ps off topic just discovered you can stack another tank on top of those critter tanks

 

[liz2]

he has been and he is swimming about like a good one now. I didnt take last nights pea out actually it was about as big as a grain of rice and he must have eaten it cos thats gone. I am not going to change his water as he does get easily stressed out.
I went to my local pet shop tonight and they had 2 bettas in there, one was handsome all turq. and red and blue. He was playing with the water from the filter and scaring the guppies. I told him if he was there Saturday he could come home with me, but he looked really happy.

 

[Joby]

Good to hear he went at last