Update: Injured Betta!

[Gizaroo2]

I came upstairs about ten minutes ago and peeked at my bettas who were both happily swimming around their tanks.

Just a moment ago I turned around to look at my new guy (as he's so pretty!) only to not see him anywhere. I got up and looked closer in his tank...he somehow got himself wedged in a teeny hole in a terra cotta pot that is in the tank! I don't know how he did it...but I was able to gently help him out, but in his struggle to extract himself from the hole, he tore some scales off his back by his dorsal fin and on his side around his belly.

What can I do to help him out? I've never had a betta get stuck in one of those...I'm panicking a bit, I admit it. Will he be ok?

Here are some pictures of what he looked like earlier today...and what he looks like now for comparison. Both pots have been removed from the tank, and he is in a tub of water hanging on the side of the aquarium until I know what to do with him.

What he looked like prior:

 

[tnfishlady]

I'd add a few drops of stress coat or similar water conditioner that helps with the slime coat if you have it. If not, just watch him, he will most likely be ok.

 

[Gizaroo2]

I'd add a few drops of stress coat or similar water conditioner that helps with the slime coat if you have it. If not, just watch him, he will most likely be ok.

I do have some Prime water conditioner that has stress coat in it on hand, and I have a piece of an Indian Almond leaf floating in there.

Thank you for the advice. He's back in his tank now, drops added. He seems to be acting ok and doesn't have his fins all clamped up or anything. Can't believe he did that.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

The most important thing you can do for him is to make sure your water quality is absolutely perfect. On top of that I would use something like esha2000 which is a broad-spectrum treatment and should stop any infection taking hold on those wounds.

 

[Gizaroo2]

The most important thing you can do for him is to make sure your water quality is absolutely perfect. On top of that I would use something like esha2000 which is a broad-spectrum treatment and should stop any infection taking hold on those wounds.

I don't have any of that on hand..and being Christmas, the petstores are closed today and monday. I won't be able to get any until Tuesday.

Is that safe for invertebrates? I have 3 tiny snails (2 are half the size of a pencil eraser and one is the size of a pencil lead) in the tank. Or would I need to remove them temporarily when using that treatment?

He seems to be doing well this morning, and is swimming around his tank like nothing ever happened. His back and sides where the scales came off aren't nearly as red as what they were last night.

 

[Essjay]

Leave the pots to dry out then silicone a button or some such over the hole. I siliconed a small circle of plastic mesh over the hole in the pot in my betta's tank.

Until you can get to the shops, a daily water change will keep the water extra clean so he'll be less likely to pick up an infection. As for the snails, could you put them in with your other betta for the duration of treatment? I always move my snails to another tank if I need to medicate on better safe than sorry grounds.

 

[Gizaroo2]

Leave the pots to dry out then silicone a button or some such over the hole. I siliconed a small circle of plastic mesh over the hole in the pot in my betta's tank.

Until you can get to the shops, a daily water change will keep the water extra clean so he'll be less likely to pick up an infection. As for the snails, could you put them in with your other betta for the duration of treatment? I always move my snails to another tank if I need to medicate on better safe than sorry grounds.

I can, but he might eat them. He's really territorial (both of my others are). What type of silicone should I use? The stuff like you would for repairing a tank seam, or just regular silicone? I don't have any on hand at the moment, so would have to buy some when I get to the petstore. Both pots were immediately removed last night after he was stuck. Don't know what he was thinking...the hole was facing the corner of the tank with practically no space behind it. lol

How much of a water change should I do every day? just a 20-30% one like I do normally every few days, or a larger %?

 

[Essjay]

I use aquarium silicone. It is possible to use other types providing they don't have mould killer in them, but I prefer to pay a bit more and get one made for aquariums because I know that's safe. Let the pots dry out as silicone won't stick if the terracotta is damp. It'll be a couple of days before they are really dry, so you have time to get to the store. Anything you have to hand that'll fit over the hole will be OK. Bettas are such nosey things. They'll get themselves stuck anywhere given half a chance.

If his tank has a cycled filter, then 20 to 30% daily is fine. If he doesn't have a filter or it's still cycling, do more, around 50%. The aim is to keep the water extra clean so he's more likely to heal fast. The main danger for him at the moment is infections getting into the damaged areas, so the faster he starts to heal, the better.


My betta is the same colouring as yours, only mine's a super delta. He's had fin rot after his tail was badly bitten by his frog tankmates (they now live in my quarantine tank). I used a course of medication, then daily water changes, and the fin rot stopped. But my betta is older than yours (I've had him over a year) and it's taken a couple of months for his tail to start growing again after the rot stopped. With yours being younger he should get over the damage a lot faster.

 

[Gizaroo2]

I use aquarium silicone. It is possible to use other types providing they don't have mould killer in them, but I prefer to pay a bit more and get one made for aquariums because I know that's safe. Let the pots dry out as silicone won't stick if the terracotta is damp. It'll be a couple of days before they are really dry, so you have time to get to the store. Anything you have to hand that'll fit over the hole will be OK. Bettas are such nosey things. They'll get themselves stuck anywhere given half a chance.

If his tank has a cycled filter, then 20 to 30% daily is fine. If he doesn't have a filter or it's still cycling, do more, around 50%. The aim is to keep the water extra clean so he's more likely to heal fast. The main danger for him at the moment is infections getting into the damaged areas, so the faster he starts to heal, the better.


My betta is the same colouring as yours, only mine's a super delta. He's had fin rot after his tail was badly bitten by his frog tankmates (they now live in my quarantine tank). I used a course of medication, then daily water changes, and the fin rot stopped. But my betta is older than yours (I've had him over a year) and it's taken a couple of months for his tail to start growing again after the rot stopped. With yours being younger he should get over the damage a lot faster.

Thank you very much, essjay! That is most helpful. The filter is still cycling, as I didn't cycle the tank before I got him...he was an impulse buy. But I always do frequent water changes and my guys do well.

He seems to be doing pretty well, and is eating and such as normal...so he's doing good so far! I think he's pretty young...he was half the size of all the other bettas at the store, and much more vibrantly colored. His shape reminds me of a mini oscar fish. hehe. He's a cute little booger.

I think I have some plastic canvas that I can use to glue onto the bottom of the pots. That should work, right?

 

[Essjay]

Plastic canvas is what I used on the pot in my betta's tank. I'd heard stories like yours before I got the pot so I did it before putting it in the tank. Cut the canvas bigger than the hole then put a thick ring of silicone round the hole and press the piece of canvas well into it. You can wipe some silicone away if you use too much. I like to use enough so you can smooth a layer of silicone over the canvas to make sure it's well and truly stuck on. Let it cure for 48 hours then it'll be safe to go back in the tank.


Since you are cycling, do daily water changes of around 50%. Make sure there is no chance of letting ammonia or nitrite build up as they'll only slow down the healing, and they'll irritate his raw skin.

 

[Gizaroo2]

Plastic canvas is what I used on the pot in my betta's tank. I'd heard stories like yours before I got the pot so I did it before putting it in the tank. Cut the canvas bigger than the hole then put a thick ring of silicone round the hole and press the piece of canvas well into it. You can wipe some silicone away if you use too much. I like to use enough so you can smooth a layer of silicone over the canvas to make sure it's well and truly stuck on. Let it cure for 48 hours then it'll be safe to go back in the tank.


Since you are cycling, do daily water changes of around 50%. Make sure there is no chance of letting ammonia or nitrite build up as they'll only slow down the healing, and they'll irritate his raw skin.

Thanks so much!

I've had the tank going for about 3 weeks now give or take...It was cycled initially, but I had a guppy in there and it got sick...needless to say I stripped the tank and started over. To prevent any chance of spread of infection I tossed the filter and disinfected everything. (I have live plants so kept it going for them.) A few days after doing so is when I found this betta and brought him home. I've been doing 30% changes every day and that seems to be working pretty well. Everything is testing out ok with my liquid API kit. But I'll definitely do 50% changes until he's better!!

 

[Gizaroo2]

I couldn't find any "esha2000" at 2 of the three pet stores I went to. Does it have another name?

I found some stuff called "Fish Protector with Vitamin B12 and Echinacea" by Kordon. It says it soothes missing scales, bruises and adds an extra thick slime coat. Will this help? I bought some of it to try, but wanted to ask you guys first.

It also says it's safe for reef and live rock aquariums, but doesn't mention anything about snails...think it would be safe? (I'm working on getting another small tank set up for them just in case it's not. I'm afraid my other two bettas would eat them)

I can try ordering some Esha 2000, but it won't be in for days depending where I can find it.

 

[Essjay]

eSHa is based in the Netherlands so it is possible you won't be able to get it in the USA. eSHa 2000 is a fungus, finrot and bacteria medication. Have a look in your shops for something that treats the same things.
I'm not familiar with the product you mention as I'm in the UK and we don't have that here, but it sounds like it's a herbal remedy rather than a medication.
Does your betta look like the wound is clean? Or does it look like it's getting infected? If it's clean then that product would be enough. If it starts to look infected you would need something stronger - someone who lives in the USA would be better able to advise you on which medication.

 

[Gizaroo2]

eSHa is based in the Netherlands so it is possible you won't be able to get it in the USA. eSHa 2000 is a fungus, finrot and bacteria medication. Have a look in your shops for something that treats the same things.
I'm not familiar with the product you mention as I'm in the UK and we don't have that here, but it sounds like it's a herbal remedy rather than a medication.
Does your betta look like the wound is clean? Or does it look like it's getting infected? If it's clean then that product would be enough. If it starts to look infected you would need something stronger - someone who lives in the USA would be better able to advise you on which medication.

It looks clean at the moment. What signs should I look for of infection? I've never had this happen before, so am completely out of my realm.
It's nice and pink versus the irritated red that it was. Yea it says on the bottle it's not a treatment, but more of an aid to use with a treatment, or by itself to help with the slime coat. I do however have some Mardel Maracyn-for columnaris, fin/tail rot, popeye and gill disease- on hand from treating my previous guppies. (erythromycin)

 

[Essjay]

Your description sounds as though it is not infected, so the Kordon treatment is the one to use. If the wound gets livid red, or gets black edges or turns white (not the same appearance as if his scales were regrowing) maybe cotton wooly, that's the time to start the Mardel Maracyn. Watch for behaviour changes too - if he eats well and swims around like usual, that's a good sign.
The daily water changes keeping the water extra clean will help stop the wound becoming infected, and the Kordon product might well help an infection getting in too.

He should get there, though it may take a bit of time to look as though nothing has happened. Mine has taken two months to start regrowing his tail after finrot, but he's a lot older than yours, I got mine in November 2010. With yours being a young fish, he should heal faster than mine.