What are my odds?

[BettaMomma]

I've been reading everything I can find on the web about dropsy, and it seems like he might just not have advanced dropsy, let alone any type of dropsy after all.

As I said, he just had a really bloated belly and white poo. His scales really weren't sticking up (yet) and he was swimming okay - coming up for air occasionally. He was a light peach color, seemed to me that he had lost his coloring - but he wasn't white. I did notice a few other betta boys in cups next to him that had sort of the same coloring so I didn't think too much about the coloration.

Anyone know what it might be besides dropsy that would give him the huge belly and white poo?

 

[Raechal]

Call up some of your friends to break into the fish dept. in Walmart.

I REALLY hope he is still okay tomorrow...The best you can do is just hope and pray he makes it through the night and maybe you can cure him. If not, what is he a couple of dollars? Plus you'll know you gave him a good time before he died.

Then IF he does die, you'll have the extra tank and can maybe rescue another betta that is looking ill but curable?

 

[BettaMomma]

I hope he is too. Unfortunately, my boyfriend (whom I live with) is a police officer so breaking into WM probably wouldn't be such a great idea.

The extra tank I was going to put him in was actually already promised to my friend's little 5 y.o. girl, but that betta is healthy, just living in a small unheated bowl. I was going to let them have Amos' old tank as an upgrade for Blueberry (Their fishy).
BUT I'm sure they'd understand my want/need to get this guy and try to nurse him back to health.

I guess i'll just go pick him up tomorrow.
Hopefully he's still there waiting patiently for me.
I'll post pics - you guys will be horrified

 

[Allie]

BettaMomma, good luck with the betta. You sound like a very caring person! Let us know how it goes.

 

[SRC]

He obviously was dying. His belly was so bloated his tummy was showing signs of beginning to crack right open. He had stringy white poo hanging off of him.

PARASITES

It's hard to tell if a fish has bacteria or parasites, because the symptoms are the same (unless there are worms hanging from it's anus...that's a definite sign of parasites! LOL). The fish clamps it's fins, loses color, etc. Sometimes when they have parasites they dart around and scratch themselves on things.

The treatment depends on whether it's an internal or an external parasite. Clear stringy poop = internal parasites. Scratching = external parasites.

Good treatments: Clout, Fluke Tabs, Jungle's Internal Parasite Guard, Maracide, or any med listing parasites.
http/www.bettadreams.com/diseases.html

http/www.healthybetta.com/articles/Illne...lparasites.html

 

[BettaMomma]

I just read over that info for parasites but it says the fish will begin losing weight - although this guy has a HUGE bloated belly and the rest of him is normal sized. Could it still be parasites? Does that cause a great big bloated belly?

 

[SRC]

Stringy Poop -- A good sign that there is an internal parasite present is stringy, whitish poop. Normal waste should be solid looking, opaque, and a color that reflects what the fish is being fed (mostly shades of brown and green).
http/www.practical-pet-care.com/article_view.php?ver=33

Another common symptom of internal parasite is white and/or stringy feces.
http/www.healthybetta.com/articles/Illne...lparasites.html

Yes, those are symptoms of internal parasites. The only thing is that,
if he got them from the food at the store and has had the problem for
that long, he most likely would've died by now. It can be quite fatal.
That and the fact that you said he's fairly active leads me to believe
that it's not internal parasites. However, if he ever loses color,
becomes very unactive, still hasn't been eating and looks as if he may
have gotten thinner, then he might have them. Like I said though, I
don't suspect that. White feces can also be from not eating- since he's
not eating anything, then there's nothing to add color to it.
http/teachers.net/projects/pets/topic244...5.11.36.06.html

The fish could have a tumor of some sorts and isn't being fed....Lord, there are so many things that it could be....there is not logical way to know..without just treating and hoping. Personally, I would leave the fish at the store...

 

[BettaMomma]

You know, one thing I didn't think of is that if he gets really bad I might have to euthanize.

oh god, i don't think I could do that.
uuuugh

 

[Raechal]

Did you get him?

 

[BettaMomma]

Just walking out the door right now to pick up my gravel and, hopefully, my new fishy.

wish me luck.

 

[Raechal]

Just walking out the door right now to pick up my gravel and, hopefully, my new fishy.

wish me luck.

Good luck! Hope the poor little guy pulled through.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Most wallmarts refund if its within a few days. You just bring the dead fish and the container it came in with a receipt, show it at the returns table, and they will almost always refund. Please do this if he passes so you aren't funding wallmart.
Would it be possible to buy the gravel/housing elsewhere so you're not giving them even more money to keep fish in sh!t conditions? Though from what I've heard, the places near you are equally poor.

Good luck with the new fish and I hope he pulls through I'd try something for parasites first, but it could def be a tumor.

 

[BettaMomma]

He was gone
Nowhere in sight.

BUT, lo and behold, there was another sick one there.
His dorsal fin was BAD - half gone.
So guess what. He's sitting next to me on the desk right now, waiting to go into Amos' old tank.

I got gravel for the 5 gallon so now I have to go get everything switched around.
I didn't buy anything but the fishy at WM, I refuse to give them any money for anything else. I did pick up Maracyn for the super-sick fish @ the lfs when I was getting my gravel, just in case he did get to come with me but so be it - he didn't. I'm hoping he's in the backroom getting treated, but who knows.

Anyhow, I'm off to move everyone into their new homes.
I'll post pics in a little while.

 

[BettaMomma]

Well, Amos is in his new home and he's getting irritated, I can tell.
He keeps getting swept around by the current - the curren't isn't really all that bad, but he just hasn't figured out where the current zones are so he's checking everything out and he then gets swooshed around.
I hope that doesn't stress him out too much

 

[OohFeeshy]

Tell Amos hes doing his bit to help the sick and injured bettas And its the cashless version of donating to charity.