I had recently bought a blue betta from a local petsmart he wasn't entirely healthy when I got him but he was active and looked like he would pull through. I had done some research and found that he had velvet. So I began treating him for this with a natural parasite medication. It said to slightly turn the heat up in the tank so I did for about 81 degrees and keep the lights off. When I came home from work he had an s shaped spine and seemed to have the shimmy. I looked at the temp and for some reason it was at 85 degrees so needless to say that heater went bye bye. I have had him in a quarantine tank so I could closely observe him it seems that the velvet is gone but he still has a swollen swim bladder causing the s shape in his swimming I was told to treat him for dropsy because he probably wasn't going to make it. He had a stress stripe for a few days and was very disinterested in eating. Yesterday he had his first meal in like 5 days he couldn't eat the pellet it was to had or something but I put some flakes in a dropper and hand fed him he was trying to eat and now today as trying to reintroduce him to the tank he is showing signs of swelling in his swim bladder again and he is swimming as if he had an s shaped spine. What do I do?
Whats wrong with my betta?
- Thread starter Migitney
- Start date
It would be nice to put some floating plant in the tank with him to give him some protection from the world
carligraceee
Fishaholic
Hello! I am so sorry about your betta. Here is some important information about the common issues in bettas.
Stress:
Bettas are very susceptible to stress. What are your water parameters?
Diseases:
Here I found a link about s-shaped spines. This is common in livebearers and I have never seen it in a betta. Very interesting.
https://www.myaquariumclub.com/caring-for-betta-with-curved-spine-1051633.html
A more serious disease is TB which pops up every time you search up curved spine in betta fish. However, a curved spine in a betta is good sign of dropsy. Here is how to treat dropsy.
https://www.bettacarefishguide.com/how-to-treat-dropsy-in-betta-fish/
@Colin_T is the best at diseases so he might have some more information.
What to do:
Follow these directions in the links. Also, keep the water warm and add some plants. Monitor his behavior very closely.
Last edited:
Thank you he is back in his tank and ironically he is doing much better i fed him a fresh pea little bits at a time. He scavanges the bottom of the tank and will occasionally eat the pellets at the top but I found the swelling we t right down the white on his face seems to be going away too. His mouth started turning blue again and his car seems to be much darker.
carligraceee
Fishaholic
That's great news!
Continue to monitor him- update us if anything happens!
Hey bettas doing great he has been extreamly playful even making himself a bubble nest supper hungry and wants my attention all the time. Noticed that he is starting to turn blue again his face changed while I had the back on he got dark when getting ready to fight himself but his face is still white. So I noticed his pelvic fin started turning red on the inside is that normal?
Betta will often get more color once they have been in the home tank for a few weeks or months. Unless it looks irritated, it is probably a natural color change.
carligraceee
Fishaholic
Yes, I agree. Bettas change color as they get more mature/comfortable with their environment. If he is making a bubble nest, that is great news, meaning he is very happy and comfortable with their surroundings.
Are bubble nest a part time thing? He is not making any more but seems excited when I get close to the tank will wiggle around and get excited like he is getting fed he also likes to get in my business when moving plants or fixing things in the aquarium very curious he even lets me touch him. Also his face turns darker blue when he puffs up at his reflection he will even get so into it he will turn around and off up at me.
PorshaF
Fish Crazy
Make sure to do water changes, he may be doing better if his original home has been cleaned since he left. The qt photos look like uneaten food was at the bottom going bad. A 20-50 partial change once a week depending on size of tank will do wonders In preventing future health issues, best of luck!
carligraceee
Fishaholic
They sometimes won't continuously make them. However, if he was constantly making one before, it could be a sign that something is off in his water parameters. Check ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and temp. pH imbalances could cause some stress as well.
I did some melafix and a little stresszime and he seems to be doing better super excited loves to have snap wont touch freeze-dried anything. But he is gaining color back and for some reason has patches of blue on his fins. Is that normal like translucent fins with blue patches?
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