Before and After Pics of Shyboy

[RandomWiktor]

For those of you who don't recall, I had posted a while ago about a betta from a pet store who was completely on his side, gasping for air, emaciated, and generally dying. He was such a wreck that I didn't have to pay for him, and I planned on giving him a peaceful place to pass away. However, after getting him in a heated tank with liquid fry food, some salts, and plenty of privacy, he finally got upright. He clearly wanted to eat, but I realized suddenly why he was so underweight: he is absolutely terrified of any movements or activity around him. I suspect that being exposed in such a small cup in the front display stressed him out and he refused to eat.
So anyways, after a whole week of faltering between recovery and death, trying tons of kinds of food, building a cardboard 'fence" around the tank so he couldn't see me, and keeping the lights off during feeding, Shyboy finally began eating - very much due to the advice I got from people here on how to make him more comfortable. He started with flakes and gradually moved up to pellets, live foods, and frozen treats. He is still very jumpy and shy, and needs to gain a little more weight, but he is doing much better.

So, here is some before and after of Shyboy. I apologize for the image quality; my digital camera is practically a fossil.

< Shyboy after a few days, upright for the first time but looking baaaad.

< Shyboy today, still a little skinnier than my other fish, but alert, active, and healthy.

So, to everyone who offered advice on feeding this little guy and keeping his life stress free, HUGE THANKS. ::hugs you all for being so wonderful::

 

[newfishies]

congratulations!!! he looks so much better!!! you should re-name him happy boy now!!

 

[BettasRFriends]

Whoa thats GREAT. It was fate that Shyboy should be yours

 

[SMSBrunetteGirl]

Aww,good job you saved a beautiful betta`s life

 

[snowyangel]

Wow, im sure that store would be kicking themsleves right now if they saw him. You're a good person for taking in the "ugly duckling".

 

[Joby]

You've done a great job, he looks gorgeous

 

[RandomWiktor]

Thanks everyone for all of the encouraging feedback on him ^^ I'm so happy he made it; most of the really sick fish I bring home die, and even though I get refunds, I'd feel happier if they made it. So when someone like him bounces back I always feel the need to tell the world. Since everyone here was so helpful with him, I figured this would be a good "world" to tell.

 

[yeeviabetta]

Wou, he really change a lot and will keep changing prettier. Good job RandomWiktor. He suppost to be in your life.

 

[Allie]

beautiful fish! You did a wonderful job.

 

[BettaMomma]

HIGH fives to people like you.
I have been mighty tempted to bring sickies home in an effort to nurse them back to health, but I get SO very emotionally attached to the little guys it's very stressful for me, so i ALWAYS very highly admire folks who do that sort of thing.

Great job on bringing him back to the world of healthy, happy fishies. I'm sure he looks up to you as if you are a fish god of some sort.

Thank goodness for kind souls such as yourself.

 

[bluetexas]

I love happy endings....