Ember
Fish Fanatic
Brought home a new guy who is so very near death right now. 
I'm doing everything in my power to save him but I think it's too late. We'll have to wait and see.
Here's the story and my treatment (for just the treatment part, skip to the second section)..........
(Oh, and excuse the drama but I'm in the thick of it and feeling a bit passionate about the whole thing).
Went to Petco today and I couldn't help but check on the bettas. At first I was very happy to see that not only did they have the very large cups/bowls but the water was very clean. Some of the cups had blue tinted water so they must've had some betta booster stuff for a few of the guys. At first glance all the guys seemed very healthy too, until I saw one guy lying on his side at the bottom of a big plastic cup (bowl really, it is big I will say that much). It seemed like this guy had swim bladder disorder. While I was watching him, he kept trying to pick his head up (just barely mind you) but there was too much water and he was too tired. Trying to lift his head was all he could do but he wasn't even coming close to the surface. I was pretty sure that I was watching the final seconds of his little life. He was so exhausted from struggling (maybe hours maybe days) that when I picked up the cup he didn't move, not even a flinch. I poured out some of his water in the sink they have there. I wasn't able to complain about conditions because they were actually good. Credit where credit is due.......this was the only sick guy they had.
Anyway, I took him up to the front with my catfood purchase (my original objective) and sarcastically asked the salesclerk if they give discounts for dying bettas, then went into a big sympathy shpeel. The clerk was a young girl and I could tell felt sorry for it so she said "Just take it, but don't tell anyone". That made me feel real dishonest but I needed to get that betta home super fast. He was drowning right in front of our eyes. Which was one of the things I told her too by the way.
Her manager happened to walk by and the clerk said to him "Can I just give her this betta because he's dying! She might be able to save it. She has meds at home and everything.". This sweet girl was totally fighting for this betta too. Little did she know I would've payed for it if I had to. I just couldn't leave him behind, you know that feeling? The manager kind of looked a bit angry so then I kicked into gear. Told him he'll be "throwing away a dead fish in about an hour unless he takes drastic measures. I have cured sick fish before and I want to try it with this guy. He is dying right before our eyes as we discuss this, I need to get him home fast if we're going to do this.". All the while the clerk is holding the poor fish in front of his eyes. I did get the manager to nod in agreement with me that this guy is dying. I then thought it was important to point out that they actually uphold decent conditions here and it's obvious that they do care. Just a little guilt wrapped in flattery to kick it over the edge. Besides they did deserve some credit for trying to keep the conditions somewhat decent. I also figured at this point if he said no then he'd be looking like a real jerk.
I couldn't believe what happened next. He mumbled "OK" and walked away! He gave me the fish for free. I just hope he doesn't get mad at the clerk later for putting him in this position.
I've been given 3 very sick bettas now and every time I would've been willing to pay in the end but I just really like to grind in the guilt. Seems to be working for me. I'm such a good guilter!
I kept looking at the betta on the way to the car and I wasn't sure if he was alive anymore. I poured out even more water. Now it barely covered him. I raced home, took out my last empty bowl, put in some clean water around 80 F, Novaqua, Amquel, aquarium salt, , and one silk plant stuffed into the bottom, some Jungle Clear. Wasn't really sure what meds were best to put in with him but this seemed to be the most all around med that I had onhand. I'm assuming in this case the SBD is from bacterial infection.
I tried to acclimate him to the water (floating the cup then adding water little by little) but I had to make sure there was only enough water to keep him wet. The whole time trying to have as little agitation as possible.
During the transfer to the bowl, I scooped him out with my hand and he didn't move even the tiniest muscle. I was SURE he was dead this time but when I looked close at him his little eye moved. That's it, just his eyeball moved. He lay completely limp in my hand.
Once in the new bowl he just sank to the bottom. He never once even tried to lift his head for air or even move. If I didn't see his little pec flicker or his eyeball move I would have swore he was dead. Looked like he lost his will to live. I reached in and scooped up the motionless guy and layed him on a leaf near the surface. I literally positioned him and tucked him in. He didn't struggle one little bit. I positioned him so the leaves were supporting him in a vertical position. I lifted his little chin up with my finger and tucked a leaf under his chin so his head was tilted up. I then took water out one tablespoon at a time until I see the very rim of his top lip hit the surface. I didn't want any part of him to dry up but I wanted to force him to breathe. It was the closest thing to artificial respiration that I could think up for a fish. The last thing I did was cover his bowl with saran wrap except for a little gap for air. I wanted to keep the moisture in and keep the air in the bowl warmer for him to breathe in. I put the bowl in a warm spot and turned off my air conditioning. Hopefully the room temp will stay in the high 70's. I don't have enough water in the bowl to use a heater. Before I go to sleep I'm going to heat up one of those neck warmers and put it on the table between him and the window to at least block whatever draft might be coming from that direction. Shouldn't be much, the window's at least 10 feet away.
Now all I can do is sit and wait. It's been about 8 hours now. Every time I go to check on him I see a bit more of a flicker of life. I literally have to hold my breath still so I can see any movement because it's so faint, but it's still there!
First I started to see his mouth moving ever so slightly and slowly. The next time I checked on him I could see just an occasional tiny squeeze of his gills. Now when I look at him I see his eyeball move to look at me or his pec do a little wave. That's it though. No other movement. No movement in his body or head whatsoever. It actually might be kinder to put him out of his misery but I just can't bring myself to do that! I'm a complete wuss!!!!!
It seems he might already have a name. I found myself calling him Pumpkin. I try to think up more dignified names for the bettas but I can't help but use the endearing cutesy names when they're so sick like this.
Right now he's a dull orange but if he lives I'm sure he'll brighten up to a vivid solid orange. Rather rare betta color isn't it, orange?
I've had very good luck with healing my bettas but this is the worst case so far.
I sure hope he pulls through.
If you say Betta Prayers at night, please say one for my Lil' Pun'kin.
I'm doing everything in my power to save him but I think it's too late. We'll have to wait and see.
Here's the story and my treatment (for just the treatment part, skip to the second section)..........
(Oh, and excuse the drama but I'm in the thick of it and feeling a bit passionate about the whole thing).
Went to Petco today and I couldn't help but check on the bettas. At first I was very happy to see that not only did they have the very large cups/bowls but the water was very clean. Some of the cups had blue tinted water so they must've had some betta booster stuff for a few of the guys. At first glance all the guys seemed very healthy too, until I saw one guy lying on his side at the bottom of a big plastic cup (bowl really, it is big I will say that much). It seemed like this guy had swim bladder disorder. While I was watching him, he kept trying to pick his head up (just barely mind you) but there was too much water and he was too tired. Trying to lift his head was all he could do but he wasn't even coming close to the surface. I was pretty sure that I was watching the final seconds of his little life. He was so exhausted from struggling (maybe hours maybe days) that when I picked up the cup he didn't move, not even a flinch. I poured out some of his water in the sink they have there. I wasn't able to complain about conditions because they were actually good. Credit where credit is due.......this was the only sick guy they had.
Anyway, I took him up to the front with my catfood purchase (my original objective) and sarcastically asked the salesclerk if they give discounts for dying bettas, then went into a big sympathy shpeel. The clerk was a young girl and I could tell felt sorry for it so she said "Just take it, but don't tell anyone". That made me feel real dishonest but I needed to get that betta home super fast. He was drowning right in front of our eyes. Which was one of the things I told her too by the way.
Her manager happened to walk by and the clerk said to him "Can I just give her this betta because he's dying! She might be able to save it. She has meds at home and everything.". This sweet girl was totally fighting for this betta too. Little did she know I would've payed for it if I had to. I just couldn't leave him behind, you know that feeling? The manager kind of looked a bit angry so then I kicked into gear. Told him he'll be "throwing away a dead fish in about an hour unless he takes drastic measures. I have cured sick fish before and I want to try it with this guy. He is dying right before our eyes as we discuss this, I need to get him home fast if we're going to do this.". All the while the clerk is holding the poor fish in front of his eyes. I did get the manager to nod in agreement with me that this guy is dying. I then thought it was important to point out that they actually uphold decent conditions here and it's obvious that they do care. Just a little guilt wrapped in flattery to kick it over the edge. Besides they did deserve some credit for trying to keep the conditions somewhat decent. I also figured at this point if he said no then he'd be looking like a real jerk.
I couldn't believe what happened next. He mumbled "OK" and walked away! He gave me the fish for free. I just hope he doesn't get mad at the clerk later for putting him in this position.
I've been given 3 very sick bettas now and every time I would've been willing to pay in the end but I just really like to grind in the guilt. Seems to be working for me. I'm such a good guilter!
I kept looking at the betta on the way to the car and I wasn't sure if he was alive anymore. I poured out even more water. Now it barely covered him. I raced home, took out my last empty bowl, put in some clean water around 80 F, Novaqua, Amquel, aquarium salt, , and one silk plant stuffed into the bottom, some Jungle Clear. Wasn't really sure what meds were best to put in with him but this seemed to be the most all around med that I had onhand. I'm assuming in this case the SBD is from bacterial infection.
I tried to acclimate him to the water (floating the cup then adding water little by little) but I had to make sure there was only enough water to keep him wet. The whole time trying to have as little agitation as possible.
During the transfer to the bowl, I scooped him out with my hand and he didn't move even the tiniest muscle. I was SURE he was dead this time but when I looked close at him his little eye moved. That's it, just his eyeball moved. He lay completely limp in my hand.
Once in the new bowl he just sank to the bottom. He never once even tried to lift his head for air or even move. If I didn't see his little pec flicker or his eyeball move I would have swore he was dead. Looked like he lost his will to live. I reached in and scooped up the motionless guy and layed him on a leaf near the surface. I literally positioned him and tucked him in. He didn't struggle one little bit. I positioned him so the leaves were supporting him in a vertical position. I lifted his little chin up with my finger and tucked a leaf under his chin so his head was tilted up. I then took water out one tablespoon at a time until I see the very rim of his top lip hit the surface. I didn't want any part of him to dry up but I wanted to force him to breathe. It was the closest thing to artificial respiration that I could think up for a fish. The last thing I did was cover his bowl with saran wrap except for a little gap for air. I wanted to keep the moisture in and keep the air in the bowl warmer for him to breathe in. I put the bowl in a warm spot and turned off my air conditioning. Hopefully the room temp will stay in the high 70's. I don't have enough water in the bowl to use a heater. Before I go to sleep I'm going to heat up one of those neck warmers and put it on the table between him and the window to at least block whatever draft might be coming from that direction. Shouldn't be much, the window's at least 10 feet away.
Now all I can do is sit and wait. It's been about 8 hours now. Every time I go to check on him I see a bit more of a flicker of life. I literally have to hold my breath still so I can see any movement because it's so faint, but it's still there!
First I started to see his mouth moving ever so slightly and slowly. The next time I checked on him I could see just an occasional tiny squeeze of his gills. Now when I look at him I see his eyeball move to look at me or his pec do a little wave. That's it though. No other movement. No movement in his body or head whatsoever. It actually might be kinder to put him out of his misery but I just can't bring myself to do that!
I'm a complete wuss!!!!!It seems he might already have a name. I found myself calling him Pumpkin. I try to think up more dignified names for the bettas but I can't help but use the endearing cutesy names when they're so sick like this.
Right now he's a dull orange but if he lives I'm sure he'll brighten up to a vivid solid orange. Rather rare betta color isn't it, orange?
I've had very good luck with healing my bettas but this is the worst case so far.
I sure hope he pulls through.
If you say Betta Prayers at night, please say one for my Lil' Pun'kin.
Good luck and keep us posted on his condition.
So sorry about little Pumpkin, I only had my Fozzy for less than one day and I knew he probably wouldn't make it, but we have to try don't we? 
