Betta looking so much better :)

[Quin]

If he comes back from this I will definitely be standing between him and anything that could hurt him. Now since school is unofficially cancelled for the rest of the year I only have my senior year before I'm off to college, and if he's still around by then he IS coming with me lol.

It's so funny. I bought my first betta because she was so spunky, but she died really quickly. I bought Hank because he was pretty, but even though he got sick he's stuck it out this far. He was the pretty one, but now HE is the spunky one. He really blew me away with this, I have to tell you. I know I shouldn't get my hopes too far up, but this made me really really happy. There's no way I could have possibly made it this far without you guys though, thank you for cheering us on <3 <3 <3

 

[FishGuest5123]

Yay, Hank. I knew he’d like bloodworms. So glad he ate. Maybe he can get a little strength. I’m actually praying for a fish.

 

[Quin]

Yay, Hank. I knew he’d like bloodworms. So glad he ate. Maybe he can get a little strength. I’m actually praying for a fish.

I am super glad he's in your prayers. There was definitely a miracle at work today

 

[FishkeeperLinz]

Okay guys I have amazing fantastic awesome wonderful exciting news. He hasn't moved from his position so I decided I would just have to feed him like that. Put a little garlic juice in his bloodworms bowl before thawing out some worms for him and mixing them up. His position made it kind of awkward to tickle his snout without poking him because I had to view from overhead, but I offered him four worms and he ate at least one (saw him "chewing" by his mouth opening and closing a few times.) He was definitely hungry as once he caught a whiff of that garlic he scooted forward a little. He also lunged once but I think he only got my tweezers XD. Because I was looking from above I had a hard time seeing them go into his mouth, but of the three that weren't on my tweezers any more I found none in the gravel. I offered him a fourth and he turned away, then I offered him a garlic soaked pellet and he turned that up too. I'm really hopeful for him as this is the first time in 9 days he has eaten. Even if it means he's only eating bloodworms, it's something. I am very very very very very thankful for the advice! Even if he goes, he'll go with food in his belly.

Also, as another awesome thing, he stayed completely upright for the entire feeding. He was leaning on his log for part of it, but he did not even lean slightly for any of it. Right now he is resting on the gravel just a little behind his log, supported only by rocks. I am so proud of this brave little fish and his willpower <3

. Go Ha-ank! Go Ha-ank!

Yay, Hank. I knew he’d like bloodworms. So glad he ate. Maybe he can get a little strength. I’m actually praying for a fish.

I feel like dancing around my living room!

 

[FishkeeperLinz]

Just FYI @Quin , my sister in law is rooting for you and Hank too.

She doesn't even have fish.

 

[FishGuest5123]

How is Hank today?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

How is hank today?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

That is great news go Hank!

 

[FishkeeperLinz]

Any update @Quin ?

 

[Quin]

Hi this is super sweet that you all care so much <3
I replied to a message from Juice already, so I'll copy and paste here: "Last evening at some point he moved to the middle back of his tank, which is awesome because he's only been at the front of it. He's still upright and enjoying the scenery of his leafy plant! Today I'm gonna try to feed him some pellets, and if he turns those up I'll try worms again. Wish me luck lol, this little guy definitely seems like he's pulling through"

I have not decided yet if I will try garlic immediately, or only if he turns up the pellets. I may try it first just to make sure he eats again with as little pressuring as possible.

Additionally, my mom brought home an ammonia kit last night (go mom! She's getting the spirit.) I opened it to see if it was strips or similar to the API kit, but it had both a tube and strips. I'm going to investigate it today when my fingers aren't wet lol

 

[Martyn87]

There is something in garlic which is a feeding stimulant for fish. Keep soaking some of the bloodworm in it before feeding as it will encourage him to eat. Great reading and best of luck!

 

[Quin]

There is something in garlic which is a feeding stimulant for fish. Keep soaking some of the bloodworm in it before feeding as it will encourage him to eat. Great reading and best of luck!

Thank you! I was thinking to try pellets today first in case he starts expecting only bloodworms, but even if he does eat them I may thaw a few worms as a reward for eating anyways. I know he's not a dog but I keep wanting to call him a good boy XD

 

[FishkeeperLinz]

Hi this is super sweet that you all care so much <3
I replied to a message from Juice already, so I'll copy and paste here: "Last evening at some point he moved to the middle back of his tank, which is awesome because he's only been at the front of it. He's still upright and enjoying the scenery of his leafy plant! Today I'm gonna try to feed him some pellets, and if he turns those up I'll try worms again. Wish me luck lol, this little guy definitely seems like he's pulling through"

I have not decided yet if I will try garlic immediately, or only if he turns up the pellets. I may try it first just to make sure he eats again with as little pressuring as possible.

Additionally, my mom brought home an ammonia kit last night (go mom! She's getting the spirit.) I opened it to see if it was strips or similar to the API kit, but it had both a tube and strips. I'm going to investigate it today when my fingers aren't wet lol

He does need to start eating pellets etc, but for today, I'd be tempted to stick to the bloodworms to help him regain his strength. He has a taste of them now, so I'll be surprised if he needs the garlic to encourage him to eat. Maybe try the bloodworms now, and then the pellets later on?

He's not out of the woods yet, but he's certainly heading in the right direction.

 

[Quin]

He does need to start eating pellets etc, but for today, I'd be tempted to stick to the bloodworms to help him regain his strength. He has a taste of them now, so I'll be surprised if he needs the garlic to encourage him to eat. Maybe try the bloodworms now, and then the pellets later on?

He's not out of the woods yet, but he's certainly heading in the right direction.

That's a fair point. I will try the worms today, and if they don't work I'll use garlic again since he absolutely loved that. Assuming he gets back to being completely healthy, how long until I acclimate him back to pellets? I would be fine feeding him bloodworms all the time but I'm not sure the health risks of that

 

[FishkeeperLinz]

That's a fair point. I will try the worms today, and if they don't work I'll use garlic again since he absolutely loved that. Assuming he gets back to being completely healthy, how long until I acclimate him back to pellets? I would be fine feeding him bloodworms all the time but I'm not sure the health risks of that

Just today. Bloodworms are high in fat, (IIRC) so in normal circumstances, I'd suggest feeding them just once a week, but this isn't normal circumstances and Hank needs his strength.

Like I said, feed the bloodworms now, then try him with the pellets tonight. Once he's out of the woods, reduce feeding to once a day.