HELP!!!!!!!

[OrkyBetta]

I came home today and saw Orchid's pale little body floating at the top, with his head lookinmg like it was just on the surface. His skin looks like it is peeling off, like shedding. and he is a lot paler than normal. He is hardly breathing, but every so often he flickers his fins. I panicked and did a quick water change, lowered the water level, and added melafix and some of the rid ich to the water, since it claims to cure other ailments. Oh god what could it be? He had no symptoms yesterday of anything! This is the fish that got me into fishkeeping! Oh, he just CAN'T die! What can I do? What IS it?

 

[OrkyBetta]

it looks like he can't move anything but his pectoral fins, like he is paralyzed. Oh, what could it BE? Orchid, you HAVE to pull through!

 

[FishEnthusiast]

I am so sorry to hear of your troubles. I wish I could offer some advice. Did you do anything differently that could have caused this? Maybe a water change and no dechlorinator? How old is he? Could it be old age? It sounds like the slime coat is coming off. I wish I could help more. Good luck.

 

[OrkyBetta]

He is a HUGE fish. He was big when I got him. Almost 3 inches with finnage I'd say. I think he is older, but I have no idea. No, I do water changes every friday, he had it changed almost a week ago. I doubt thats whats wrong.

 

[OrkyBetta]

should I have not put that stuff in his water? Should I go up and change it? I have a suspicion it is too late for him.

 

[leasbettas]

ooo kinda sound like summin i had and was told to treat it with anti bacterial meds but i caught it to late any 3 died

 

[OrkyBetta]

Well, the stuff in the tank right now is all for antibacterial stuff, so maybe there is nothing else I can do?

 

[OrkyBetta]

Ugg this is so horrible, does ANYONE know what it could be?

 

[OrkyBetta]

When I put him in the container to quick change the water, i put him back in habd he flipped upside down and couldnt upright himself, i had to do it. Eek what did I do wrong?

 

[3fsh]

I wouldn't use melafix at this point... just some clean, warm water with a lot of stress coat added to it. You may have to euthanize. If he is an old fish, it could be age-related.

 

[OrkyBetta]

So should I do a water change? The melafix is in there. I don't have stress coat, and I can't get to a LFS for another half hour or so. Should I keep the water level low? He seems to float at the top ok.

 

[3fsh]

Keep the water as low as possible and, if you can, give him a plant to rest on so that he can "sit" on it and breath more easily from the surface. IMO, you should remove the melafix. Give him a water change with some nice warm water around 80 degrees or so.

 

[OrkyBetta]

He almost seems to be doing a BIT better. He was kind of trying to swim around a little, instead of leaning against the side of the tank. He is moving whatever he can move. He is a fighter, I've always known that. All I can do now is pray he fights as long as he can.

 

[ManyFISH4Me]

Has anyone sprayed chemicals near him?

 

[OrkyBetta]

Chemicals are forbidden from my room. I just changed his water, and in the rush I was in i had no idea if i put the water conditioner in there. He wasnt in for more than a second before I freaked, and squirted some dechlor in. Oh god I am the worst fish owner in history.