I Need Help Please

[JBlacksmith]

Request Help

Tank size: 5.5 gallons
pH: 7.8
ammonia: 0 ppm
nitrite: 0 ppm
nitrate: 0 ppm (Update: Retested 5.0 ppm)
kH: n/a
gH: n/a
tank temp: 82F

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
Started with decreased appetite, decreased activity, more time spent at the bottom of tank, when I would shine a flashlight to get a better look at him he would eventually move away from it. Has progressed to no appetite (has not eaten in four days), no activity, I have not seen him surface for a couple days, sits at bottom and when I shine a light on him he can't be bothered to move. As of half an hour ago he is laying on his side. Gills are extremely inflamed, protruding outward about two centimeters, deep red in color with one centimeter of black bordering the outermost edge. Mouth has not shut in a few days, and appears to be gasping. The scales covering the gill are incredibly shiny, almost as if they have been scraped off. I am not sure about this one, but his eyes seem darker in color and a little bulbous.
 
Volume and Frequency of water changes:
100% every other week.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:
If you mean what's in my filtration system, he has a filter with a sponge inside it, no carbon.

Tank inhabitants:
None other than the betta.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
Added a floating betta log in the hopes of aiding his feeding. He seemed to be afraid of it, so it has been removed.

Exposure to chemicals:
At the urging of a specialist from my LFS, he has undergone three days of tetracycline treatment. Today will be his fourth, but I have not added it yet.

Digital photo (include if possible):
This picture is from a couple days ago. He has been hiding so I haven't taken a more recent one.
 

 

[PrairieSunflower]

How long has your tank been running?  How long have you had your betta?
 
I can't say I know exactly what the problem is but it does sound like some sort of bacterial infection.  Have you seen any improvements at all from using the antibiotics?... is it possible for you to up his water changes significantly?  100% every two weeks might be quite shocking for him.  If your tank is cycled I'd suggest 25%-50% weekly.

 

[star4]

If he is on his side and not eaten with everything else you have described I would put him down as he is suffering. It sounds like a bacterial infection. Did you test your water after your 100% water change or just before?
 
There is no need to do 100% wc every other week, a smaller weekly water change is better.

 

[JBlacksmith]

How long has your tank been running?  How long have you had your betta?
 
I can't say I know exactly what the problem is but it does sound like some sort of bacterial infection.  Have you seen any improvements at all from using the antibiotics?... is it possible for you to up his water changes significantly?  100% every two weeks might be quite shocking for him.  If your tank is cycled I'd suggest 25%-50% weekly.

My tank has been running for at least five months, but I don't honestly remember how much longer than that because it has been a while. I have had him for a year and a half, but I think he's a few months older than two years. The only thing I can say might be an improvement is yesterday when I went to try and get him to eat he darted up to the surface and then just as quickly went back into hiding. As for the water changes, yes, I can absolutely increase the frequency. His last treatment of the antibiotics was yesterday. Should I do a water change today, and wait a day to see if he needs another round of antibiotics? I am at a loss of how to help him. . . I am worried he will die of starvation before I find a treatment method that works

If he is on his side and not eaten with everything else you have described I would put him down as he is suffering. It sounds like a bacterial infection. Did you test your water after your 100% water change or just before?
 
There is no need to do 100% wc every other week, a smaller weekly water change is better.

Is there nothing more I can do to try and help him? Someone suggested I lower the water level in his tank, but I hadn't done that yet because it would have made it harder to give the correct tetracycline dosage. Should I do that now? And he was actually supposed to have his water changed the day I started the antibiotics. The person from my LFS said that since the water tested out well, I should just go straight into treating. So, I guess the direct answer to your question is I tested the water before the water change. The antibiotics required a 25% water change after dose 2, and I tested again after this, which is when I got a different nitrate reading. I really want to ease his pain, but is euthanasia the only way to go? 
Also, I'm sorry if I seems to take me a while to get back to you, we seem to have quite the time difference

 

[star4]

You can give lowering the water level a go, I have had success with this before with fish, you will need to go really low so he doesnt have to move very far to gulp air. If you can get a fry trap, one of those net ones that you can stick to the glass you can have him in shallow water without taking all the water out of his tank. Its worth a try.

 

[JBlacksmith]

You can give lowering the water level a go, I have had success with this before with fish, you will need to go really low so he doesnt have to move very far to gulp air. If you can get a fry trap, one of those net ones that you can stick to the glass you can have him in shallow water without taking all the water out of his tank. Its worth a try.

I have lowered his water to a little less than half way (after changing 85% of it), and he actually came out of hiding to go sit on top of his boat. So, I think I'm going to try and lower it a bit more He still looks pretty miserable, but I think that might be progress?

 

[star4]

If he has moved to be nearer the surface that is a good sign. I did it earlier this year I had 3 gourami go down suddenly. I put them in my hospital tank with 3" depth of water and did a wc every couple of hours, no filter etc, within 48 hours they started swimming better, 24 hours after that they started feeding so I slowly raised the water level inch by inch until they were strong enough to go back into the main tank. You wouldnt be able to do that in a main tank because your filter bacteria would starve.
 
Fingers crossed he pulls through

 

[JBlacksmith]

I have some good news! I don't know if it was the antibiotics, lowering the water level, or probably both! But he is moving around more, and I finally got him to eat I melted some frozen brine shrimp in a cup full of tank water then used a turkey baster to deposit it right in front of his face. Apparently the smell of dead shrimp up close and personal is too appealing to resist; the little fella is eating again
 
Thank you to everyone for your help, if all keeps going well, you won't be seeing me on this thread anymore

 

[PrairieSunflower]

That sounds good.  I hope he has turned the corner!

 

[star4]

Great news

 

[mark4785]

I have some good news! I don't know if it was the antibiotics, lowering the water level, or probably both! But he is moving around more, and I finally got him to eat

I melted some frozen brine shrimp in a cup full of tank water then used a turkey baster to deposit it right in front of his face. Apparently the smell of dead shrimp up close and personal is too appealing to resist; the little fella is eating again
 
Thank you to everyone for your help, if all keeps going well, you won't be seeing me on this thread anymore

 
Thats excellent news. However, make sure you vary the fishes diet as fish that are usually very ill will still eat natural foods over processed foods. You will know that you are out of the woods when he/she begins to eat processed foods (i.e. flake, pellets etc).