Partially blnd Betta

[dohaver]

A couple of months back, my betta had fin and tail rot, & then pop eye and it filmed over on his left eye. I gave him ES baths daily, clean warm water in his 2.5 Aqueon filtered tank, and treated API Erithromicyn for the full 4 days. He was able to see and eat his red Omega Pellets from his right good eye. He recovered but his left eye is blind and he struggles to find his food. He likes brine shrimp but stuggles to see it even though I feed him from a dropper. I have to use a turkey baster from my fruitless attempts that drop to the floor.
I turn off his filter and feed him Bug Bites from the surface, he may eat a few if they start to drop. He only sees what is moving. Please help me with some ideas to feed. The last pic is his good eye (right). (He is flaring at the camera.)

 

[fozziebear]

live mysis, daphnia, glassworm, or nauplii, or very large brine shrimp as the smaller ones are not as enticing, i wouldn't feed live bloodworm or tubifex as they will just sit at the bottom.

i love how he displays his gill flaps to the camera when you photograph him, so cute, and it is a good thing he is showing agressive behaviour as it means he's not exactly down in the dumps.

 

[Demeter32]

I've a betta with the same problem. I always turn the filter off, grab a pipette and either stick the pellets to the end or suck up some frozen brine shrimp. He's gotten used to my gently touching the end of the pipette to his nose, at which point he will grab the food. Problem is, he likes to stick to the bottom of the tank among the plants where I can't reach him, so a few taps on the glass and waving the pipette near him usually gets his attention.

 

[dohaver]

I've a betta with the same problem. I always turn the filter off, grab a pipette and either stick the pellets to the end or suck up some frozen brine shrimp. He's gotten used to my gently touching the end of the pipette to his nose, at which point he will grab the food. Problem is, he likes to stick to the bottom of the tank among the plants where I can't reach him, so a few taps on the glass and waving the pipette near him usually gets his attention.

Thank you for sharing how you entice your boy. What is a pipette? I also shut the filter off, he knows its feeding time. I use a dropper or syringe. Of course he gets excited and swims back and forth, then into his plants and I have to time it just right to present a little frozen brine in front of him. He may catch a piece. He did eat a bloodworm that fell to the bottom. I was happily suprised, because he never showed interest in them. Thank you. He is a handsome boy with a nice personality. He was so sick 2 months ago. He really turned around. I am glad his eye didn't fall out.

 

[dohaver]

live mysis, daphnia, glassworm, or nauplii, or very large brine shrimp as the smaller ones are not as enticing, i wouldn't feed live bloodworm or tubifex as they will just sit at the bottom.

i love how he displays his gill flaps to the camera when you photograph him, so cute, and it is a good thing he is showing agressive behaviour as it means he's not exactly down in the dumps.

Thank you for your suggestions. Where can I get live mysis, daphnia, glassworm, or nauplii? My LFS don't have it. All I can get my hands on are the frozen cubed Mysis (to small), frozen brine and bloodworms. Whatever he doesn't eat, I suck it up with a turkey baster.
I laughed when he flared at the phone. He was playing a game with me.

 

[NickAu]

Are you feeding him pellets? Try soaking then in garlic juice, Make sure you use floating pellets.

 

[Demeter32]

A pipette is the same as a dropper. During chemistry and biology college classes we are constantly using these for everything and once class is over for the day they get tossed. I may or may not be swiping one here and there, not that the teacher minds.

 

[NickAu]

Have you tried yours on floating stinky food? As long as its a floating pellet or even flake he should be able to find it.

Live cherry shrimp are good too. Net one and cut its tail bit off them put it in the tank he should be able to sense it and catch it.

Yes I know it sounds cruel to cut the tail off but to me shrimp are there as food for my fish.

 

[fozziebear]

Yes nick is right, i forgot about garlic, buy a generic floating pellet that suits your fishes needs and soak it in a sort of crushed garlic and water soup.

 

[dohaver]

Yes nick is right, i forgot about garlic, buy a generic floating pellet that suits your fishes needs and soak it in a sort of crushed garlic and water soup.

Thank you

 

[dohaver]

Have you tried yours on floating stinky food? As long as its a floating pellet or even flake he should be able to find it.

Live cherry shrimp are good too. Net one and cut its tail bit off them put it in the tank he should be able to sense it and catch it.

Yes I know it sounds cruel to cut the tail off but to me shrimp are there as food for my fish.

Thanks I'll try that as well as the garc. Chopped garlic juice from the jar or boil a clove or 2 for a lew minutes?

 

[NickAu]

Chopped is fine just make sure its not in oil.