Rescued Betta

[Koda]

I "rescued" a betta from work today.He's been in the YMCA preschool room.Kept in one of those vases with a plant and getting sporadic care.He'd been moved to the kitchen because they thought he was dead or dying.They were ignoring him.He spends a lot of time up in the roots and they take up so much of the vase that he hasn't got much space.The water looks pretty green...but then it IS full of roots.It would be easy to see only a glimpse of tail peeking from the tangle of roots every time you walked by,and assume he was a goner.

No one had time to mess with it.So I talked to them and offered to take him home and see if he was salvageable,and if not I'd let them know.I get him here and when he comes out of the roots he looks just fine.Fins and tail in excellent condition,eyes clear,no sign of distress.I'm almost afraid to disturb him.A crystal clear home might be a bit of a shock to his system.

Any suggestions...?

Thanks

Koda

 

[wuvmybetta]

awww, bless his heart. I'd leave him in the vase for the moment and give it a 20% water change, then a couple hours later 20% more and so on until all the water is replaced.Then he should be able to move into a real home with no problems. Do you have any betta food?

 

[White Whale]

What I would do:

1. Get him out of the vase and into a pint/quart container of very clean water; a slight tint of BettaMax would help
2. Place the container in a very dim and non-busy spot for 24 hours
3. After 24 hours, change the water and let him rest again in the dim spot for 1 or 2 hours.
4. Try feeding him by showing the food outside the container - if he chases it, drop a little food in; repeat after an hour.
5. If he is responsive, you can place him in a lighted area.
6 After a week, if he seems peppy, you can treat him as if you just purchased him.


Good Luck!!!

 

[Koda]

Do you have any betta food?

Yup...I have betta bites and freeze dried bloodworms.I am thinking the gradual change you suggest may be safest.The impulse is to get him out of the yucky looking vase...but I don't want to shock his system.

It doesn't help matters that my first betta was in a squeaky clean environment and seems to have become very sick.My boy has a post about him on the ER board.

Koda

 

[Teelie]

I'd go with the first suggestion of a gradual change of the water. A total change of conditions in his shape would be too much of a shock to the system. Take it slow, keep the lights dim and if possible, keep the vase covered so no light gets in there but doesn't block air.

 

[White Whale]

As long as the temperature is comparible with the old water, it really shouldn't shock him. I'd rather risk the shock of clean water than to keep him in filthy (and possibly infected) water. Give him the benefit of the doubt that he is hardier than most other types of fish.

 

[Koda]

The poor guy has been living in that vase for months,being fed who knows what by sticky fingered preschool kids...


Koda

 

[wuvmybetta]

The poor guy has been living in that vase for months,being fed who knows what by sticky fingered preschool kids...

Poor little guy Just ease him into it slowly and he'll be fine You're good people for sticking up for him!

 

[Teelie]

There's more to it than just the temperature, though that is the most vital. I still think a 20% change of water over the course of the night would be better but I imagine he's already moved him to cleaner water. I hope he does well. Being stuck in a vase like that wouldn't be so bad but they probably didn't take care of him at all.

 

[Koda]

Thanks everyone...I'm going with the gradual change of water since he doesn't appear to be in any distress.I just couldn't stand the thought that they were putting him off to one side and were going to leave him to die

All things considered he looks really beautiful.I'm already sorta hoping that he'll live but they won't want him back.I could get him a nice little tank of his own

Koda

 

[BronzeWolf]

can you take a piccy of him?

 

[Koda]

can you take a piccy of him?

I'm going to have to see what I can do for pics.From what I can tell he's a beauty.A sort of turquoise blue with red in the fins and tail,and he appears to be in fairly good condition.I'm already getting attached to him


Koda

 

[BronzeWolf]

aawe the world need more ppl like you.