Very Sick Betta

[valshingle]

I am new to this forum and apologize in advance if this topic has been covered previously. We've had our betta, Xavier, for almost a year in a small betta tank. With the falling temperatures I noticed that he was becoming less active. A stick-on thermometer indicated that his water was at 68 degrees. We bought him a one gallon tank with new gravel and a heater and slowly raised the water to 74. Within three days, our betta had swim bladder disease, but he was eating and fairly vigorous. After reading some of the threads, I determined that he must be constipated. I tried the pea remedy, but I never saw him eat it. I didn't offer him any other food (I use the preferred type - no blood worms). I also added Bettafix to the tank one time. After several days he was swimming fine, but within 24 hours his fins have now collapsed to points - all of his fins. Each fin ends in one long point. They don't appear slimey. He is having trouble swimming and it is an effort for him to get to the surface. We did a complete water change and added 1/2 teaspoon aquarium salt. He won't eat. I just lowered his water to about a third so he can reach the surface easier. I've just increased the heater to get closer to 76. The temp has been at 74 with a night time reduction to 72. I just tried him again with some food, Hikari Betta Gold, he took it and spit it out. He nosed it a little, but that's it. I'm willing to get him a larger tank and better set up, but don't know what I should do for now. Is there anything we can do for him? Xavier is a great fish and always seems happy to interact with us.

 

[aly_starh]

Hi

As you already know, 1G is not good enough for a betta. 3G minimum, the bigger the better!

The temperature is too low;- 74F is around 23C, you need the temperature to be 26C atleast, this usually makes them more actives and increases there willingness to eat.

What was the feeding routine? Was it just a certain amount in the morning? Ideally, you should be feeding him, 3 pellets in the morning and then 3 in the evening.

To get him to eat at this present moment, i would say to soak his food in Garlic Juice, not only will this entice him to eat but Garlic also holds good anti-internal bacteria properties.

What are the water changes like in that tank? Min. should be 50% a day

Hope that helps, please keep us updated

 

[valshingle]

Prior to moving him into the one gallon, he was in a approx 1/2 gallon cube. We were told by the LFS to feed him only 2-3 times a week, but we usually fed him more often as he is a beggar. He was never getting more than 2 pellets a day, once a day, on average. Prior to moving to the one gallon, his tank got really nasty as I was trying to convince my teenager (whose fish he is) to be more responsible. I gave up after 10 days (I know, that was cruel to the fish - I know better now). So when it was really nasty, we moved him into the one gallon with new gravel (rinsed), heater, and a 100% water change. He got swim bladder within 3 days of that and I've been doing water changes every couple of days (usually 100%) as I was adding aquarium salt and Bettafix. Yesterday was the 100% change with aquarium salt and Bettafix added. Last night I reduced the water level to 1/3, so he can reach the surface more easily. It's hard for him to swim all the way up to the surface with the tank full of water. His fins originally seemed clamped together, but now they seem completely stuck together.

Is Garlic Juice a grocery store item?

 

[aly_starh]

Well personly, a tank less than 2G should be a plain and simple set-up i would think. The more ornaments, gravel etc you add the less swimming space due to displacement.

2-3 times a week? Try 2-3 times a day minimum.

Im not too clued up on fish meds, but i would just keep up on regular water changes and add salt. By regular i mean, 50% every day.
Make sure the water is dechlorinated and the same temperature as the tank water.

As for clamped fins, aslong as hes not to stresses atm, try showing him a amirror. The reflection will exercise his fins.

And Garlic juice can be obtained from the grocery store, but you could easily get some whole garlic, crush it and roll the pellets in it.

 

[flip]

i agree with aly.
are his fins stuck together or clamped? can he unstick them or do they stay stuck?

 

[valshingle]

Ok, I have some garlic and will try crushing and rubbing the pellets in it. I'll do 50% water changes daily, as well. Should I continue with the Bettafix and salt?

Not sure about the mirror, but will try. All his fins, including pecs, are like shriveled points. It looks like it's beyond clamping. No sign of ich and I dont't see anything else on them. He can't unstick them.

 

[flip]

could be finrot, water changes are one of the best things you can do, clean water will really help his fins. is the bettafix the only med you have?

 

[aly_starh]

You should be ok with just salt, as this will keep the water clean which will inturn heal is fins without any infections.

Also, what makes you think he has swim bladder disorder? Are you 100% sure?

Any chance of pics?

 

[flip]

sounds like finrot. from what i have read about bettafix it is better used to prevent/after meds for finrot. to treat you need somthing like Maracyn or Tetracycline, although clean water is the very best way to treat. keep using the aquarium salt.

 

[valshingle]

I know he had swim bladder because that's what happened first after the move to the new tank. Three days after the move, he started floating on his side, usually at the top of the tank. He was happy and eating, but kept going on his side. After reading some threads, I stopped feeding him (thought it might be constipation) and tried to get him to eat a pea. I never saw him eat it. I added BettaFix as well. After about 5-6 days, he no longer went on his side. But his fins were clamped and within about 36 hours, they became stuck together. Every fin. Shriveled to one long point for each fin. No pics at this time, but here's a google photos that looks similar http/www.aquamaniacs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29278 > His are like this, but worse. On my teenagers laptop, not sure how to load and post photos on it.

I don't have any other meds, but can get some today.

 

[flip]

can you use a flashlight to look for velvet? it would look like gold powder covering the fish. it would be best to find out exactly what is wrong before ya treat with meds. for the moment water changes and the salt will be good.

 

[valshingle]

I don't see any gold, but the very edges of the shriveled fins looks white. But not fuzzy. I will try to post photos this evening from the home computer. His breathing seems normal. No growths around his mouth or gills. I have seen ich before and this doesn't look the way I remember. All other coloring on his body seems fine. A little paler than normal, but not extremely so. I need to leave in about 30 mins and won't be back for about 7 hours. Should I pick up any meds to have just in case? Going to get a water test kit as well.

 

[flip]

try to get a liquid water test kit as the strips are not very acurate. api master freshwater test kit is good. as for meds, if you want you can get Maracyn as a just in case.

 

[valshingle]

Thanks, I will pick up both of those. I live 45 mins from any major pet store, but there is a little store in my town. Seem to have a lot of stuff, but not sure if it's the 'right stuff'. Will have to do a search for a good fish store in the area.

 

[loraxchick]

doesnt sound like finrot to me. sounds like classic clamped fins which can be from stress, disease or poor water quality.
he is either stressed from the move or due to his swimbladder(or both). is he better with his floating/listing? i would not use any meds and see if simply keeping his water clean is all it takes. now that the temp is stable in the 1gal you should see vast improvement in his behavior/perkiness. if hes not feeling well, he likely will not flare anyway so i wouldnt stress him out with that for now.
the white on the fins is most likely just coloration on the tips of his pecs or other fins in question. when clamped, the white is all clumped together which makes it easier to notice(many bettas regardless of color have white edging on their pec fins).
id also feed him a cooked deshelled chopped up pea to help minimize his swimbladder issue. if it doesnt get better in a few days, you can try epsom salt baths (epsom salt is magnesium sulfate NOT aquarium salt or marine salt- and can be picked up VERY cheaply at any pharmacy or grocery store. it helps draw fluids out of the tissues.). you can either treat his tank at a quarter of a tablespoon or use a bath (where you dip him in it) at 1tbs/gal. only leave him in the more concentrated bath for 10 mins twice a day. you should see improvement wih his swimbladder if you havent already.
all the best
CHEERS!