Hi. First of all, I do realize this was preventable and completely my fault so please don't answer to criticize.
I moved my two betas into the kitchen on Saturday so that I could clean their bowls. I put them on the table and went into the pantry to get the water. While I was in the pantry, my two year old reached up and pulled one of them off of the table. The bowl broke and the fish went flying. I, immediately, grabbed my son and put him in the living room (he was okay) while my husband grabbed poor Walley (the beta) and put him in a cup of water. After cleaning up the mess, I put Walley in a bigger bowl w/ some clean spring water (he was in tap water for a few minutes while we cleaned up the mess). I took the bowl and put it in a quiet room in the house w/ a towel around the bowl. I tried to feed him but he didn't eat. He appears to be okay, just very much in shock. Is there hope for him (this was 2 days ago); is there anything I can do to make him more comfortable?
2007-02-05 01:13:07 · 6 answers · asked by Nina Lee 7 in Pets ➔ Fish
The best answer to give you is to be patient. That was a very stressful situation for the poor little fish. Rebember that bettas, if they have to, can go for 5 or 7 days without food. So if he isn't eating a week later then you can start to worry, but give him several days to recover. He will most likely be ok and don't stress too much about the accident. There was really no fault and you sound like you acted quickly and did the right thing.
2007-02-05 01:26:54 · answer #1 · answered by BoarderChik 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Stress.
Fish stress is the number one killer of fish.
Put him is a place were people don't come and go and if you can put something in the bowl where he can hide behind.
Go to a pet store and buy some stress relieving lotion or some Aquarium salt (For fresh water fish, not salt water). Don't change his water for a while, you can get Ammonia remover from the Petstore and put a drop in there to clean the water.
2007-02-05 09:21:33 · answer #2 · answered by DECEMBER 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is probably additional added stress due to the fact that the water is going to have to cycle all over again as well. If your bowls were already cycled then the fish was probably happy. Now he has to deal with ammonia/nitrite poisoning all over again in addition to being thrown out of the water and onto the floor.
2007-02-05 11:47:52 · answer #3 · answered by Randy A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
putting him in tap water probably messed up his slime coat -- try some extra water conditioner and some aquarium salt because he would be really prone to catch any bacteria or parasite in the water.
get some frozen bloodworms. i have never had a betta refuse frozen bloodworms.
get him a bigger bowl with a silk aquarium plant with broad leaves.
2007-02-05 09:25:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is allot of hope Nina.
I have had Bettas get extremely injured and then survive. You have done all that you can , except for adding some stress coat or something to replace his slime coating from being handled. Not too much though.
2007-02-05 09:25:01 · answer #5 · answered by Vincent W 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i dont think that theres a way to really comfort a fish but as long as hes eating and acting ok he probally really is ok dont worry about it
2007-02-05 09:22:55 · answer #6 · answered by *Suzy-Q* 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋