Our latest in the betta rescue saga. . . swim bladder disorder?

Question

Thanks again to all who answered our last questions. The two bettas we have rescued from the royal flush are doing great and flourishing. So much so that we've put a cory each in their tank and gotten them some new live plants.

So, we've got a new one (grins). He was staying close to the surface and couldn't stay down when he dived and he shimmied when he swam and all of that stuff. The store manager said they were getting ready to flush him because he was "clearly dying". He is a beautiful piebald with some metallic glint to him. This one clearly has swim bladder disorder but not an obvious rupture of deformity. The betta junkies page says among other things -- it could be from overfeeding or underfeeding. How do I tell the difference? You can't tell from looking at him. My gut is that because he has been at Walmart, he was underfed but I know that this is not necessarily the case. Before I did my homework, I fed him and he ate well. His stomach is not visibly swollen.

Sorry, ran out of room.

He is no better or worse today. My conundrum is this: if it is from underfeeding him, fasting is going to accomplish nothing. If it is from overfeeding him: you don't relieve stress-related bloating and constipation by not eating. You try natural remedies, right, and eat foods that will help you "go", right?

I tried the green pea thing this morning, but he doesn't trust me enough yet to take it from me. It has sunk to the bottom and lies there still. Here is what I'd like to do: do an epsoms salt bath (using the directions on betta junkies) for 10 to 15 minutes. Return him to his regular digs. Continue to feed him regularly to ensure this is not due to underfeeding. If he's not better tomorrow, do another Epsoms Salt "dip". And so forth and so on.

Good plan or bad plan? Any other recommendations or observations? Flushing is not an option. I'm going to give him a chance. Anything to do to help him be more comfy until this resolves?

P.S. Betta Junkies recommends Epsoms Salt bath as a laxative for constipation.

My son really wanted his own pet, so we were looking at bettas to keep in his room. A friend of mine manages the stationery store at the Walmart near my house. She knows I do furry rescue and have had to give it up for a while. So she started calling me when the manager was about to flush a fish who was still alive. That's how I'm getting them.

Answer 1

I personally have never seen Epsom salt used as a dip have any curative value for swim bladder disfuctions or infections. Personally I would forgo the dip and work under your assumption that the fish has been underfed. Although I must say I haven't seen any thing that really supports the idea that underfeeding can cause a swim bladder problem. It is talked about from time to time, but never really supported from a studied point of view. I would suggest feeding him for a day or two in a normal fashion and if that doesn't effect a change assume it's more than constipation and is in fact a swim bladder infection. That would of course require treatment with an antibiotoic such as Maracyn 2 or Maracyn TC. The treatment of choice in my opinion is actually Furanace (Nifurpirinol) as it is well absorbed and accumulates to a medicial level in the fish faster than most other antibiotics. Feel free to email me if I can help further.

MM

Answer 2

I'd have to agree with skipping the Epsom salt. I've seen this recommended more as a cure for dropsy to expel excess water. Unless he's visibly thin or has a sunken abdomen, i wouldn't think underfeeding.

It may take a betta a while to get used to the idea that peas are food, but don't give up on that. It helped when I pinched off tiny bits of the pea (about the size of his pellet food) for mine. What you can try is soaking the food in a bit of tank water (or the medication) before giving it to him. Be glad that he's still got an appetite.

From what I've seen of chain store bettas and the water conditions they're kept in, I would be more inclined to think the condition has a bacterial cause. Go with MM's recommendations on treating that if he hasn't improved in a few days from a change in the diet.

Answer 3

I don't know how to help him but it is hard when your pet is sick and you can't help them I have that problem right now my ammonia spiked on Saturday no body can figure out why. then on Monday my Betta started out with ick and it has gotten worse until today even with treatment.

How are you getting these rescued Bettas?