I need major betta help now???

Question

OK, my sister has a betta in a 2 gallon tank. I noticed over the last few days her betta wasn't acting like himself and he kind of just layed on the bottom. Today I noticed alot of food in the gravel, and I think when she fed him he must have not eaten it. The tank was gross, so I took the chore apon myself to clean it. I can't stand a fish suffering like that! When I was cleaning it, I moved the betta into a large fish bowl with the same water from his tank. He just seems to lay on the bottom, sometimes he lays kinda on his side. He is moving his gills alot, and every few minutes he comes up for air. But I noticed when you look at him from above, his scales seem to stick out a little too.

After begging, she FINALLY agreed he was sick, and she gave him to me! I am so excited! He is red and pink, and his name is Crystal Light =). Anyway, I was wondering what disease he has? The only medicine I have that I think might work is MelaFix? Should I use this? Thanks!

Just thought I would mention this: I have 2 bettas of my own right now (Dakota and Puddles) and I have kept bettas for many years. So you don't have to give me information about how to take care of bettas, feeding them, blah blah blah.......

Lol, thanks! =)

I was doing a little research, could he have a case of dropsy? Is it true that if a fish has dropsy then you CANT use aquarium salt in the water? Because I added some in the tank and it is fully dissolved now. It is almost 11:00 PM and that means he can't go in his new tank until 12:00 AM if I have to take all the water out and start all over!

I noticed that is stomech is fat! Maybe he is constipated? I don't think I have any frozen peas, is there anything else that can work? I might be able to get some frozen peas tomorrow, as I said it is 11 PM here so running to the grocery store is not an option right now.

Answer 1

Well, it definately sounds like dropsy, i just successfully treated a balloon molly back to health :)

get yourself maracyn TC and treat him for at least 10 days instead of the 5 it says on the information, 5 days is not enough
I would also recommend getting at least a 5 gallon tank for him, because the meds are easier to dose on a bigger tank

You need to put the meds in every day as directed, don't overfeed him
I also used 1 tablespoon of salt on 2 gallons to help




Hope that helps
Good luck



EB

Answer 2

Ewww! ok, sounds like an amonia or nitrite spike, it might be good to get a filter, it'll help him breathe easier and it will also help with nitrite and amonia.Also never wash his tank with chemicals, it will ruin the natural accuring germs that fight the bad ones,amonia and nitrate are caused by too much food,too much poop,food going off,stagmenting water and will make the water look cloudy and smell yucky, you should realy only clean your tank once every 6 months after the culture of bacteria is strong enough to break down both amonia and nitrite, my advise, get a nitrate, ph and amonia test kit, and you can buy culture mixture as well,when you have all of the above stable he should live quite happily.

Good luck and enjoy your new fish

Use wardley promethyasul or something similer, that way it'll kill every disease it has and yes then use the fin repair treatment, dont mix these chemicals just do the fin repair after the treatment has been used and then removed

Answer 3

Um, do not flush the destructive fish, that's nonetheless alive and could get well tremendously lots with sturdy care. in case you will shop your bettas in bowl (not counseled), a minimum of provide each and each betta that's very own bowl, that's a minimum of what you're able to do. keeping 2 bettas in one bowl is relatively cramped up for 2 fish. It probable jumped out as a results of fact it needs a clean abode! i decide to propose you get a 5 gallon with a divider, a filter out and a heater (bettas are tropical fish and prefer water temperature interior the low 80's). 2 bettas in one a million/2 gallon bowl won't decrease it, do you notice vertical lines on them? If, so that's as a results of fact they're continuously under pressure. anyhow do not kill the destructive fish, basically attempt to offer it a extra ideal life. sturdy success!

Answer 4

Bettas can practically live in a mud puddle, but that doesnt mean that they should. do a 100% water change. put the betta in a fresh cup of dechlorinated tap water, then drain all the water from the tank. remove all the gravel and clean it under the sink in a strainer untill it is 100% clean. if there is a filter on the tank, remove that also and clean the same way. scrub tank down with super hot water from the tap and rinse well.

now, a little advice on keeping betas. there is a secret widelyu regarded in asia to be a standard in betta keeping and breeding. it is not well known in america, but will save your betta fish time and time again. by doing a little research on the fishes natural habitat, you will find that they love soft, acidic water ( Blackwater ) . by the leaf of the indian almond tree, you can replicate this environment with your regular tapwater. place enough leaves to cover the bottom of the tank, breaking them up into smaller pieces if you want, and in 1-2 days your water will be stained a tea like color ( this is normal, dont worry ). you will also notice the ph of the water has gone down.

the leaves can be bought online for $5.00 +$6.00 shipping.

heres a link

http://cgi.ebay.com/Amys-200-grams-Grade-C-INDIAN-ALMOND-KETAPANG-LEAVES_W0QQitemZ280145628413QQihZ018QQcategoryZ20756QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

the leaves also have natural anti microbial and anti fungal properties, which will keep your betta from getting sick.

hope this helps

Tom k

PS - heres a good link on asian blackwater biotopes. they go over a few good points and is well worth the read.

http://fish.mongabay.com/biotope_se_asia_pool.htm

cya!

Answer 5

The fish might have captured a parasite, as they occupy the places where they find betta's(India mostly). It might also not be suitable for the climate.
Mine did this aswell, yet it wasn't dropsy. It was very cold becuase the light from the kitchen window is blocked so very little light is brought in to warm up the tank. Then Spring came and he was brought to life again. I recommend checking the temperature, it should be around 27 degrees Celcius or 81 degrees fahrenheit.

Hope this helps it did for me!

Answer 6

Does sound like dropsy. Especially if the scales are starting to stick out. It's usually brought on by poor water conditions, similar to the type your sister left him in. As mentioned, it's usually not curable. And, no you don't want to use aquarium salt. Want to use epsom salt to help draw the fluid out. Most humane thing you could do at this point is to euthanize him with some clove oil. Sorry.....

Answer 7

Scales sticking out = dropsy
I'm afraid there's nothing much you can do, fish rarely survives dropsy.