Well, I'm babysitting a friend's betta fish, and it was going well.
But my cats looooove Bob the betta fish.
I was just out of the room and someone left the door open for the cats to fing Bob, and they knocked over his tank!
When I found him, I thiught he was dead.
But I put some water back in the tank just in case, and he's alive.
But first he was swimming up, then down over and over again.
Now he's just floating around on the top of the water.
He's in a normal position, except every now and again his backside starts to fall.
Is he okay?
Is there anything I can do?
2007-12-23 19:40:59 · 16 answers · asked by Maryanne T 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Also, he's looking a lot paler than usual.
I replaced most of the tap water with natural spring water.
Hope I did well...
2007-12-23 20:04:50 · update #1
Yeah, buy a new Bob if Bob doesn't make it.
2007-12-23 19:50:36 · answer #1 · answered by Stripe 6 · 2⤊ 5⤋
He's stressed and probably frightened after his ordeal. Place a towel or something on his tank and leave him to calm down.
Did your friend leave any dechloronator with you? If so, follow the instructions and pour some of the dechloronator into his tank. If the tank has a filter, the untreated water would have killed off the bacteria and you'll have to do daily water changes of 15% (tap water is betta than spring water). If she doesn't have a filter - she needs one.
IF Bob does die, tell your friend what happened and offer to replace him. Don't just replace him because she'll probably notice the difference - if not in the colour, then in the way the fish behaves - the fish might choose a different favourite plant or not react to her the way Bob does, so she'll probably want to know anyway.
2007-12-24 07:15:03 · answer #2 · answered by Lindsay 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A fish can only withstand about 30 seconds out of water before it starts to have serious effects on it. after about 2 minutes out of water, there will be no hope for it.
I think it depends on how long you were out of the room.
My advice is to keep checking on him every couple hours. put him someplace quiet and let him be.
go ahead and take a FEW digital pictures from different angles while he is alive.
If he doesn't make it, go tot he fish store. Find a look alike. You may have to try several stores but find a GOOD look alike because if your friend finds out, they probably wont be happy with you OR your cats!
2007-12-24 09:28:34 · answer #3 · answered by puredoller 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As mentioned by puredoller, it depends on the time Bob was out of water. I think Bob will be fine because Bettas are used to oxygen depleted water unless it was wounded by your cat.
Offer to replace. NO lookalike, it is very very very hard to find. I would recognise any of my fish because I know them to the detail.
2007-12-24 11:15:56 · answer #4 · answered by Gerard S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just keep him in a quite spot and make sure you added conditioner if you put in new water from the tap (to remove any chlorine/chloramine). If you have any salt without iodine added (canning salt, pickling salt, rock salt [the kind for making ice cream], kosher salt or sea salt) add about 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of tank water. This will help prevent fungal infections if his fins were damaged.
Bettas are pretty sturdy fish, so if you keep him in good conditions, he'll probably pull through just fine.
Oh, yeah - and keep the door closed!
2007-12-24 03:53:16 · answer #5 · answered by copperhead 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
question, what water did you put in the tank? tap water? doesnt he have another tank where you can borrow some water from. bob is probably suffering from the chlorine in the tap water, if you can find aged water replace the water in his tank
2007-12-24 03:57:14 · answer #6 · answered by maneatingcatfish 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when your friend gets back tell them what happened. you need to wait and see what the fish does dont replace the tap water any more
2007-12-24 08:16:42 · answer #7 · answered by Emily 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has a disease. Apparently, most of the people around doesn't care...
Swim Bladder Disease
Fish have a difficult time staying upright and may hang in the water. Goldfish are especially prone to problems with the swim bladder.
Some hobbyists feed their fish peas to treat this infection. Perhaps this works by helping in the digestion process. Try this: stop feeding the fish for a few days, give the fish optimal water conditions by performing frequent small water changes (10% every week) and see if the problem clears up.
CC
2007-12-24 09:36:14 · answer #8 · answered by Chad, M.D. 4 · 0⤊ 6⤋
oh that's too bad
there is a possibility
that BOB is gonna die...
your friend might be disappointed
just try to do your best to make him live...
or if chances will have buy a new BOB, the
one that exactly look alike.... if you don't want too
just confess, its your friends fault anyway don't feel guilty
about it.! =) good luck!
2007-12-24 09:04:48 · answer #9 · answered by . 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
he will probably die from stress and shock. Most people don't realize that bottled water usually has a much lower pH than tap water. I would get a new Bob.
2007-12-24 04:27:18 · answer #10 · answered by Marine 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
all i can say is m sorry if bob is dead find a look alike
ur frend wont like it at all....or go buy 1 2day if bob dies let it the new look alike b there if it doesnt die take the lookalike wid u....if u dont wanna give it as a gift 2 ur frend and a companion fer bob..lolz
2007-12-24 03:56:17 · answer #11 · answered by Billie Jean 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋