Life's Betta With A Fish

Furballsmom

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Don't give up yet :)

Something I read was to put him in a container that is closer to the surface so it's easier for him to breath, or just get him out and quarantine him in "fresh" dechlorinated water. Fish can survive up to 14 days without eating so there's a little bit of time there.

I'd suggest that you post on bettafish . com in their emergency forum, linked below. I'm a current member and I'm seeing that there are very experienced members registering on a daily basis. They've upgraded the website so it's easier to use than it was, and it's an allaround better experience than previously.

Betta Fish Diseases and Emergencies
The very first pinned item at the top of the page in this forum is a questionaire you'll want to fill out regarding water parameters et al, which helps the experts better determine what can be done to help.
 
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Graceful-Lily

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Furballsmom Furballsmom is right. I totally forgot they can survive 2 weeks without food. I was sure the garlic soaked food would have helped because that's what I've heard from others.

It's nice that they upgraded the site. It's so much better looking, easier on the eyes. Too bad I don't like the community very much and left. 🙁
 

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So lacking anything else at this time on a Sunday night I have repurposed a silicone foodsafe colander to get him towards the surface. Cleaned it first with a weak vinegar and water solution, rinsed well. Have had to lower the water level so he can't just swim out and back into the tank.

Have also baffled the filter flow so it's not running directly onto the colander but over to one side and tucked a couple of cattappa leaves in to provide some shelter and a hiding place. Not a lot else I can do at this stage.

Will go over to the betta forum, thank you.
 

glittercat

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Thank you :) needs must lol though it looks pretty odd! If the tank was even a bit smaller the colander wouldn't fit. But he has some space to move about and should be able to breathe far more easily. And hopefully the leaves will help him feel a little secure, he can rest on or under them.

He really doesn't look great, his eyes are quite sunken and his colour has leached away. With luck the betta people may have some ideas.
 

glittercat

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Thank you :) gone for the colander as the holes will allow water movement which a plain plastic tub wouldn't.... Also easier to wedge diagonally across the tank to keep in place.

So I've posted in the betta forum. I'll update and let you guys know if I get any advice or info x
 

Furballsmom

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Hi! I happened to see this, regarding soaking food;

Soak his pellets or freeze dried bloodworms before feeding them to him. I use a small, glass, bowl to do that and just put a little bit of tank water in the bowl drop in the food and let it set for a min or two. I then feed the food one by one to my boy. The bowls are only used to feed my betta, and they are never cleaned with soap. I just rinse them well in hot water after each feeding.
 
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Graceful-Lily

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I forgot to mention that salt water soaks are a thing people do as well to help combat illness in their fishes. Not sure how to do it though but I've heard it mentioned several times with great success when done correctly.

GarlicGuard and Paraguard by Seachem is also an option so maybe look into those.

That's all I can think of right now. Along with raising the water temperature for a few days. Some people have done it up to 87°F for 5 days but that's quite high and I'm not quite sure how affective that would be for your little guy right now. That high of a temperature might cause too much stress.
 

glittercat

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He is still going somehow but much worse today. Looks to me as though he has dropsy. I'm sure there is pine coning on his scales.

I think it is time to make a decision, it can't be fair to leave him like this and if it is dropsy he will not recover in any case.
 

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Graceful-Lily

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I can see from the photo that his scales are raised and it might be dropsy unfortunately. Is his abdomen swollen?

I'm sorry.

There is KanaPlex. Maybe you could try it? But if you feel it is time, I recommend using clove oil.
kanaplex.jpg
 

glittercat

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I can see from the photo that his scales are raised and it might be dropsy unfortunately. Is his abdomen swollen?

I'm sorry.

There is KanaPlex. Maybe you could try it? But if you feel it is time, I recommend using clove oil.
View attachment 327519
His abdomen doesn't look swollen to me, if anything he looks thin as he won't eat. He is more floating than swimming and he is still gasping heavily but less than he was.

:( :( :(

I've had guppies before with dropsy and once the scales raise there isn't anything that can be done as far as I am aware.

Poor little boy.
 

glittercat

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Oh dear. I've just checked on him and he has gone. Poor poor boy. :frown:

I feel like I didn't do enough for him somehow but not sure what else I could have tried.

RIP little one. Swim free.
 
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Graceful-Lily

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My tank is being over taken by algae all of a sudden and I have no idea why. Anyone know what I could use to get rid of it?

I feed all my boys sparingly so no chance of it being overfeeding.
 

Furballsmom

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I'm reading a new never-used toothbrush, or a mystery snail or nerites (sp?) although the snails have their own caretaking requirements, or more water changes, or to add more fast growing plants that will compete with the algae for the nutrients....
 
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