What else can I try...?

[Eduka]

First, sorry if this is covered somewhere, I've read all the stickies and stuff :/

I rescued two crowntails a few days ago and the one was in bad shape when I got him home. Neither was healthy, but the other is doing good now. The sick one is in a 1.5 gallon tank/bowl, the water is a steady 78F, I do partial water changes daily (no filter) and treat his water with aquarium salt...and he was treated with BettaFix when I first got him home.

When I brought him home, though, I kinda thought maybe he had swim bladder issues. He's lethargic, clamped fins and swims normal, but floats slightly sideways or straight up and down when he stops :/ This has improved a bit since I got him...the first few days he literally sank and fought hard to reach the surface.

I'm not sure what color he's supposed to be, but he's got a white/clear body with silver fins, which I think is just a really faded blue :(

So...should I just wait it out? He's getting marginally better...or is there anything else I can try?

[lvandert]

bettafix is not always the most reliable medicine, unfortunately. Do you have a picture of the poor guy? Maybe we can figure out what all is going on and what is the best choice of action.

[reggie oaks]

I would try Methylene blue (MB) half the normal dosage [avoid excessive stress], in case the fish suffers from nitrite poisoning. This medication is pretty safe against this and other conditions. MB was used in human medicine effectively for many years. But use a hospital tank, because it may kill beneficial bacteria. And do not mix additives. Salt or MB, NEVER salt AND MB.

[Eduka]

Where would I find Methylene blue? I've never seen it before :( He could very well be suffering from some kind of poisoning. He was kept in a filthy cup for weeks before I got him. The other CT I got at the same time was resting with his face straight down into the rocks tonight, too. Maybe I'm just paranoid now lol

I can take pictures, but I don't have any way of posting them because all I have is my phone and I can't upload to anything from it. Oh, and the BettaFix I use on all my new fish because all but one came to me with varying degrees of fin rot :( It's helped so far...although I know Spike's (sick guy) problem won't be helped much, his fins are ragged, too.

[Eduka]

Hmm...I figured out a way lol Anyway, this is how he floats: perpendicular. He's actually sinking in this picture, not swimming at all.

BTW, sorry about the size. I'm just happy I figured out a way to post a pic :/

[reggie oaks]

Originally Posted by Eduka

Where would I find Methylene blue? I've never seen it before :( He could very well be suffering from some kind of poisoning. He was kept in a filthy cup for weeks before I got him. The other CT I got at the same time was resting with his face straight down into the rocks tonight, too. Maybe I'm just paranoid now lol

I can take pictures, but I don't have any way of posting them because all I have is my phone and I can't upload to anything from it. Oh, and the BettaFix I use on all my new fish because all but one came to me with varying degrees of fin rot :( It's helped so far...although I know Spike's (sick guy) problem won't be helped much, his fins are ragged, too.

Any petshop has MB. Its a blue liquid usually comes in a small flask with a dropper at the mouth. At some wallmart maybe you can find it too. Some drugstores and department stores have a pet section. Look there if you don't live near a petshop. MB is cheap, and helps for fungus and some bacteria and protozoa too. It may turn some aquarium fixtures blue.So think seriously in a Hospital tank.
On the other hand, you say that the fish is slowly getting better. Maybe salt is doing the trick.
Good luck and hope your fish get well soon.

[reggie oaks]

As you can see, this is a normal position for a betta, But I'm worried about the sinking response.

[lvandert]

does he have white flecks on his tail/fins? or is that just a play on the glass?

[reggie oaks]

By the way, this is my Betta.

[reggie oaks]

Originally Posted by lvandert

does he have white flecks on his tail/fins? or is that just a play on the glass?

It's the plastic. One of my tanks is plastic. I made a terrible mistake buying those pieces that scratch the glass to wipe off excess algae.. They don't strip glass, but plastic???? well you know the rest of the story.