Concerned and sad :(

[alostfirefly]

I thought my pretty boy Kosh was doing so great. He was a happy little bugger when I had him in my dorm room. I successfully treated his bloating with epsom salt and everything was fine with daily water changes, his heater, and everything.

Well about 2 weeks ago, I moved back home for the summer which of course meant a little bit of rough travel for Kosh. I got him home and he started to get bloated again. So I fasted him, saw no improvement and did the epsom salt treatment. No results. Now his stomach is so stretched and bloated that the only thing that keeps him under any water is his betta leaf bed.

I went to the local pet store here and told them about Kosh's condition. They literally told me there's nothing I can do if it's his swim bladder. I'm scared cause I adore him and I don't want to lose him. :( I'm sure it's the swim bladder because I feel like he should have improved by now. He's able to eat and poop and everything properly but he can't swim down and he is so weak from his attempts to try and get under water.

What can I do??

[SillyCone]

If you manage to get a photo of him that will be REALLY helpful.

Meanwhile try to answer the most you can:

Housing
What size is your tank?
What temperature is your tank?
Does your tank have a filter?
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration?
Is your tank heated?
What tank mates does your betta fish live with?

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish?
How often do you feed your betta fish?

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change?
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change?
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change?

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?

Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness:
Alkalinity:

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed?
How has your betta fish's behavior changed?
When did you start noticing the symptoms?
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how?
Does your fish have any history of being ill?
How old is your fish (approximately)?

[alostfirefly]

This is the best picture I could get. He wouldn't hold still.

Housing
What size is your tank? 1.5 gallon
What temperature is your tank? averages 76 degrees
Does your tank have a filter? No
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? No
Is your tank heated? Yes
What tank mates does your betta fish live with? None

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish? small betta pellets
How often do you feed your betta fish? 3 pellets every day or every other day

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? Almost daily
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? 100%
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Water conditioner for tap water

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?

Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness:
Alkalinity:

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? His stomach is stretched and white and bloated
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? He is tired and weak. Can't swim down without a crap ton of effort and floats right back up. And his right side is more bloated
When did you start noticing the symptoms? a week and a half ago
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? Epsom salt treatment, no effect
Does your fish have any history of being ill? He's been bloated before but never this bad
How old is your fish (approximately)? I've had him 6 months.

[SillyCone]

This doesn't look good at all, the picture isn't good enough to notice a bloat more than a full belly tummy, but your description is worrying.

I would suggest to you to try to stay calm and maybe trying to get a better photo while waiting for one of the experts to help you, I'm afraid I'm no good use for you. :C

[alostfirefly]

I put him in his cup to get better pictures of him. Ignore me behind him.

[SillyCone]

I see partially you... Doing highlights in your hair (???)

And yes, now I can see the white belly, so I guess he's losing colour specially on that part, right?

Well, at least he isnt SUPER bloated, maybe you can try other types of medication if the salt isn't helping.

[alostfirefly]

Yes highlight lol. My best friend's doing.

I'm more concerned cause he's been eating but he's lost weight. And occasionally I've seen strings of maybe poop or bowel or something hanging from his abdomen.

What other medications could I try?

[SillyCone]

Ohh, maybe is parasites, is his poop like brownish with white tips?

[sjones]

First of all fish can live a "normal" life with chronic SBD. I have a guy with chronic SBD for a year who is fine.
It is good you posted as it might be another issue as well.
Check out this link: http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/155/

You can lower the water level if he is having a hard time reaching the top for air and put plastic wrap over the top of the tank to keep the air warm and moist. Be sure to keep up with your waterchanges. Do the fasting and epsom salt.
Also what are you feeding him?

[alostfirefly]

Yes that's exactly what his poop looked like!!

And he isn't having a problem reaching the top for air. He can't swim down at all. He's so bloated that he can't swim more than a few inches down without floating right back up. Fasting and Epsom salt haven't been doing any good. I started the treatment almost 2 weeks ago, He only got worse.