New HM from deathsmart SICK... (pic heavy)

[CrazyCatLady]

I just got home from deathsmart with this guy. He was hanging out in his filthy cup on his side. He's so beautiful and so tiny (the size of a quarter). I couldn't leave him there! I had to take him home!

I brought him home and put him into a half gallon vase with some marbles and 1 plant. I put a few rocks of aquarium salt in there with him and put him on the top ledge of my stove so he stays warm. It keeps the water between 77-80.

After I put him in his house, I fed him 1 pellet of food and he gobbled it up super quick...so I'm hoping that's a good sign.

He still struggles with floating to his side, but he's putting up a good fight. I think he has an ammonia burn on the top of his head. There is a small fleshy colored dot that you can see in one of the pictures. Maybe it's just his markings.

Any other tips or suggestions anyone can offer? I promised him that if he made it, I would get him a real house and he wouldn't even have to share my 10gal with Stefon!

What makes me the most angry, is how the employees kept telling me "Oh, well if he doesn't make it we have a 14 day guarantee. Bring him back and we will replace him for free." I kept telling them "That's not the point, at least if he doesn't make it, he will die in a nice home, not a poop filled cup! If I was him, I would hope someone would spend 7 bucks on me so I wouldn't die in filth".

My friend MiMi has named him "Quarter Pounder"...because he is the size of a quarter and he is pounding his way through the odds! I really hope he makes it, I love him tons already!

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[Leeniex]

He's a pretty little guy, I hope he makes it.

[CrowntailTwitchy57]

aww he's so cute! i am a sucker for a big-eyed betta!

[Foxell]

Oh man he's so gorgeous. I really hope he pulls through <3

[Pataflafla]

If he's having difficulty staying upright I would stop the aq salt. Use 1 tsp/gal remixed epsom salt and change his water 100% every day for 10 days. You could hold off of feeding him for maybe a day before slowly feeding him soaked pellets throughout the day. I wouldn't go over 3 soaked pellets on the first day (spread them out to 1 int he morning, 1 in the afternoon, and 1 in the evening) simply because his system needs to restart again and it's not good to overload at first.

For future use, it's always a good idea to premix any salts you add to the tank and add them before your fish to avoid giving them salt burns.

[LittleBettas]

^ditto that
I also brought home a CT with SEVERE SBD today, he came home around 4pm and couldnt move from the top of the water, now, he can swim a bit and he has figured out he can rest his body in a corner and it will help support him...
It was reccomended that I increase his espom salt to 3 tsps per gallon (he ALSO has SEVER bloat... belly the size of a marble :( )
his tummy has gone down a bit and he has pooped!
I hope you have the same luck and both of your guys have a SPEEDY recovery!!!

(LOVE his markings!)

[Luimeril]

if he were in a bigger tank, with a wider top, you could do like i did with Cup, and put a small sandwich baggie on top of the water. He'd lay under it, and it kept him from drying out. x:

[TequilatheBetta]

Maybe lower the water, so that he can get to the surface more easily? you could put him in some long shallow tupperware thing (like a salad box :D)
He's very pretty, hope he makes it!

[CrazyCatLady]

Thanks for the pointers! His vase isn't very large or tall, it's only a half gallon. He always hangs out at the top. He either stays at the edge, leaning against the edge or under the plant base that I have floating upside down in the vase. So I don't think he's going to dry out any time soon.

I'll pick up some ES and change his water later today.

He's still fighting!! :)

[fishy friend2]

he is a stunner