[ReeseInPieces]

Sooo for the past month or two I've been trying to figure out what is wrong with my boyfriends betta, at first we thought it was bloat/constipation that caused him swim bladder disorder. Tried to treat him for that with daphnia and Epsom salts.

Just recently I have suspected possibly an internal parasite or bacterial infection, I bought seachem focus as treatment.

It's been the third day of treatment and when I went to check on him his scales have started to pinecone slightly. I have been preparing myself for the worst.
I just want to know if there is anything I can do at the moment to help him. I change his water 100% everyday and add Epsom salts to try and draw out the fluid. I'm afraid he may have organ failure at this point and I'm not sure what else to do.

 

[LittleBlueFishlets]

1) Can you fill out the form below? This will give people more information. Answer what you can, and leave anything else blank (or put NA).

2) Can you describe the Epsom salt treatment that you used? How much Epsom salt did you use? And for how long?

3) Can you post an overhead view of him? In the photo that you posted, I don't see a lot of bloating. Does he appear bloated to you?

4) Seachem Focus contains an antibacterial, but it's not something that will work well on internal issues. (It's a furan based antibiotic which is great for external gram negative infections though.) Do you have any medications on hand like Kanaplex (kanamycin) or that contain metronidazole?

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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)?

 

[ReeseInPieces]

Housing
What size is your tank? I gallon but currently in a 1/2 size hospital tank
What temperature is your tank? House in 30 degrees. I don't have a way of taking the temperature.
Does your tank have a filter? No
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? No
Is your tank heated? No
What tank mates does your betta fish live with? No

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish? Was feeding pellets but have been using frozen daphnia to help him poo
How often do you feed your betta fish? Fasted him for 4 days, started feeding him 3 days ago because medicine had to be with food.

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? Everyday for the past week
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? Epsom salt1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon, water conditioner

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? Bloated, head seems fat, I have 4 other bettas and non are this wide looking.
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? Was lethargic and swimming in s curve, recently has been more active and less s swimming.
When did you start noticing the symptoms? 1- 2 months ago
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? Started with fasting then stared Epsom salt treatment, have recently started internal antibacterial treatment ( seachem focus)
Does your fish have any history of being ill? No
How old is your fish (approximately)? 2 years

 

[ReeseInPieces]

It says on the bottle it's an antibacterial polymer for internal infections of fish. The lady at the fish store recommended it.. ( she also recommended bettafix which I heard is terrible so who knows) he does look bloated to me. I just noticed the pineconing today which has got me even more concerned. I was doing the Epsom salt treatment everyone has suggested, start with 1 per gallon and gradually go up to 3 per gallon, we did the treatment for one week then stopped for a week and have just started again the past 2-3 days

 

[ReeseInPieces]

And this one