[Kambria]

I really don't think he'll make it. I have no idea what to do to save him and I've just got to, I love him to death. He's been very lethargic and staying near the top of the bowl for a while. I moved him to the sick fish tank, just smaller so he can be closer to the top and not struggle.

I've taken some videos of my poor baby, will link/attach. Ignore the fan in the background, sorry!

I'm hoping it's just a case swim bladder (not a good thing, but better than equilibrium problems...) since he's having trouble swimming downwards.


Details:
I recently moved away to college and lost ALL my fish supplies / have literally five dollars to my name, so my poor fish Weasley is roughing it. No filter, no heater.. But I've known plenty of betta to live 2-5 years without any fancy things. I just typically have all the best things for them, but I really can't afford it. I brought him from home (before I moved away to college) because it was bring him in a sack or let him get flushed. Obviously I wasn't going to let that happen so... yeah, but looks like I'm not keeping that from happening.

No kit to test the water, just some reliable betta water conditioner and a decent owner.

1 Litter tank, had some living plants that died from not enough sun light. Can only clean his tank every other week or the RA gets pissed. (not even supposed to have a fish). Tank is always room temp. though...

diet: 2-3 pellets a day, the package says five but that seems a bit much...

Videos of sick guy:
http://youtu.be/Hw5X0lDtJFw
http://youtu.be/SIsm7BSZ--U

 

[Kambria]

help.. :c

 

[True Indigo]

I see no discoloration and not too much bloating (hard to tell). If you literally have no supplies, just try to keep his water warm. If you have some table salt or sea salt (DO NOT USED IODIZED SALT AND MAKE SURE IF YOU DO HAVE TABLE SALT, IT DOES NOT CONTAIN IODINE!) add like half a teaspoon to his water (dissolve it first in a little cup before adding it).

If you have no other supplies, I believe that's the best you can do. Just hope it works.

 

[Kambria]

i've heard salt is horrible for them, even non-iodized? I'm so scared. :c

 

[True Indigo]

Yes, make sure it's just salt, not iodized salt. A small pinch or half a teaspoon should be fine. It generally will help relax the fish and promote healing. Every time I change the water of my fish, I add some salt to his tank and it's better for him. A small pinch or half teaspoon will do him some good (remember to dissolve it first). Salt is only horrible if it makes the water actually like salt water or if the salt is iodized (which is poisonous to the fish).

I've been putting salt in my tanks for well over a month now. I've found they do much better for it and it's especially useful for sick fish.

 

[Kambria]

Okay, I sold my guitar to someone on my floor a few doors down. 50$, I went to walmart and got a heater, thermometer, Aquarium salt, a filter and frozen worms so he doesn't only eat pellets. And a fish net. :c what do I doooo now, I'm reading the salt package.. I just have him in a small Tupperware container, so not much salt... still a pinch?


also, title = 911*

 

[kfryman]

Okay let's see, he may be poisoned by infrequent water changes in such a small container. He could have ammonia poisoning by my guesses. Though I am not an expert but i dont want you to feel all alone, I had a betta act just like yours. To tell you the truth, he didn't make it. Hopefully you caught it early. Try to do 100% every single day, it shouldn't take long as you just need to dump the water, put your betta in a small container, while you do this. Make sure you get the poop out as well as you want as little ammonia exposure as possible. If your water conditioner doesn't neutralize ammonia get one as soon as you can.

I think you are awesome for selling your guitar for your betta, don't see that happening a whole lot. The heater will also help him fight the poisoning, if he has it, as that is one less thing his body has to fight off. Bloodworms will help him with good nutrition so he can fight.

Salt isn't needed right now unless instructed by one of the disease people, Sakura or Myates. It can harm them if prolonged to exposure of salt, actually it will cause organ failure if prolonged so don't use it until the situation is dire.

 

[Kambria]

I just feel awful about this. I should've been a better owner instead of getting my act together last minute. ): I just hope the little guy makes it, I adore him.

I've added some salt and the heater, I'll let him rest over night. Fingers crossed..

 

[kfryman]

After you do the 100% don't add salt it really isn't needed, any ways if it isn't external aquarium salt won't do anything. Internal things would use epsom salt. What's the water temp?

Some people wake up and see they need to do something like you, others have too much pride and feel that they are Doug everything right so as an owner you to me are considered responsible as you sought help when you needed it.

 

[Kambria]

It's 76-78 degrees F, & I really appreciate it. :c Thank you

 

[Tikibirds]

Are you using water conditioner? If not, the stuff in the water may be poisioning him...

However if it IS swim bladder, and I can't say for certain if it is or isn't..then aquarium salt will not help and may even make it worse. What you would need for swim bladder disease is EPSOM salt.

Are there any other signs of illness, other then flopping over or swimming issues? color loss, fuzzies, loss of appitite? Is there rapid gill movement? Ammonia poisioning symptoms would include: red/lilac gills, gasping for air at the surface, lethargic, lack of appitite, red streaking on the body or fins, fish lays at bottom of tank, clamped fins. As the damage from the ammonia poisoning continues, the tissues will be damaged as evidenced by red streaks or bloody patches that appear on the body and fins. Internal damage is occurring to the brain, organs, and central nervous system. The fish begins to hemorrhage internally and externally, and eventually dies.

For epsom and aquarium salt treatment - it's 1 teaspoon per gallon. Premix the water and salt in a milk jug if you have it, and when the salt is dissolved, add it to his tank. Espom can be used for days on end but AQ alt shouldn't be used for more then 10 or so days.

 

[Kambria]

He looks a little more active and happy, I might be a little biased though.
Also, I found a dark spot on him... It almost looks like a little hole? Or just the black getting bigger.

It's in the first picture, second one is to compare...


&For a week or so he's had a hard time eating. He'd go to eat something and miss the food? I tried breaking it in half and he still missed... Also, Yeah I use conditioner, I pre-mix it in a milk jug (fully cleaned out) and let it sit till it's room temp.

He's not gasping for air, no other real problems. Just swimming really odd, maybe lethargic.

 

[Tikibirds]

maybe im blind, but I dont see a hole...
Is it in his fins?

Also from the new pics, his tummy looks a little big so I m hoping his sideways thing is from swim bladder disease.

 

[Kambria]

I might just be over thinking it... but the black wasn't there before.
&His tummy does look pretttttyyyyy big now, I'm feeling a little better. I've cured many swim bladders in the past... Pleaseeee be swim bladder!

Also, 2-3 pellets seem like too much food?

 

[Kambria]

Some more pictures of the hole/tummy area, sorry for spam. :x

 

[Tikibirds]

I still don't see a hole - to me it looks like a black scale. Some bettas have black outlining their scales or have black colored scales mixed in. You said it wasn't there before? An external parasite maybe??

2-3 pellets shouldn't be too much food assuming they are betta pellets.

Are his scales sticking up - like a pinecone?

 

[Kambria]

They're flat as can be. I really can't remember if it was there before or not now though... & yeah betta pellets. I'll fast him for a few days and if he's not better chop up a pea. Thank you for the help I'll keep this updated.

 

[Tikibirds]

Good Luck and I really do hope he is just having swim bladder issues and nothing is seriously wrong.

Ooo - the pea thing is for goldfish since they eat veggies. Most bettas wont touch it - 1 teaspoon of epsom is the way to go for swim bladder if fasting does not work

Keep an eye on him- you can pm sakura8, oldfishlady and myates - they are all good with fish diagnosis.
I suggest checking back later to see if any of the experts posted any advice as I am not an expert in fish illnesses..

 

[True Indigo]

Please keep us updated. I only mentioned the salt thing because it was told to me at some point when I didn't have anything else and it seemed to do the trick for my fish doing something similar. I apologize now as it seems that I have been wrong and I hope I didn't tell you anything that endangered your fish.

I'm happy to see you care so much for your fish that you were willing to sell your guitar. You're a rare kind of person and even some proud Betta owners probably wouldn't do what you did. I really hope your extra mile goes the distance for the guy.

 

[True Indigo]

Generally employees don't know all the necessary things to do in terms of taking care of fish and may give you the wrong advice. I trust the advice of these members here. I used to stalk these forums for two months when I had a fish before finally deciding to be a member. A pea I think would only be good if they're very bloated and your guy doesn't look terribly bloated so I probably wouldn't risk it. I've heard plenty of benefits of epsalm salt though and like I said, I trust these guys' advice.