[WDW Donna]

My poor Poly needs some serious help. I have put her into a small critter keeper for a day or two. She didn't seem to want to come all the way to the top of her tank to feed. She just wants to sit on the bottom. She is normally a fiesty energetic fish who loves her food, but today she wasn't interested in eating for the first time. This is one of the fish I rescued from a wedding back in October. If she survived that ordeal I am sure she can survive this one. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

Housing
What size is your tank? 2.5
What temperature is your tank? 78
Does your tank have a filter? yes
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? Aquean pellets
How often do you feed your betta fish? two in morning, two at night

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? twice a month
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? 25
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Aquean Betta Bowl Plus

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?
have not done a test as of yet
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness:
Alkalinity:

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? colour has faded, vertical stripes have appeared, also severly bloated, her dorsal fin is ripped not sure how that happened she has nothing sharp in her tank.
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? lethargic, sits on bottom
When did you start noticing the symptoms? two days ago
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? did full water change
Does your fish have any history of being ill? No, first time since I have had her
How old is your fish (approximately)? Maybe a year? rescued her from a wedding centrepiece display in October.

 

[MadameDesu]

Oh my ... well, I'm no expert on fish diseases, but I know that raised (pinecone) scales are usually a sign of dropsy or other bacterial infection.

 

[WDW Donna]

How do I treat dropsy?

 

[MadameDesu]

Here's a good article about it.
http://www.bettafishcenter.com/Dropsy.shtml
It is usually a fairly serious disease, so I would treat ASAP. Even if your fish doesn't have dropsy, the treatment would still be beneficial for her.

 

[WDW Donna]

I took a look at the article. I only have a Petsmart in the area. I should be able to find those things there right? I do have some epsom salts at home, but I would have no idea how much to put in her small bowl.

 

[MadameDesu]

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the treatment method or medications.
This is really a question for more experienced users!
Here's a link to a thread with info on epsom salt use: http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=85271

 

[ao]

I read up the reviews on betta revive when buying it, reviews say it cures dropsy wel and fails for pretty much everything else. its only around $4 and is probably worth a try.

And woah wedding centerpiece? why would they do that to a live creature?

 

[WDW Donna]

Should I continue to try and feed Poly?
She was swimming around the critter keeper a little so I put one pellet in. She didn't go for it at all.
I am trying the epsom salts, I cannot get out to get medicine until sometime tomorrow.
She is REALLY bloated.

 

[MadameDesu]

If she's severely bloated, I'd say to hold off on the food (or at least lower the amount), especially if she's not really into it.
Just make sure you're using the salts and are changing her water every few days. Definitely see if you can find Betta Revive anywhere because it seems like people have had a lot of success with it.

 

[WDW Donna]

I'm going to try that Betta Revive and keep changing her water with the epsom salts. Wish me luck.

 

[iceyrose]

Aww...man wishing u lots of luck with ur betta.....a few side note.....for 2.5 gallon tanks atleast 1~100% water changes is needed per week and at least another 50%...once a week...prolly an antibiotic would be more helpfull than the other med u stated...also the other objects that arnt maid for fish tanks can have other products in them that can make fish sick...and alter the ph in the water...checking the ph is a good plan too...

 

[WDW Donna]

Thanks. I will have to see what my Petsmart has for treating dropsy. She is still hanging on.

 

[WDW Donna]

So I bought some medication. Not exactly what I wanted but I will give this a try. I have also been doing the epsom salt water changes. She is still bloated and pinecone like, but seemed to try and swim around a little more.

 

[WDW Donna]

Guess poor Poly was too far gone in the disease to be helped. I thought she was looking better, but it must have been one last burst of energy before she died. That is the first of my bettas to ever get dropsy, but now I know the early signs and can treat one of my others if it happens again. Thanks everyone for all your input.

 

[MadameDesu]

Awww, sorry for your loss, Donna
At least now you know what to look for. Dropsy is a total pain in the butt.
As long as you change your water more frequently, I think you'll be fine. Just make sure you sanitize all of the tank stuff.

 

[iceyrose]

Wishing u comfort & strangth to move forward..rip little betta buddys

 

[MadameDesu]

I agree! Like your signature says, at least you rescued her and gave her a good home to live the rest of her days in