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28089 Views 547 Replies 19 Participants Last post by Schmoo, Oct 28, 2015

Schmoo

Discussion Starter · Oct 3, 2014

I like to talk about Admiral Ackbar and what's going on with him, so I figured this would be an appropriate place for that. [:
Plus, I know the people reading this will actually care, as opposed to the poor saps who read my other blog.
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Tonight the admiral got a 100% WC. He's been bloated for the past week or so (and showing signs of screwy buoyancy the past day or so), and I was trying to treat him with Melafix, which did not work. So, I rinsed his bowl really well with hot water to get rid of all the residue and what not, then set up an epsom salt treatment. I have a gallon milk jug that I use to pre-treat his water (just in case I have to do a quick/emergency WC or anything), and that helped a lot with mixing the ES well. I raised the temperature in his bowl a bit, too. I plan on doing a 25% WC in a few days, and hopefully there'll be improvement.

Once he was returned to his home he swam around a bit; he even flared at me! Now he's nestled in the synthetic pink plant that he has, which is new. I've never seen him do that before. Then again, I don't watch him every second of every day (as much as I'd love to).

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Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #2 · Oct 3, 2014

I'm getting ready to head to bed me thinks, so I checked in on the admiral. I crouched down by his bowl (it's sitting on a small end table), and he wriggled out of his hiding spot to come say hi. I put my finger against his bowl, and he wiggled some more at me (I may have even seen some gill flaring). I increased the temperature in his bowl a bit more, also. He's now fully emerged from his plant, and hanging out in the middle of his bowl (as opposed to floating more towards the top).

hrutan

· #3 · Oct 3, 2014

Glad he's feeling better.

Melafix isn't going to work for bloating...it's good for small wounds, mild fin rot, damaged fins and things, though.

Bikeridinguckgirl14

· #4 · Oct 3, 2014

^+1
Epsom salt is the right way to go, you could also try fasting him or feeding him frozen daphnia

Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 3, 2014

hrutan said:
Glad he's feeling better.

Melafix isn't going to work for bloating...it's good for small wounds, mild fin rot, damaged fins and things, though.

See, that's what I thought, but the people at Petco said that it would work for bloating, too. I didn't want to waste the $8, but my husband wanted to try it, and we figured -- worst case -- we intend to add more fin babies when we can afford to, so it'll be handy to have, just in case.

Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 3, 2014

Bikeridinguckgirl14 said:
^+1
Epsom salt is the right way to go, you could also try fasting him or feeding him frozen daphnia

I started him on ES last night, and plan to fast him until he's better. :]

hrutan

· #7 · Oct 3, 2014

Schmoo said:
See, that's what I thought, but the people at Petco said that it would work for bloating, too. I didn't want to waste the $8, but my husband wanted to try it, and we figured -- worst case -- we intend to add more fin babies when we can afford to, so it'll be handy to have, just in case.

Unfortunately, advice at pet stores is hit or miss. :-? Still, creating a stock of medication is always a good thing.

Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 3, 2014

I got home from work and errands not too long ago, and the first thing I did was check on Admiral Ackbar. He's back to hanging out at the top of his bowl, but when I greeted him he wiggled around a bit. I'm sure it's just because I'm looking for it, but I think he may be slightly less bloated? I'll have to get a better look after Huzbug wakes up (he works overnights, so he's currently asleep in our room, which is where the admiral is).

I stopped by Walmart on the way home to pick up kitty litter for the fur babies, and I went down the fishy aisle as well. I bought the admiral some freeze-dried bloodworms (I know, I know, frozen is the way to go, but my wallet is rather bare atm...) because I like him to have variety in his diet. So now he has his pellets, tubiflex worms, and bloodworms. He can't have any of it though because the plan is to fast him until he's better. I'm also going to bring up the temperature in his tank a bit. Today's been almost downright cold, and our room can be rather drafty...

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Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 3, 2014

hrutan said:
Unfortunately, advice at pet stores is hit or miss. :-? Still, creating a stock of medication is always a good thing.

There's one lady who works there that really knows her fishy stuff, so I thought that maybe they all did...but no. Ohhh well~ Like you said, creating a stock is good. c:

Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 3, 2014

Browsing the fish aisle reminded me of the tank that we want to get for the admiral. He does just fine in his 2.5, but I think he'd be a happier boy if he had a bit more space, as well as a friend or two. I had a 6 gallon hexagon LED tank in mind, but now that I'm browsing the site I found it on...I can't find it. =/ I found another that I like, though, and I think it'll work better in our room.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Culture-6-Gallon-Aquarium-Kit/39326358

And like I said, we'd like to get the admiral a friend or two. I'm thinking either two guppies or three neon tetras. Huzbug would like an oscar, but I think that'd be a bit much...

Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 4, 2014 (Edited)

Help, I've been bitten by the betta bug.

Well, I got bitten by it awhile ago, but I'm in full-swing Betta Fever!

I'd really like to get another betta. Realistically, I shouldn't...our finances aren't in the best position right now, but...but I really want another fin baby. So, I'm currently browsing Craigslist to see if I can find a cheap tank that I can work with. I found one that I like (http://stlouis.craigslist.org/hsh/4669525485.html). $15 is a very good price for everything it comes with IMO. The admiral would get upgraded to this, and the new baby would get the admiral's bowl.

This infuriated me, though: http://stlouis.craigslist.org/for/4687309091.html. Those poor babies! :[ According to Google Maps, it would take me about 30 minutes to get to them (assuming the seller wouldn't meet me, which I doubt they would for $10 Idk). I'm tempted to just to get them out of that situation, but I don't have the means to purchase all the trimmings for two bettas at the same time. But those poor little guys...

edit #1: I found a very nice tank (with everything included!) for $10...but it's about an hour away. >_< However, I have a friend that lives in that area, so maybe I could convince her to pick it up for me? http://stlouis.craigslist.org/for/4691367362.html

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Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 4, 2014

Just did probably about a 35% WC in the admiral's bowl. I wish he felt better. :c I want him to try his new bloodworms. He's fairly picky, so I'm anxious to see how it goes.

I also took some pictures after the WC. All of my pictures of Ackbar are outdated (back from when we got him in July!), so I thought it was time for some new ones. Also, anyone reading this can see what my poor little grumpy gills is dealing with (his bloated, pale stomach). The first one is from above, and the other two are from either side (or at least that's how they should pop up).

Pink Red Tree Plant Flower

Leaf Flower Pink Plant Petal

Red Fish Tail Aquarium Organism

If you can tell, he's bloated more on one side than the other. And guh, I am so in love with him. <3 He's such a handsome fella. Also, I apologize for the crappy pictures. My phone's camera sucks now. :/ It didn't always, but all of a sudden it does.

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hrutan

· #13 · Oct 4, 2014

That last one looks pretty good. Not sure what I think of the first, and yech, you're right. Poor babies.

Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 4, 2014

Also! I talked to my friend, and she said she'd front the $10 for the what I believe is a 3 gallon (could possibly be a 5 gallon, according to the CL ad) tank and pick it up. :] I should be seeing her, in theory, next Saturday for the St. Louis Walk Now for Autism Speaks walk. Fingers crossed that the seller still has it!

This means another fin baby could be happening in the Teal household very soon! Very exciting! Before I joined this forum I wouldn't have even considered another betta (okay, I would have, but not very seriously), but after tearing through Eva's Betta Diary (currently on page 8 lol), I am. I used to feel guilty about the admiral's home. Every place I've posted about Ackbar has brought on pushy, know-it-all, you're-a-terrible-fish-mom people that attack me for not having a filter, a huge tank, etc. But here's the thing...I take good care of my boy. He wants for nothing, and no, he doesn't have a filter, but I clean his bowl religiously. He doesn't have a huge amount of space, but he has enough.

Also also, after reading Eva's journal, I'm now strongly considering getting the admiral a snail friend. I sincerely think he's lonely, and he doesn't swim around much (as I've said before, he's a lazy boy), so I think it would go well.

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Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 4, 2014

hrutan said:
That last one looks pretty good. Not sure what I think of the first, and yech, you're right. Poor babies.

The first one would need some work, but it's much closer to me. The latter is ideal, and (I just posted this) my friend agreed to pick it up for me, so hopefully it's still available!

I want to rescue those two so badly. :[ But there's just no way I can...

Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 4, 2014

Just checked on the admiral. I hope (and think) I'm imagining it, but he seems to be a tad more bloated. I think that's probably because of the angle I was looking at him from. The curve of his bowl does weird things to the appearance of what's inside it. I added a healthy pinch of epsom salt, though. My bowl has an LED top, and the light is currently shining blue. Admiral Ackbar seems to like this the most, which stinks in a way because his colors show so much better in the red...

Huzbug and I are going to Petco in the morning to see about a snail friend for the admiral. If we do (and I'm p. sure we will) get a snail, that means Squidward's house will probably have to come out again. I'd hate for the snail to die while clinging to the inside of the house, and me not to notice for a few days... Though, I check on the admiral an insane amount, so I doubt that would happen. If I didn't see the snail, I'd freak out until I did find him. I'd like to avoid lifting the damn house every hour and stressing out the admiral, so I'll probably just pull it to be safe.

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Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #17 · Oct 4, 2014

Schmoo said:
Just checked on the admiral. I hope (and think) I'm imagining it, but he seems to be a tad more bloated. I think that's probably because of the angle I was looking at him from. The curve of his bowl does weird things to the appearance of what's inside it. I added a healthy pinch of epsom salt, though. My bowl has an LED top, and the light is currently shining blue. Admiral Ackbar seems to like this the most, which stinks in a way because his colors show so much better in the red...

Huzbug and I are going to Petco in the morning to see about a snail friend for the admiral. If we do (and I'm p. sure we will) get a snail, that means Squidward's house will probably have to come out again. I'd hate for the snail to die while clinging to the inside of the house, and me not to notice for a few days... Though, I check on the admiral an insane amount, so I doubt that would happen. If I didn't see the snail, I'd freak out until I did find him. I'd like to avoid lifting the damn house every hour and stressing out the admiral, so I'll probably just pull it to be safe.

For some reason it won't let me edit this post (are we only allowed one edit a day?), so here we go...

I just wanted to add that I might try to buy Kanaplex tomorrow from either Petco or the LPS (both are just right down the road (opposite ends) from home). I'm beginning to think that the admiral's bloating is bacterial and not SBD; I still cling to the idea of SBD because he will occasionally gulp air from the surface of the water, and his buoyancy is still wonky. I'll probably just buy the Kanaplex anyway.

Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #18 · Oct 4, 2014

I post here a ridiculous amount...

I want a baby betta. :c I should *not* be spending money, though. >___<

I saw on another user's journal that their Petco was doing the $1/gallon sale... I wonder if the one by me is... And here I am, trying to mentally plan out another betta habitat when I, in theory, have one coming next weekend. I just hate waiting (which is weird because I'm normally a pretty patient person).

First thing's first, though: Admiral Ackbar needs to get better. That's my top priority. After that it's getting him and a snail friend into a larger tank (which again, I should be getting next weekend, assuming the CL seller still has it *fingers crossed*). THEN I can think about getting another betta.

...but I'm still going to look at them when we go to Petco tomorr-- ... o___o in a few hours, I mean.

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Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #19 · Oct 4, 2014

I am in the process of doing a 50% WC. Huzbug reported that the admiral was more lively this morning when he got home from work (after I finally fell asleep, lol), and after watching him a bit I'm inclined to agree. He seems to be doing better. He isn't hiding in his plant as much.

We went to Petco and our LFS this morning (we just got home not too long ago). I wanted to find Kanaplex in case the ES treatments don't work, and I found it at the LFS for $7. We also bought a new plant for the bowl. It's blue, and I think Admiral Ackbar is going to like it.

...We also found Gary at the LFS. Gary is a black nerite snail, and he is currently sitting in his bag on our dresser. >w>; I'm removing some of the gravel from the admiral's bowl to give them both a tad more room, and then put the new plant in. Hopefully the two of them will get along. :3 *fingers crossed*

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Schmoo

Discussion Starter · #20 · Oct 4, 2014

Quick update, then I gotta nap before work.

The seller on CL e-mailed me back ealier! She still has the tank!

So my friend will probably be picking it up on Wednesday, as that's her next day off. I'm stoked. Admiral Ackbar (and Gary now) will finally have a heater and filter. The tank is also about twice as big as his current bowl, so the two boys will have more room to roam (not that the admiral does, but still).

Once I have them settled into their new home (which I'll most likely be getting from my friend this coming Saturday, as I mentioned before) I'm going to clean the heck out of Ackbar's bowl.

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