[Roz]

Housing:
How many gallons is your tank? 3.5
Does it have a filter? Yes
Does it have a heater? Yes
What temperature is your tank? About 74 degrees
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? No
Does your Betta have tank mates? What kind? No

Food:
What food brand do you use? Omega One
Do you feed flakes or pellets? At first flakes, now pellets
Freeze-dried? I have freeze dried bloodworms but he doesnt get them very often
How often do you feed your Betta? How much? Only in the morning, but I think I was giving him way to many peices, a pinch, probably like 8+ (I have since stopped feeding him except for a single peice of pea)

Maintenance:
Before your Betta became ill how often did you perform a water change? Not very often, I forget. I know it's bad, maybe once a month)
What percentage of water did you change? Since I always waited too long I did most of the water, probably 75%
What is the source of your water? From the sink, but we are on a well so there is no chlorine
Do you vacuum the substrate or just dip out water? I use a little vaccume for the water and try to get what I can off the gravel but it's not very strong. This last change I used the sink sprayer to thoroughly clean the gravel
What additives do you use? What brand of conditioner? There is no chlorine so I dont have a conditioner but I do have API Ammo Lock, Quick Start, and Stress Coat.

Water Parameters:
What are your water parameters? Please give exact numbers. If tested by pet store please get exact numbers. "Fine" or "Safe" won't help us help you. Important: Test your water *before* the regular water change; not after one. I'm afraid I didn't test it until after my last change which was already after he was acting odd, and I don't have the numbers I'm sorry, I just know that everything was in the no-action zone except for ammonia and she said it was normal after a change

Symptoms and Treatment:
When did you first notice the symptoms? About a week ago, but it could have been happening longer
How has your Betta’s appearance changed? He is bloated on his sides, mostly his left side when facing me
How has your Betta’s behavior changed? He lies on the gravel a lot, he will swim around a bit and then come to a park and kinda flop over and go real still. I understand they rest and whatnot but he rests way more than he swims
Is your Betta still eating? At first no not really, after a few says I gave him a tiny pea and he ate it quickly, he seemed to have perked up. Out of caution I have not fed him yet. It was less than a week ago I did that so I trust he is not starving yet. He also doesnt come anymore when I shake the food, and he used to
Have you started treating your Betta? If so, how? Only but not feeding him, assuming it's constipation
Does your Betta have any history of being ill? Not that I know of, his fins seemed torn awhile ago but I think it was a decoration I have since removed and now he is fine.
How long have you owned your Betta? May 2018
Was he or she ill or suffering some sort of damage when purchased? I don't think so

 

[RussellTheShihTzu]

So sorry I missed this thread.

If you have unscented Epsom Salts you can use one teaspoon per gallon. Keep him in solution doing 100% daily water changes. Treat no more than 10 days. Floating a container in or attaching to the side of his tank will work as a hospital tank.

If he is constipated you can also try to get him to flare. That seems to help.

 

[Roz]

Should I keep him in the hospital tank the whole time? Or just when I change the water?

 

[Lunatic]

Hello, sorry to hear that you are having issues.

I would raise the temperature, bettas prefer warmer water at or around 78 - 82, lower water temperatures prevent them from digesting properly, and it can cause them to be sluggish.

Are you soaking his food? If you feed him that much, he's bound to become bloated, and if the pellets aren't soaked before giving them to him, he will puff up very easily.
I would definitely improve on your water changing schedule, this is very important, it should be done weekly at the latest, sometimes bi-weekly is required in some circumstances.

My advice will follow up with what RussellTheShihTzu has said about epsom salts, that is a method to remove liquids from the body that may be causing him to bloat, it's similar to a laxative.

 

[RussellTheShihTzu]

Should I keep him in the hospital tank the whole time? Or just when I change the water?

Not sure I understand the question? You keep him in a hospital tank 24/7 in water with one teaspoon ES per gallon. Do daily 100% water changes. Do not do this treatment for more than 10 straight days.

You can also feed him frozen or freeze dried Daphnia which you can soak in treated water.

 

[Roz]

Hello! Thank you guys for the response. I moved him into a mason jar for his salt baths and left him there for about 4 days with no change (changed his water every day). He sat at the bottom of the jar leaning against the side and only came up for air, and won't really eat. Still rather bloated. I was worried I was stressing him too much so I've moved him back to his tank so he could have consistent heat. I don't think he will recover. ;(

 

[RussellTheShihTzu]

So sorry he is not doing better.

As stated above, you can float a container in his tank to take advantage of the heat. A well-cleaned butter tub or other plastic container with holes in the lid will work. He doesn't need a gallon of water. Even a partially filled Mason jar might work if it will float. Or, you can lower the tank level and set the jar in the tank. Up the temperature to around 82 to keep the container at 78+/-.

 

[Roz]

Thank you again for the replies, im sorry to say I guess it didnt work. He is now worse without having eaten at all, and his scales are starting to puff out. ;-; I think ill have to euthanize him, ive looked up how to do it..... how can I avoid this in the future? 😫 i know now i need to be way more careful about feeding, and with tank water changes

 

[Old Dog 59]

Avoid the future with the information you have been given. Temp 78-80 degrees. Feed 1-2 times daily, and only until the belly is rounded not stretched. Water changes are a must. The best way to avoid any problems or sickness is clean pristine water. Change once a week with a 3.5 gal. of 25%. Also clean the filter pad when doing changes, You don't always need to change the pad.

Since the tank is filtered, and heated. I would also add a small air stone to oxygenate the water. In a 3.5 the bubbles don't have to be many but enough to get the oxygen level up. Not only do betta breath air from the surface but they use their gills, with added oxygen to the water it allows them to remain longer before coming up to the surface for air.

When feeding pellets, only 2-3 at a time would be the trick, and maybe 2x a day. I like the Omega one brand, and use it myself. (however I use flakes) If it seems like your boy is not able to eat the pellets you can always crush them down into bite sizes for him.

 

[Roz]

Yes thank you! Ive already made sure its warm enough, ive had it to cold in the past, and I have two new live plants so hopefully those survive and help with oxygen until i can afford an air stone. I also have flakes but I’ve heard pellets are better as far as nutrition. When ever I change most of the water in my tank, I add ammo lock, quick start, and stress coat, should I do that even for 25%?

 

[Old Dog 59]

Yes, but just to the proportions needed per gallon changed. On the pellets that nutrition is better is kind of a misnomer. It depends on the maker, and the values of the product. (ingredient) If you check the labels they list what is in the food. I recommend Omega One Either pellets or flakes. The nutritional values are much higher, and the quality of what is in it I find better all around. I'm sure there are other foods out there that others would recommend also. Just make sure the values of the product ingredient are the same or higher. And it's the same with flake food. Omega One Betta buffet is also a natural color enhancer.

 

[RussellTheShihTzu]

Just an added note: When rinsing the filter pads or sponges use either treated or old tank water. Never rinse under the faucet or you will kill the nitrifying bacteria.

Look for whole fish or whole fish meal as the first ingredient in any fish food. As you are feeding Omega One, you have that covered. Other recommended foods are NorthFin Betta Bits and New Life Spectrum.