betta withering away

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Nov 12, 2007
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Hi all I have a question. my betta was happy until it started to develop dropsy, and intestinal disease that is cause by bacteria. I then removed the betta from my 20 gallon tank into a bowl because I dont have a quarantine tank. I treated it with antibiotics, and it has really gotten better. the problem is, that a few days ago, it started to eat again. i then started to feed it gradual portions of flake food. then today I noticed that it was just floating there motionless, with all of it's fins clamped up. I thought that maybe the water temperature was low, so I turned on the heater in the house, and shut the door to the room with my betta. It has been about 5 hours, and I dont see any sign of improvement. so i was wondering what is going on with him. today he was eating fine. do you think thaT MAYBE i OVER FED HIM? PLZ HELP!!
 
You probaly over fed him water parim, and temperature would help.
 
What are your water parameters? Use API liquid test kit for best results. How long have you kept this fish? What food are you feeding it? What antibiotics did you use? What is the temperature right now and what was it initially? Feeding schedule? Tank maintenance schedule?
 
I dont really have a proper water test kit rite now, and since it is in a bowl, I dont really know.... but I do have a nitrite test kit, so ill check that rite now. what do you think would happen if I really did over feed him? would he just die? ugh I feel so bad rite now. I tried not to over feed him too.
 
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If it's just over feeding it should go away by tomorrow.
 
the anti biotic that I used is called kannaplex, the original tank temp in my 20 gal was 78 degrees, but im pretty sufre that he got acclimated to the bowl becuase it was living in it for about 2 weeks now. the bood that I was slowly giving it is betta color brite by hbh.I tested the nitrites rite now, and it is zero. again, I dont have any good test kits rite now. and I just changed the water today. I do it on a weekly basis.
 
are you sure? it still has the bacterial infection in its intestines, will it really go away that easily?
 
Ok it still has dropsy... Keep a close eye on it and it should be swimming around tomorrow is my guess.... But I'm no betta expert
 
the anti biotic that I used is called kannaplex, the original tank temp in my 20 gal was 78 degrees, but im pretty sufre that he got acclimated to the bowl becuase it was living in it for about 2 weeks now. the bood that I was slowly giving it is betta color brite by hbh.I tested the nitrites rite now, and it is zero. again, I dont have any good test kits rite now. and I just changed the water today. I do it on a weekly basis.
It is the water, not the bowl that it becomes accustomed to. Bowl will probably have more unstable water conditions. So you're using antibiotics without really knowing the water parameters? The danger here is that if your water has ammonia and nitrites along with the antibiotics, you are risking the loss of your betta. In a bowl, do every other day or daily water change. Weekly is too long for a small container.
 
betta will clamp his fins if he gets cold... so keep his water warm, continue with his treatment. does he like flake food - or is this what he normally eats? bettas seem to like pellet food MUCH better, in fact I'm surprised he's eating the flake food. if you want, u can try Betta Bites HBH, my bettas love em (so much that they stopped eating Hikari pellets).
I don't think he will perk up right away that the water temp gets warm, but you should see him normal again by the next day. if he's over-fed he'll have difficulty swimming, which this is not the case. When you see a small bulge on his stomach area, is you know he is full - usually about 6-8 pellets. Dunno abt flakes =T
Wishing him better!
 
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