HELP - betta bloated and floating
- Thread starter psionicfish
- Start date
GOOD NEWS: This morning I noticed that he still doesn't have ping-cone scales, so I was very happy about that. About a few minutes ago, I noticed a big poop on the bottom in his jar, and he's now swimming normally (not on his side). However, he still is not able to get off the surface (floating a lot) but is much skinnier than yesterday!
When do you think it will be ok to feed him?
Hang in there little guy! :dance:
When do you think it will be ok to feed him?
Hang in there little guy! :dance:
psionicfish said:
I tried a pea first. I just took a frozen pea...gently blanched it in the microwave in a little bowl of water. I then took the skin off and diced up a couple into tiny pieces with a knife. I fed this a few times until I actually SAW him eat some...then I fasted him for three days. No food of any kind. Then I fed him after that as normal.
It took him a good two to two and a half days to swim normally again, but now he is just fine. From your pictures I highly suspected it was a swim bladder problem. I'm so glad to see he is recovering.
I guess when they become constipated, the swelling from the constipation pushes against the swim bladder and causes the problems. Plus, I POURED the water straight into his tank none to gently and really aggrivated the situation. Plus, I think the filtration added to the problem.
Good luck to your little guy...may he fight the good fight!
That's good, if there's no protruding scales, he's more likely consipated. I'd personally do the epsoms salt route and put in 1tbsp epsoms salt per 10g of water. You can do the peas route, but if he won't eat, epsoms salt is better.
I will try the peas tomorrow morning asap (I don't have any on hand).
One thing I do notice about him is that he doesn't breath regularly... he does this about three or so times: gulps air and passes (what seems to be all of the air) right back out his gills. Seems to be enough air for a while for him. Did your guy do the same, mykidsmylife?
One thing I do notice about him is that he doesn't breath regularly... he does this about three or so times: gulps air and passes (what seems to be all of the air) right back out his gills. Seems to be enough air for a while for him. Did your guy do the same, mykidsmylife?
Hmmm....I don't know. He would gulp several gulps of air at once though. I just don't remember if he passed it thru his gills. I really hope your guy recovers. If the epsom salts are working well so far, I would keep that until he seems to recover and just fast him until back to normal and skip the peas for now.psionicfish said:
Well, he's still looking about the same he did saturday morning... kinda on his side moping around. I haven't fed him for 4 days now... should I feed him soon regardless if he looks better or not? Or fast him till he's completely normal looking?
TheMightyQueenPixie
Best Invention EVER!
He needs to come out of the Epsom salts if he is still in there...Epsom salts are a temporary situation and not to go on for days...They are a diuretic and will dehydrate your fish if left in there too long...Replace it with clean water and feed...Leave the bottom of the bowl/tank whatever bare so you can tell if he is pooping or not...Is he being heated at all??? This mopeyness could just be from the cold. Cold fish can also not digest food properly, so that may be part of the problem, if not the whole problem.
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Of course, he is out of the epsom salts. It has been bare and he has only pooped saturday. No, it is not being heated but it is in a room of that is at least 75 degrees.
I will go ahead and feed him tonight then unless suggested otherwise.
I will go ahead and feed him tonight then unless suggested otherwise.
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TheMightyQueenPixie
Best Invention EVER!
A 75 degree rooms means that the tank water is more like 73...Is it a constant 75, even over night? Warm up his enclosure and you will see an improvement.
