VERY unhappy betta!!!
- Thread starter VivaLaVics
- Start date
The bloating could possibly be due to chronic constipation. Do you know what kind of diet this guy was being fed? The fin conditions sound like fin rot to me, but I can't be certain without a picture. None of this is due to age, I can tell you that. I've kept bettas who've lived up to 5 years that never looked like that. Distilled water is NOT his friend. Dechlorinated tap water, however, is. Filtration, a nice warm temperature (think 76-82), and that tank you're thinking of putting him in could go a LONG way for him. Good for you! I've been known to kidnap animals too LOL
LOL. I'ev kidnapped him but I dont think I will steal him. I want to keep him until he is healthy. I have a betta of my own who should bein the planted tank... I hope that once he ses his fish healthy he will want to keep it up... if not then I am def. stealing him. We'll give him 1 more chance though...
I didnt think distilled water was good to him. I treat my tap whater with a dechlor so that should be good for now- its what I do with my Betta. Good to know not just for age. Terrible he is in such poor shape the poor guy! I have him in a room with all lights out and hes just chilling sleeping in a corner... his light has never been off so that along with my very good scrubing of the tank must be GREAT for him.
I'll let ya'll know if his condition improves dat-to-day. Thanks again!
Oh yea - on the food. He was being fed some off brand I have never heard of. I went and bought him some Hakri (sp?) Betta Gold-Bio (what I feed my betta) and threw out the crap. LOL. This will probably help as well.
Do bettas get bloated in the front half when constipated?? My cichlids show it right above their anal fins. Some peas help them- perhaps some peas will help the poor betta???
I didnt think distilled water was good to him. I treat my tap whater with a dechlor so that should be good for now- its what I do with my Betta. Good to know not just for age. Terrible he is in such poor shape the poor guy! I have him in a room with all lights out and hes just chilling sleeping in a corner... his light has never been off so that along with my very good scrubing of the tank must be GREAT for him.
I'll let ya'll know if his condition improves dat-to-day. Thanks again!
Oh yea - on the food. He was being fed some off brand I have never heard of. I went and bought him some Hakri (sp?) Betta Gold-Bio (what I feed my betta) and threw out the crap. LOL. This will probably help as well.
Do bettas get bloated in the front half when constipated?? My cichlids show it right above their anal fins. Some peas help them- perhaps some peas will help the poor betta???
Hmm, I missed that it was localized to the front. So for that, I am unsure. Look to see if his poops are too long or take a long time to expel (or both). If so, then yes, he's constipated. And yes, peas would help the betta; I've done it with mine. Just make sure with how small bettas are, that you dehull the peas and mash em up so they're small. Does this poor dude have a heater or filtration? If not, those things would also massively improve the conditions he's been dealing with. Hope this helps and good luck!
If he's eating, then the bloat is normal. If he's not, it's probably a sign of infection.
He should not be in distilled water, it does not have any minerals that fish need. Aged tap water is fine, unless you have chloramines in your local water, then you will need to treat with products such as Prime.
Try feeding peas and see if the bloating goes away. The fin rot is mainly due to ammonia burns from lack of water changes it seems.
Good luck.
He should not be in distilled water, it does not have any minerals that fish need. Aged tap water is fine, unless you have chloramines in your local water, then you will need to treat with products such as Prime.
Try feeding peas and see if the bloating goes away. The fin rot is mainly due to ammonia burns from lack of water changes it seems.
Good luck.
:evil_lol::evil_lol::evil_lol:Its not honest, but I would tell him him it died. From the way he treats it (like an after thought) I don't see him missing any sleep over it. And hey, whats gonna happen if you take it? I don't think anyone is gonna take away your birthday 
:evil_lol::evil_lol::evil_lol:
:evil_lol::evil_lol::evil_lol:
Melafix, Pimafix, Bettafix will help with the fin deterioration. I'm not sure if bettas handle salt well, but I think they do.
Do the pea thing- it's always a good idea to flush out the little guy's system.
Daily water changes and some TLC will help the betta.
Also FYI- you can do the weekend fast thing for bettas, they can tolerate it. Most fish can.
Do the pea thing- it's always a good idea to flush out the little guy's system.
Daily water changes and some TLC will help the betta.
Also FYI- you can do the weekend fast thing for bettas, they can tolerate it. Most fish can.
First, a 2 gallon is okay as long as there is a filter and once or twice weekly water changes with dechlorinated tap water or adjusted reverse osmosis water. I'm not too familiar with RO water and what you need to correct it (there're products out there) as I have okay well water. That said, I'd really recommend a 5 gallon for the best house and a nice amount of room for him to show off and really be a showcase. Breeders commonly use 1 gallon jars, but they also do daily water changes and often have some moss or other live plant to help soak up waste.
Second, they will be okay with no feedings on the weekends. Mine didn't and he was very healthy. Many betta enthusiasts skip a day of feeding for their digestive health as they can be prone to bloating and constipation.
Third, water changes will likely cure his problems. Whatever you do, DON'T use Melafix or Pimafix as the oils prevent him from breathing correctly (this is true for all anabantoids or "surface breathers"). Most fishy problems will be corrected with good maintenance schedules and good feedings and a good filter. I recommend sponge filters for bettas to prevent fin tearing (another way for fin rot to get in).
Oh, yeah, and as was said already, keeping a constant temp of 76-82 will also keep him healthy and happy.
Second, they will be okay with no feedings on the weekends. Mine didn't and he was very healthy. Many betta enthusiasts skip a day of feeding for their digestive health as they can be prone to bloating and constipation.
Third, water changes will likely cure his problems. Whatever you do, DON'T use Melafix or Pimafix as the oils prevent him from breathing correctly (this is true for all anabantoids or "surface breathers"). Most fishy problems will be corrected with good maintenance schedules and good feedings and a good filter. I recommend sponge filters for bettas to prevent fin tearing (another way for fin rot to get in).
Oh, yeah, and as was said already, keeping a constant temp of 76-82 will also keep him healthy and happy.
Thanks guys! Lots of good info here.
There is no heater. It's one of those small plastic tank. There is filtration in there, and it doesnt cause any current. I use a dechlor on my tap water so thats good. I'll feed him some peas tonight to clean up his system. He is eating but I think the peas will do some good reguardless. I've never seen this betta food he fed him before- I've swtiched over to the good stuff (Hikari Betta Gold Bio).
"Ammonia Burns" ugh! That sounds AWFUL! We'll see if he heals up with some extra clean water.
Thank you for all the advice! I'll be keeping a close eye on this poor guy.
PS: At work right now- fellow office staff telling me that I shouldnt bring the Betta back. Don't think I will. Tough luck for him.
There is no heater. It's one of those small plastic tank. There is filtration in there, and it doesnt cause any current. I use a dechlor on my tap water so thats good. I'll feed him some peas tonight to clean up his system. He is eating but I think the peas will do some good reguardless. I've never seen this betta food he fed him before- I've swtiched over to the good stuff (Hikari Betta Gold Bio).
"Ammonia Burns" ugh! That sounds AWFUL! We'll see if he heals up with some extra clean water.
Thank you for all the advice! I'll be keeping a close eye on this poor guy.
PS: At work right now- fellow office staff telling me that I shouldnt bring the Betta back. Don't think I will. Tough luck for him.
