I work at Walmart and I was stocking shelves in the pet department about a week ago. As usual my attention turned to the bettas. Their stupid little cups looked like they hadn't been changed in weeks and two were dead. I cleaned them all out and fed them. One in particular caught my attention. His spine looks a bit deformed, but not much. His fins were in bad shape, I'm sure it's fin rot. He's also very bloated and has trouble swimming right.
I started changing his water everyday. And doing what I could for him. Today I finally gave in and took him home. He's in a bowl right now as it's easier to keep an eye on him. He'll be moving to his own 10gallon tank once he's feeling better, don't worry. His fins are looking better, all they needed was water changes.
I'm worried about how bloated he is. Tomorrow I'll be buying some peas for him and trying that. I'm pretty sure it's not dropsy, at least I'm hoping not. His scales are flat and there's no sign of "pine coneing".
I tried feeding him and he wouldn't eat.
Is there anything else I can do for him?
Betta rescue :(
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
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zombiefetus
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Re: Betta rescue :(
1tbsp Epsom salt/10g.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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zombiefetus
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Re: Betta rescue :(
I have Aquarium Salt and Marine Salt >.>
Where do I get Epsom salt?
Where do I get Epsom salt?
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Betta rescue :(
Drug store.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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zombiefetus
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Re: Betta rescue :(
okay. I'll pick some up tomorrow. Thanks 
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Betta rescue :(
You're welcome, I hope it helps. It's for constipation & swelling.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Myaj
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Re: Betta rescue :(
It could also be swim bladder problems, some of the bettas with shorter backs have them. If yours has a deformed back, its probably pushing his swim bladder out of place.
Generally the only thing you can do for that is make sure you don't overfeed as that makes it worse, and keep his water as clean as possible. But try to rule out constipation first of course.
And you should also be able to get your Epsom salts at Walmart, over by the pharmacy/meds section.
Generally the only thing you can do for that is make sure you don't overfeed as that makes it worse, and keep his water as clean as possible. But try to rule out constipation first of course.
And you should also be able to get your Epsom salts at Walmart, over by the pharmacy/meds section.
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zombiefetus
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Re: Betta rescue :(
Got some epsom salt and hopefully I'll be able to move him to a tank tonight.
He hasn't been eating, or pooing. So I'm going to just hope the epsom salt does the trick.
He hasn't been eating, or pooing. So I'm going to just hope the epsom salt does the trick.
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WaterWings
Re: Betta rescue :(
Pharmacy section in a supermarket or a pharmacy.zombiefetus wrote:I have Aquarium Salt and Marine Salt >.>
Where do I get Epsom salt?
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zombiefetus
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Re: Betta rescue :(
It's been over a week since I got him and he still won't eat. He hasn't poo'ed either. What should I do? I'm worried sick about him.
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manutius
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Re: Betta rescue :(
If you have tried epsom salts baths then there might not be too much more you can do. As is often the way with line bred species there are one or twor deformed fish that are never gonna make it no matter what you try. A while back in the UK there was a big problem with the qualite of B. Splendens due to constant in breeding, the fish avaible where very inferior quality and most succumbed to disease or where deformed in some way, I know becuase I had about 3 in 4 months until I gave up on them for 6 months. If the fish does poop the secret is to stay away from dried food and try frozen daphnia, bloodworm and other larvae (I think it Blackfly?)
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dumpythepuffer
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Re: Betta rescue :(
when i first got mine he was in pretty bad shape too. i gave him some frozen blood worms and he ate that right up. also, maybe try live snails. pufferpunk is right though. the salt is the best thing to use. if thats not working then.... i dont know
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zombiefetus
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Re: Betta rescue :(
He ended up dying last night. I'm sure he starved himself to death. I know he wasn't eating when he was a Walmart either. I'm frustrated, after spending so much time trying to save the little guy.
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manutius
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Re: Betta rescue :(
Sorry to hear that but you did all you could for him 
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dumpythepuffer
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Re: Betta rescue :(
just think at least he was in your hands rather then someone who didnt care for him