The Puffer Forum

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?

1tbsp Epsom salt/10g.

I have Aquarium Salt and Marine Salt >.>

Where do I get Epsom salt?

Drug store.

okay. I'll pick some up tomorrow. Thanks

You're welcome, I hope it helps. It's for constipation & swelling.

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.

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.

zombiefetus wrote:I have Aquarium Salt and Marine Salt >.>

Where do I get Epsom salt?

Pharmacy section in a supermarket or a pharmacy.

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.

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?)

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

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.

Sorry to hear that but you did all you could for him

just think at least he was in your hands rather then someone who didnt care for him