The Puffer Forum

As some of you may recall, I got a new betta (Calico) about two months ago. A few weeks ago he started having what looked like Swim Bladder Disease. He is stuck at the surface of the water and is generally listless. I let him fast for a week twice, but this did not help. I tried the pea trick and waited most of a week. No good. I gave him a 20-minute epsom salt bath (1 tbsp/gal), which seemed to perk him up, but now, within a couple of days, he is floating on his side at the surface of the water. Fasting has taken its toll and he is getting thin.

What troubles me even more than the fact that he looks nearly dead is that this is exactly how my old betta died. He lived in a jar most of his life, and then when I put him in a lovely filtered tank (different tank) he got SBD or something like it and slowly died despite treatment. This is very frustrating and worrying.

I will test water tomorrow. I have a midterm tomorrow morning and since this seems chronic despite water changes, I think a test can wait a few more hours while I study and try to get some sleep. Don't get me wrong, I love my little betta dude. I just gotta study. If you feel it is warranted I will test tonight.

The tank had a 50% PWC this past Sunday and a filter media rinse. I try to 50s weekly, but lately it has been less often.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give.

Specs:

10-gallon tank w/ AC 50 filter
Up and running w/fish for 2 yrs
1 Anubias nana, bogwood, hole rock, plastic plants, gravel substrate

Diet:
New Life Spectrum Sinking Cichlid Pellets (1mm)
Frozen bloodworm, glassworm, mysis on rotation
usually fed daily, but has been fed very little lately in hopes of clearing things out.

Products used:
Prime

Calico's tankmates:

1 bristlenose pleco
5 neon tetras
4 sm. cory cats
1 ghost shrimp

Calico is the only new fish

Calico passed away Friday.

I realize that this is not a chat room and that instant answers aren't going to happen, but it's been three days now and not one person even posted to say "I'm stumped." You've all been incredibly helpful in the past. Was Calico's problem something unusual that no one knew how to help?

Even though he is gone, I would still like to know if anyone has any advice. I've had two beloved bettas killed by bloat in the past few months and I wish I knew what was going on. I would like to get another male betta, but not until I know what to do about this bloat/SBD/constipation/whatever it is.

If it's any help, only the males have had this problem. Betta Girl, aged 2 yrs and currently living in the tank Betta Boy died in, is as healthy as a horse and has never had any trouble.

Sorry to hear about your trouble.

I'm new to raising fish and still learning.

Sorry about your loss. It could have been old age. Did he show any physical wounds?

I've had the worst luck in the world diagnosing betta, it seems like they have a lot of health problems, and very few clear diagnosis, other than when it's fungus or fin rot.