Phloxface

Aawww!
I feel so bad for the poor little guy and for you. I know how hard it was for me to watch my fish go through this and nothing I gave them helped. He may pass away before you get the clove oil but at least you'll have it for in case another fish gets sick. At some point you can just tell they will not get better and it's best to ease their suffering.

After he passes do a good gravel vac and a large water change (at least 50%) so your other fish will stay okay and whatever bacteria infected your betta won't get them too. Maybe do a second water change (about 30%) a couple days later too.

When my first Betta died of dropsy I didn't even realize it was dropsy. I just vaccumed the gravel and did a big water change and put another Betta in without sterilizing the tank. She never got sick and has been healthy since then.

If you notice your other fish acting weird and lethargic at all you can medicate the whole tank as a preventative but if they seem fine then water changes should be enough.

If you don't already, you should use NovAqua+ water conditioner. It contains vitamins and echinachea and anti-viral ingredients which can really help your fish's immune systems as well as remove chlorine and chloramines.

COBettaCouple

poor little guy.. we really do wish you the best and if you can find Methlyene Blue and/or Fish Protector at the store, those could at least reduce his stress and make him a little more comfortable.

Tazmiche

I'm sorry to see what you and he are going through mate!

punkrockviolet5

You guys are the greatest! Thanks for all the love.

I have pulled Chopstick from the 10 gal tank. He is now resting in his original container. The one I brought him home from the store in. With almost no fins, he actually fits 'comfortably' (I use the word very loosley) and can rest or get air without too much effort. He still is not eating, but I have tried anyway. Got an email today saying the clove oil is on its way.

I returned the 6 gal hexagon he was in, that had the attached filter, to the store yesterday. Funny thing, when I exchanged it, they were having a sale and I was able to upgrade to a 20 gal, for THE SAME PRICE!! I transferred everyone over last night (using the water from the 10 gal & adding new) and they are *so* happy.

Here's a picture:



It has 2 filters, cuz I'm scared they're gonna get sick, too!

Spoiled rotten, if you ask me!

nmwierman1977

AW, very nice tank you have there. I hope everything works out for you. Natalie

voiceless_kat

I am so sorry to hear of your sick fish. I recently lost a wonderful betta friend to "dropsy" and it is heartbreaking. You are making him comfortable, and are there with him, that is the best you can do. My Storm fought so hard to stay alive, eating a pea treat the day before he passed, but sometimes the battle is too great and we have to let them go .


Nice deal you got on the 20g and it looks great. Good luck with it. You will get much love, support and advice on fishlore.

Val

punkrockviolet5

Chopstick is on the mend!!! He's eaten 2 days in a row now and his body doesn't look swollen anymore! His scales seem to be settling back against his body, too and he's definitely more active. HURRAY!!!! I've been putting him in the Epsom salts, like it said. Seems to be working! OH! I'M SO EXITED!!!! **Fingers Crossed**

Tazmiche

That REALLY is FANTASTIC news!!!!!!!! oh bless him!!My fingers toes and eyes are crossed for you both!!

Phloxface

I am so happy to hear that! I really hope he is one of the rare fish to survive dropsy. I think it depends a lot on what exactly caused the dropsy. Most problems that lead to dropsy are fatal but a very few may be curable. Could be why so few fish survive it...Don't let up with the meds though for at least 3 weeks, even if he seems all better. He needs to stay on antibiotics to make absolutely sure it is gone. A combination of half Maracyn and half Maracyn-Two should cover most of the bases as far as bacteria goes.
I had a Betta with dropsy (Lava) who survived for over 3 months (they usually die within 10 days of getting the symptoms) but finally could not take anymore. I would medicate him and he'd get better and then I'd take him off meds and he'd be okay for 2 weeks and then start to get sick again. This happened several times and it seemed I just couldn't get him to STAY well. Maybe if I had continued treatment...

Best of luck to you and Chopstick and do keep us updated on his progress.

COBettaCouple

great news to hear chopstick's on the mend!

punkrockviolet5

Thank you, everyone!

Since Chopstick has been doing better, last night, I decided to put him in a hanging tank inside with the other fish. He had his own water, so I figured I could continue to treat him and he wouldn't feel so isolated.

As usual, I fed my fish this morning, starting with the fry, of course. When I got to Chopstick, I realized he was gone! It scared me at first, til I reminded myself, he's covered. There he was just a-swimmin-away with his buddies. He looked so cute and happy. Silly Chop. Guess he feels better than I thought. His scales look better than yesterday and he's eating like crazy. Must have been the Flu or something. As badly as I wanna leave him in the tank, I'm gonna put him back in his little medicine box for a while longer. It was so good to see him in the tank again, though.

I love Bettas. They crack me up!

armadillo

That is fantastic news!

Sorry if you've answered this a million times before, but what other fish is he with? I wonder if my betta is not simply really depressed.

punkrockviolet5

Funny you say that... He was in the 10 gal tank with 4 platies. 2 Male & 2 Female. One of the males became really aggressive towards the other, so I bought a 6 gal hexagon tank and put Chop & Frank Zappa, the meanie, in it. That's when he got sick. I thought it was the tank. Who knows? Interesting thought.

armadillo

Who's frank zappa? Is that an oto?

punkrockviolet5

He's a naughty, mean, little Platy. He is really cute, in his defense.

armadillo

Wow, and that works? An oto and a betta?

punkrockviolet5

He's not an Oto. He's a Platy. Yep! It works! Chop loves his platy buddies!

BettaBuddy ~ Miley

Cool I have bettas and otos together. - one betta and two otos.

Miley

COBettaCouple

LOL.. Chopstick's a funny guy.. our first betta did that to us.. we were floating him in a cup to acclimate him to the tank water and he just jumped out when we weren't looking and freaked us out for a sec until we found him. unfortunately he nipped a few fins off of his platy buddies and that's why he got his own tank back.

Amnagrla

wow guys... I just found this thread...


Good LORD! You've gone through a lot... good luck. I hope it all works out!

punkrockviolet5

My little Chopstick seems to be doing great! He's back to his old self and his fins are growing back slowly! He's more active than his Platy tankmates! Thanks again everyone for your advise.

DROPSY IS CURABLE!!! CHOPSTICK IS LIVING PROOF!!!

armadillo

Well of course Dropsy is curable. Sorry to sound rattled, but I must repeat what I keep saying. Dropsy is not a disease, it's a symptom of many diseases. I am sorry if you were made to panick about it. It's just that so many people are told that dropsy is the end of the road for their fish and I wish it didn't happen, you know, because it doesn't at all have to be the case.

punkrockviolet5

Yep, I agree it is a symptom! I think his was bacterial. I really liked the example of a fever. I got so many different replies, and it became so confusing, I just wanted to relay that Chopstick had proved your point! 'Tis not always the end!!

armadillo

I know, sorry, punk violet, thanks for that. It's just that I feel so bad for all those people who have a total panick and are really freaked out and it's really good that you're dispelling the myth too.

Amnagrla

I'm with ya.

voiceless_kat

I have been following this thread, which was soooooooooo sad. My heart ached, since I had been through it............however, you got the miracle, thank goodness you didn't give up on him!! Hooray for Chopstick. I hope he continues to thive. Isn't that cute that he got out and was swimming with his tank mates, like he was trying to tell you, " don't let me go yet ". Best wishes for continued success with Chopstick.

I am a sucker for a happy ending.!! :

val

Phloxface

I am so glad that Chopstick is alive and well.
Yes, I know dropsy is a symptom and it can be cured but it is _extremely_ difficult to cure. About 99% of the time the fish will not survive no matter what you do. This is a fact. There have been success stories but they are rare and many scientists debate over whether it really was dropsy or something else that looked like it. I am always for treating a fish and hoping for the best but when a fish gets dropsy symptoms I am never optimistic.
I am so delighted anytime I hear of any sick fish getting better.

If I could have my way no fish would ever die of anything but old old age and then peacefully in their sleep!

armadillo

Hi Phloxface. Could that be that the 99% rate is just your experience, perhaps because there was a problem local to your tank, like some aweful dormant bacteria or something so it's always the same fatal infection?

I'd be interested in some articles where the scientists debate the rate of survival to dropsy, because that subject really interests me. Would you have any links or anything?

nmwierman1977

I am so thrilled to hear that chopstick is doing better. Hopefully he will be on the mend permanently. Great JOB!! Natalie