Phloxface

Aenara has been acting strangely for a few days, swimming in a very erratic fluttering way. I've noticed her spending a lot more time lying on the bottom. Today she is very bloated around her belly (not a constipation type bloat) and has a lot of trouble swimming. She makes a mad dash for the surface and then sinks to the bottom. Her swim bladder is being affected by the bloating. She is a white betta and fairly see through. I can clearly see a dark region where her internal organs are and I can see a bunch of white pearl-like balls inside her too (eggs?) Her symptoms can only be one of two things, egg-binding or dropsy. Her scales are not sticking out. She has also overnight developed finrot in her tail and it's looking quite ragged, no doubt the stress...
I had to do some switching around because she was in the divided 10 gallon with Angel and 12 inches to reach the top is just too much for her. I put Noelle in Aenara's tank, Frasier in Noelle's 5.5g tank and Aenara in the 2.5g. I cleaned it and did a large 70% water change and filled it only 3/4 of the way to make it easier for her to flutter to the top for air. If that gets too hard for her I'll pick up a breeder box and put her in there. I decided to treat her with Kanaplex because I think this is quite serious and I can't wait around for the weaker meds to work. She's turning a bit red inside around the swelling which means the eggs are infected. I'm giving her a strong epsom salt bath every day for 15 minutes to see if it helps her bloating and helps to absorb the eggs. That's about the only treatment for egg-binding there is and coincidently Kanaplex and Epsom salt is also the treatment for dropsy so she should be covered either way.
I just hope this is something she can recover from. I've had her the longest of all my current Bettas (almost a year) and she was my first little girl. I don't want to lose her.

mlinden84

Oh no! I'm so sorry! I hope she makes it. Seems like a lot of us are dealing with serious betta problems lately unfortunately.

COBettaCouple

hmm.. poor girl.. it does sound like she's egg-bound and you're doing the treatment that we would. we wish you and her the best and hope she'll be able to release them or absorb them.

phlox

Poor little girl looks like she's about to pop! She still has a lot of energy and swims around as best she can. She seems to have a tiny bit of control over her swim bladder but she is so heavy around her belly she kind of swims standing up vertically with head facing up oddly enough instead of down. She's not constipated because I saw her poop today. Sometimes egg-binding can press on the bowels and block up everything. Her appetite is still very good and she even manages to jump up out of the water for food. After her Kanaplex treatment if she is still bloated I will try some Metronidazole. I've read this can be effective in cases of bloat and egg-binding. She could possibly be full of parasites (worms?) too though I haven't seen any coming out of her. Maybe a course of Parasite Clear with the Metronidazole?
So far it doesn't look like dropsy at all. Only her belly is swollen. The back half of her body is as thin as before and no scales sticking out.
She lays there staring at me and looks like she is in pain and then suddenly she'll spring up and start dancing and chasing bubbles coming from the filter. She seems to like lying directly on the heater (it's horizontal in the tank because it's too big to fit vertical in a 2.5g) Maybe the warmth makes her belly feel better? Hopefully it's not a tumor... She has a lump on one side that is sticking out further. She's so feisty and such a little fighter. I couldn't stand to lose her.

voiceless_kat

Phlox, I am so sorry to hear that Aenara is sick! Why are we all being tested this way I know you will do everything possible to make her well. Me and the crew send good wishes your way!! Please let us know how she is doing!

We are all here to support you!

Hugs, Val

phlox

I've got THREE sickies today! Aenara is still swollen but full of energy and has a good appetite, Rocky's new fin growth just fell apart this morning, AGAIN! and Daphne has stopped eating again and is lethargic, but at least now I know what is wrong with her... she has WORMS! There is a long thin white worm (tapeworm maybe?) hanging out of her. Karma had one like that a few days ago too but she hasn't lost her appetite yet. I put in a Parasite Clear tablet right away to treat both of them. Hopefully in a few days they will be good. Rocky's tail will grow again and hopefully next time he'll decide to keep it!
Aenara worries me the most. Even though she is energetic and eating, her bloated belly really is a concern. What if she can't absorb the eggs? What if it's a tumor?

This morning I made a trip to Big Al's all the way across town to pick up anything that might help my sick little ones or just make them happier.
I picked up some Metronidazole (for internal parasites), some more vitamins, a bottle of Kent Essential Trace Elements (to add mineral and trace elements back into the water between water changes), a fistful of java moss to help keep the water quality good, and a tasty treat... Tetra MicroCrabs Cyclopeeze Granules. It is a powerful color enhancer, especially for reds, pinks and orange shades and it's good protein. All of them give it two fins up (except Daphne who won't eat anything right now). They attacked it and begged for more. It can be fed 2-3 times a week.
Now I just have to pray my little Aenara makes it.

nmwierman1977

Aw, your poor babies. I hope they feel better soon, especially Aenara. Natalie

chickadee

I am very sorry to hear of your little ones problems Phloxface. It is so hard to have little sickies. I do not know what to tell you about Aenara, but the worms should respond to the Parasite Clear-what a good product. I have heard of the Cyclopeeze and have wondered whether or not to get it for my little ones since they seem to be off of everything but bloodworms and I am not happy with giving them to them all the time. I hope they all respond to your love and attention.

Rose

COBettaCouple

it's not easy being a betta parent sometimes.. but we pray your babies all recover and stay healthy!

phlox

Aenara seems to be having more trouble swimming. She's not really getting any better. I'm worried it could be a tumor. She still wants to eat but is having more trouble swimming to the top. She looks more bloated today but only around her belly. Her tail fin is badly frayed.

Daphne still won't eat but has no stress stripes and has enough energy to flare up a storm with Karma. She has worms coming out of her constantly. Gross! I don't know if that's a good sign or not. Yesterday when I put in a new Parasite Clear tablet a worm started coming out right away trying to escape. Maybe the meds are working? I just wish she'd eat. It's been over two weeks now and she's barely eaten more than a couple crumbs the whole time.

Rocky's tail is not getting worse. I'm trying to keep him off meds and see what happens. He gets a daily 25% water change and a 100% water change once a week. His food is being well soaked in vitamins.

The Cyclopeeze is causing a lot of excitement in the tanks and I think they love it more than peas even! Niles jumps so high for it he almost hits his head on the lid!
I've done some research on it and it's a very nutritious food for fish, animals and even humans. Some of the benefits are:

• Light perception
• Vitamin A activity
• Electron acceptor
• Stabilization of proteins/membranes
• Stabilization of Chitin
• Pigment transfer
• Reproduction
• Chemoreception
• Reduction of Cholesterol
• Intracellular oxygen supply
• Growth enhancement

It's very high in Omegas and other vitamins and fish seem to LOVE the taste.
I highly recommend it as a great supplement to a Betta's regular diet. I have read many good reviews as to it's color enhancing abilities and energy levels of the fish. Will report on any color changes I see. So far I know they really love the taste!

COBettaCouple

yea, it looks like a good treat.. pricey treat, but good.

i hope that parasite clear kicks in fast, clears her out of worms and returns her appetite and that that's not a tumor.