Alessa

Hello everyone.

I think that my balthier is on the way out. It has beea month since he has been letargic, sitting in the bottom the whole day. Its been two days he stopped even coming to eat. Water quality is perfect, no symptoms other than being letargic. No bumps, cotton patches, frayed fins, bloating... nothing.

Can anyone please help me figure out whats going on? I don't want to see h9m starve to death, my mom is nearly destroyed because she adores this little guy and can bear to see him like this.

Could it be he is just old?

Thanks in advance everyone.



BTW, there have been no changes in food, tank decoration or mates recently. He has had the driftwood and two ottos in there since march.

Lucy

Oh no, not my Balthier boy.
It's so hard when you can't see exactly what's wrong.
You already know being lethargic can be a symptom of a few things with these little guys.
You've tried all the tricks to get him interested in food?

rebeccmh

I'm sorry Balthier isn't doing well I hope he perks up for you

Alessa

Thanks rebeccmh!

Lucy, I've tried everything, I even bought a different type of betta food, garlic guard. Nothing.

I am afraid he is going to starve himself to death. I can't bear the thought of it.

My poor little baby boy!

pinkfloydpuffer

Oh, I'm sorry your little Balthier isn't doing well. How old is he again? Maybe he's just getting old

COBettaCouple

Do you have a picture of him that you could post? Have you tried thawed, frozen bloodworms?

Mystic54

Thawed bloodworms are a good idea. You can take some tweezers and put the bloodworm directly in front of him and wiggle it around a little to get his attention. Maybe he would be interested in it then.
I'm sorry that your little guy is not doing well though.

Alessa

I've had him for a year. I don't really know how old he is. Probably, at the most two years.




I'll try the bloodworms, (I've tried freeze dried) though I know him, right now he is oblivious to food.

I can't take a pic of him. he is hiding all the time.

He just swims really fast (like almost scared) when he does swim i.e. for taking air, but otherwise, he looks normal.

Lucy

Have you tried soaking them in garlic juice?
You know, I'm sending my best fishy prayers to you and Balthier.

Alessa

Yes Lucy. He completely ignores the food.

pamd

I think you've already done almost everything you possibly can for beautiful, charming balthier. Knowing a bit about you, you have probably looked up all the fish diseases. You probably would have medicated if diagnosed and found it necessary. I think it sounds like he's old.

Staying up all night, talking to him and even singing to him might be your next best hope. It worked for my female Candi when she had exactly the same symptoms -- no signs of disease and perfect water quality -- and seemed on death's door. After a couple of weeks of lethargy, she nearly magically came alive and started eating the night I thought I was about to lose her. She lived happily for a few more months.

Whatever happens, know that balthier lived a very good life with you and your mother, Dear Alessa.

Lucy

Alessa, how's he doing today?

Alessa

Thank you Pamd,

Lucy, I am afraid of what I will find when I get home today. I was at work doing a double shift yesterday and my mom told me (she is absolutely heart broken) that he was barely moving yesterday night before she turned the tank's lights off. I am thinking that when I go home today, my little baby boy will have gone to fishy heaven.

Lucy

Oh I hope that's not the case.
Have you tried treating him like Dave suggested>

You're both in my thought and prayers.
Come on Balthier boy, you can beat this!!!

Alessa

We have tried everything, we will just not swim up. He is oblivious to food.

My poor little baby boy!

Thanks Lucy

Lucy

Ah crumb, you know I hate this.
Maybe old age is setting in. One of the downfalls of keeping pets.

Alessa

I will let you guys know what happened as soon as I dare to go home... and look at the tank.

Lucy

Hoping for the best here!

Lucy

Any updates Alessa? Still sending best fishy prayers.

Alessa

I don't know what to do anymore Lucy.

I took him out in a bowl for a few days and I medicated with antibiotics and Jungle Labs Lifeguard. I also used vitachem and garlic guard, as well as stress coat for the water. He ate a few times, but for the most part, it was just as if he were trying to get the food but couldn't.

I returned him to the main tank... and it just gets worse. I don't know how he is still alive. I drop some of the floating pellets in the water but I can't get him to eat (Or at least he might get them when I am nowhere near.

I have no clue what to do now. I'm heartbroken. I think I am going to take him out in the bowl again...

Lucy

Poor little guy. Maybe he's feeling his age.
I know you're giving him the best care.

Alessa

He wants the food, but he is unable to actually bite it for some reason. I took him out and placed him in the bowl, it is the best for him at this point. Poor baby fishy

Lucy

Have you tried something tinier? Maybe frozen daphnia or BBS he can kind of suck them in rather than chew.

Alessa

Ok, I managed to get him to eat two pellets. Phew, he really struggles to get them, like he is hunting something alive.

Alessa

he is kind of oblivious and does not respond to anything other than pellets.

Lucy

pamd

Have you tried some thawed frozen baby brine shrimp? They wriggle around and act kind of like "live" shrimp and could possibly entice him. Any updates?

Alessa

Updates.

I kept him in the bowl, until I got him to eat... it was very difficult for him to get the food. Finally, little by little he began eating a bit more. He is now back in the main tank, eats (alone... i drop the pellets, he hides until I am gone and eats them). The good thing is that he is at least swimming a bit more now, he is eating and also not hiding all the time.

Thanks to all of you for your support. I believe that he is an old fishy now . But I hope that with his recovery, he will live happily the rest of his fishy life.

Lucy

Hi Alessa thanks for the update.
I'm glad to hear he's eating and swimming more than before.
Watching our pets get older is rough.

Red1313

<hugs>