redgal

I think Haka is dying. He has had lotd of different symptoms over the last few months and has been acting strange. He had a very small cotton-like strands hanging from his tail for a while so I treated him for tail rot/fungus and it seemed to clear up, then he seemed to get velvet which I managed to treat successfully, then he lost scales, then constipation etc etc - you name it - he has had it but I seemed to have helped him through each disease. Meanwhile his tank mate ( divided tank) has remained totally healthy.
I've had the boys for almost a year now from my LFS. The water parameters are spot on and I clean the tank weekly and don't overfeed ( two hakari pellets twice a day)

I have been away for 10 days. When I left him he looked great and my neighbour fed them each two pellets every other day and checked in on them but sadly, when i got home last night Haka was lying on the bottom of his tank, gasping and couldn't swim off the gravel. I got him in a net and gently brought him up to some food which he ate but then sank right back to the bottom. I cleaned the tank and noticed he has the cotton-like strand on a bit of his tail again so I used some fungus clear in the tank ( this seemed to work last time). Then I wondered if he had swim bladder disorder or was constipated so I haven't fed him yet. He is swollen under his mouth/gill area, just like a general swelling. I see no signs of dropsy or anything like that and other than the swelling and cottony bit he looks really good. He is swimming a little better today and suddenly darts right to the top but then just sinks back down and flops on one side.

I am so sad. I don't know what to do. I've tried every medication in the past to keep him alove and now I have this feeling that he is going to die. I don't know how to help him. Is he old? How long do they live for?

I know I have given him a really good life - he has a beautiful 5 g, filtered and heated home with silk plants and hiding places and what not but I can't bear the thought of him suffering.

What do you think? What should I do/try?

Thank you for any thoughts. I am so sad and trying to remind myself that he will die one day but it's so hard to see him like this.

eiginh

How long have you had him for? I think bettas live for at least 2-3 1/2 years depending on how well you take care of them but from the sounds of it it seems you have done a great job!

redgal

Thanks eiginh,

Well, I got him in Jan/Feb last year from my lfs. I don't know how old he was when I got him.

Martinismommy

I'm sorry your little man is not doing well....He may be hungry...2 pellets every other day is not enough for him to thrive...I hope he makes it...I know how hard it is to lose these special fish...

redgal

Thanks martinismommy,

I was paranoid about overfeeding him and I thought it was safer to err on the side of underfeeding rather than over since I thought they could survive a short fast and he has had trouble with constipation in the past. I was totally under the impression all fish would survive on less food ( though not ideal) for a while.


I guess I was wrong, oh boy I hope I haven't killed him. I've just given him two pellets now and he came up to the top to gobble them up but is now lying on the bottom again. He couldn't swim at all yesterday so that is some improvement. his tail still look raggedy though.

Do you think he is just starving then? Should I give him some more food? I'll never forgive myself if this mistake costs him his life.

Martinismommy

I am not sure what is wrong with him without seeing him.....Don't overfeed him at this point though....Do it gradual...Maybe offer him some brine shrimp...

Just know you did nothing wrong....You did the best you could .....

redgal

Thank you so much for your support. I feel so bad. I have given him some brine shrimp - he darts to the top and gobbles it up and returns to the bottom again but at least he is off the gravel sometimes now. I'll keep you posted.

Lucy

Sending my best fishy prayers your way. Poor little guy has been through a lot.

redgal

Thanks Lucy,

I am beginning to wonder if he has swim bladder disorder. His appetite is good but he just lies on his belly on the bottom and leans sideways but can swim to the surface for a brief spell. What are the other symptoms and how can I treat it? I gave him a little pea today but he won't eat it - it's just lying on the gravel...will he gobble it up in time or should I net him and try to get him to eat it?

Thanks again you guys. I am so thankful for this site and for you!

Lucy

If he gets hungry enough, he should eat it. Mine love their peas.
Maybe try soaking a few bits in garlic juice?

AlyeskaGirl

Awww, I am sorry he isn't feeling well. Depressed? Bored, maybe? I don't know much about Bettas, i just hope he perks back up.

redgal

Updated to add - now both my boys are struggling. Volcan is now lying sideways on the gravel or curled around the heater and can't swim. Haka is doing marginally better but still lying mostyly on the bottom. I did a water change and cleaned the gravel today and put in some carbon filter to remove the fungus clear I used for Haka on Sunday ( his fungues cleared up). I didn't feed them yesterday - only a pea and today Haka seems a bit more lovely but Volcan is struggling. Water parameters were pretty good despite not cleaning the water for 11 days. I usually do a 25% change every week along with a weekly gravel vac and clean the decorations so the water is usually spot on.

My neighbour insists that she fed them two pellets every other day and did not put her hands or anything in the water but she noticed Haka lying on the bottom on Friday ( I got back Sunday).

I shone a flashlight and used a magnifying glass on each one and they show no signs of disease other than some swelling in the bladder area so I am guessing it is swim bladder disorder. They are both just lying sideways on the gravel.

I'm nervous about fasting them since they have been two weeks with only two hakari pellets every other day. When I got back on Sunday I gave them lots to eat and prabably overdid it so, Monday I eased off and yesterday fasted them. I guess all this is hurting their digestion.

Any ideas? What should I do now?

I've never seen Volcan like this ever. I'm so anxious about my poor boys.

Thanks for any thoughts/suggestions

Lucy

Oh no! I'm sorry Volcan isn't feeling well now.
Have you checked the pH? Any fluctuations there?

Shadowbeam

I'm so sorry to hear your boys aren't doing so well, but it's good news that Haka is looking a bit better.
Wishing you all the best, no matter what happens you sound like a fantastic, loving owner, and that isn't tru for everyone *hugs*

LauraJoe

redgal

Thanks everyone.

Lucy, the PH is 7



I fasted them today other than a pea so I'll see if they feel a little better tomorrow. How long would you normally fast a betta with swim bladder ( if it is that, who knows?!!)

This is really puzzling me.