Betta fish jumped out of tank, in bad shape

Help: Betta fish wounded from jumping out of tank

I have a king male, and he is a big guy and has been building his bubble nest. He had been super energetic the night before. I ordered a new tank lid because the one I have has a hole in the back and I was concerned he could jump out. We'll that's exactly what happened. I found him on the floor and I freaked out. I grabbed him and ran to the sink because he was coated in cat hair from the carpet. I figured he was probably dead, but after running him under luke warm water trying to gently get the hair off him he began to come back. He then came right back to life and I ran and got him back in his tank. The problem is that he is still covered in hair, and it's stuck on his slime coat. His eyes are frosted over, and his once silver scales are black. The only thing I can think of doing is running to a pet store and getting slime coat. Is there anything else I can do? He is swimming, but in bad shape. I honestly don't think he is gonna make it. Should I get slime coat? Or betta fix?

UPDATE: I went to petco, and an employee suggested microbe lift artemiss to help repell any bacteria from his wounds and to heal his scales. it says to put 1ml per day for 10 days. It's been a couple hours and the cat hair is one, and his eyes are better. I put a bubbler in his tank because he is laying at the bottom. The only thing I'm worried about is the damage on his body. He has several wounds and his scales are in bad shape. Any other recommendations of things I could do?

 

I think keeping the water extra clean is what will help him the most. I would do a couple of good water changes a week until he heals. Hope he gets better!

 

Thanks! I just did one before I put the medication in, because it felt like it would be a good idea, just to make sure the water is good for him. Thanks for replying! It's been a stressful morning to say the least lol

 

Glad you got to him in time to save him!

 

Me too! It's interesting because I got no sleep, and woke up earlier than normal, I think my intuition must have kicked in. I thought for sure he was dead, hence why I ran to the sink, I had no hope. I got really lucky!

 

Please don't use bettafix, it contains melaleuca oil which causes the labyrinth organ to expand, suffocating the fish. Clean water should be all you need, bettas are hardy little dudes. I wouldn't have put any medications in, they can cause a lot of stress. Clean water should do the trick.
I'm glad he's still alive!

 

Yea, I didn't get bettafix, I haven't heard great things about it. My main concern is how damaged his scales are. He has red open wounds all over. I got The Microbe lift by Artemiss. I just tried to find the ingredients online but they are not listed. I already added some to his tank. do you have any experience using it, or know if that is safe? If not I'll stick to water changes.

 

I would be extremely cautious of microbe lift. Since it is "Herbal" there is a high chance it could contain melaleuca oil, especially since the company has not released it's ingredients. I would see if just clean water helps. It does in most cases. Give it a couple days and if that doesn't work, come and ask here before going to your LFS.

 

Will do! I always use caution in Pet stores, I always hear bad advice, and thank you so much, all the info is really appreciated.

So here is a picture of him. He has been perking up quite a bit, but he is looking rough. Poor guy
.

 

The SDS for Artemiss only admits to containing Sodium hydroxymethanosulfonate, which is a water conditioner along the same lines as Prime.

He looks rough, but not terrible! Keep doing water changes and give him the best chance to heal x

 

How is he?

 

Hi! so, he is doing amazing. He is right back to his normal self. For a while I didn't think he would make it, but I got very lucky His scales are almost healed, except one patch that is still healing. He is one resilient fishy!

 

You must take very good care of his water

 

I just found my male dragon scale betta on the floor he was barely moving and pretty far away from his tank. I put him back in the water he ook a few gasps of air but barely swims. What can I do?! He also has fin rott or tail rott and I don't know how to heal him I got him from petsmart he was pretty beat up. Please help!

 

I just found my male dragon scale betta on the floor he was barely moving and pretty far away from his tank. I put him back in the water he ook a few gasps of air but barely swims. What can I do?! He also has fin rott or tail rott and I don't know how to heal him I got him from petsmart he was pretty beat up. Please help!

For fin rot do daily 25% water changes everyday for 3 weeks. What are the water parameters? Is the tank cycled? What size is it?

As for his jumping out, there is usually a 50/50 chance of survival. I hope he makes it!

 

I am going to address two things in this thread.

First, I would change the water a few times to promote healing, and possibly use StressGuard to prevent infection.
Second, I see that he is in a plastic animal container, assuming it has a filter, heater, and is cycled?

 

He probably wasn't very comfy on the floor, I'm sure he's stressed. He will likely relax for a while and perk back up. For the fins I would recommend starting daily water changes about %25 to keep things clean. My wilds scare the out of me knowing how good they are at jumping out of the tank, make sure everything is sealed with plastic wrap if need be.

 

I can already see lots of things wrong it the picture. He needs a substrate, either silk or live plants NEVER plastic, a 5+ gallon tank, heater, filter, lid, an lots of entertainment. For now just leave him be but within 3 days you need to have this stuff so he can calm down and start to regrow his fins

 

I am going to address two things in this thread.

First, I would change the water a few times to promote healing, and possibly use StressGuard to prevent infection.
Second, I see that he is in a plastic animal container, assuming it has a filter, heater, and is cycled?

I just did tank maintenance today he was in an open bowl and no he does not have a filter or heater. I am very new at this and I am slowly getting all that is needed. I just wanted him out of the plastic cup he came in.

T

He probably wasn't very comfy on the floor, I'm sure he's stressed. He will likely relax for a while and perk back up. For the fins I would recommend starting daily water changes about %25 to keep things clean. My wilds scare the out of me knowing how good they are at jumping out of the tank, make sure everything is sealed with plastic wrap if need be.

thank you. I usually clean his bowl every week or so since he doesn't have a filter.I have a 6.5g tank but I can’t put him in there because he doesn’t get along with the other fishes. He never jumps but recently he has been a little too energetic.

I can already see lots of things wrong it the picture. He needs a substrate, either silk or live plants NEVER plastic, a 5+ gallon tank, heater, filter, lid, an lots of entertainment. For now just leave him be but within 3 days you need to have this stuff so he can calm down and start to regrow his fins

I do have a 6.5g tank but he isn’t very social with other fish. He has the one plastic plant which he loves and I do add natural plants on every one of my fish tanks. He is in a temporary plastic tank that has a lid to avoid another accident. I do all cleaning manually I do not own a filter because he tends to overreact to the vibrations he does not have a heater because I have not had a chance to get it for him. I just want to know if he will be ok.

 

Bettas need a minimum (consensus) of 2.5 gallons that's heated to 78-82° Fahrenheit and a filter that's cycled. I see you don't know about the nitrogen cycle. As for him jumping out the tank, daily water changes with some Stressguard to prevent infection and promote healing. Just gotta hope that he can make it through the trauma because sometimes it can be too much for them.

 

Just please tell me how to help him get back in shape, I know the basics on taking care of them but I don’t know how to help him after a drastic fall.

Bettas need a minimum (consensus) of 2.5 gallons that's heated to 78-82° Fahrenheit and a filter that's cycled. I see you don't know about the nitrogen cycle.

As for him jumping out the tank, daily water changes with some Stressguard to prevent infection and promote healing. Just gotta hope that can make it through the trauma.

Thank you. The thank temperature is naturally between 79-80 without a heater. I have many tanks but they did not come with filters (they were mostly gifts just like my fish) I am trying my best to get a filter. Thanks you for the help

 

I would put him in the cup he came in and lower the water so he can get air and be wet at the same time.

 

Yes he will be okay but you need to give him the correct environment and DONT put plastic plants in with him, it can scrape him and rip his fins.

 

UPDATE: he now swims to get his air but now lays under the plant. And since I put him in here he has been shedding and its all over the tanks. Is that normal?

I would put him in the cup he came in and lower the water so he can get air and be wet at the same time.

I took out some of the water from the container he is in now and added a plant. He is shedding

 

Just please tell me how to help him get back in shape, I know the basics on taking care of them but I don’t know how to help him after a drastic fall.

Depending on how high he was when he fell, it's like when a person falls off a 30 story building. He may survive, he may also be broken up inside with messed up bones and internal organs. The best way to fix him, if you can is to try to keep him in ultra-fresh water and give him medications that will help with trauma (stress). This might not help him at all. It is all you can do though.

I just had a fish jump down to the floor today. I am still watching him to see if he is okay. He just keeps staring straight ahead and won't do much else.

 

Depending on how high he was when he fell, it's like when a person falls off a 30 story building. He may survive, he may also be broken up inside with messed up bones and internal organs. The best way to fix him, if you can is to try to keep him in ultra-fresh water and give him medications that will help with trauma (stress). This might not help him at all. It is all you can do though.

I just had a fish jump down to the floor today. I am still watching him to see if he is okay. He just keeps staring straight ahead and won't do much else.

True he could have hit his head or broken bones or anything it's a 50-50 chance

 

How high up is the tank?

 

UPDATE: he now swims to get his air but now lays under the plant. And since I put him in here he has been shedding and its all over the tanks. Is that normal?

Depending on how high he was when he fell, it's like when a person falls off a 30 story building. He may survive, he may also be broken up inside with messed up bones and internal organs. The best way to fix him, if you can is to try to keep him in ultra-fresh water and give him medications that will help with trauma (stress). This might not help him at all. It is all you can do though.

I just had a fish jump down to the floor today. I am still watching him to see if he is okay. He just keeps staring straight ahead and won't do much else.

That is exactly what Dragon is doing to me. He swims to get his little air bubbles but then goes back to just floating. Thank you for your advice I will try my best to help him.

I followed the water pattern he left and he was in the 2nd shelf from top to bottom he jumped on the shelf and fell from the shelf to the floor and I guess made his way next to the bed which is where I found him the water looked fresh but he was almost dry. He moves very little by little his does swim with his fins but barely moves his tail. I have made sure he has a lod this time.

 

Yeah he may not make it, it’s like a person jumped off a 20 story building

 

I am making a lot of typos I am aware and it is because I am typing very nervously I really don’t want to lose him.

Yeah he may not make it, it’s like a person jumped off a 20 story building

I have my hopes that he will last atleast a week. My friend’s betta fell from the sink when she was changing the water and he fell head first but was alive for like 2 months afterwards. She usto keep him a very small glass container. I think he just wanted to die

 

Right now the best thing you can do is calm down, cover his tank so it’s dark (so he can calm down), and just wait

If he perks up within 4 days then he should be fine so get him in the correct environment, if he dose the perk up within.....4 days I would euthanize him, he would have no quality of life and would most likely be in pain

 

If he perks up within 4 days then he should be fine so get him in the correct environment, if he dose the perk up within.....4 days I would euthanize him, he would have no quality of life and would most likely be in pain

I don’t have the guts to euthanize him

 

I don’t have the guts to euthanize him

Yeah neither would I.

 

T

Yeah neither would I.

thank you anyways

 

T

thank you. I usually clean his bowl every week or so since he doesn't have a filter.I have a 6.5g tank but I can’t put him in there because he doesn’t get along with the other fishes. He never jumps but recently he has been a little too energetic.

With a bowl you should change the water every day especially since it isn’t cycled. Bettas only usually jump if they are depressed in their environment or super energetic. In the wild they jump when the water areas become too compressed.
Edit: Sorry I just realized how outdated my response was

 

I followed the water pattern he left and he was in the 2nd shelf from top to bottom he jumped on the shelf and fell from the shelf to the floor and I guess made his way next to the bed which is where I found him the water looked fresh but he was almost dry. He moves very little by little his does swim with his fins but barely moves his tail. I have made sure he has a lod this time.

That's actually a good thing. Bettas (and other labyrinth fish) breath air and can survive outside of a tank for longer than other fish. In the wild (wild bettas, not domestic ones) live in mud puddles and move from one to another like a lungfish. They actually shimmy overland to the next water hole. He was probably expecting to find some more water. Maybe keep a lid on your tank if he gets better, or if you must get another betta. Hopes and prayers are with your betta.

 

The good thing is that you made the appropriate adjustment so it doesn't happen again.

Fish jumping isn't as life threatening as one would think, especially at the height you mentioned. Lucky for them, fish are pretty hardy and also due to their small size, can survive falls that if scaled to the size of a human, will not kill them - the fact that you found him near your bed for example.

I may of missed some things here and there, skimmed the thread. The best thing you could buy right now is a heater. If at least the water is is warm enough, frequent water changes will keep nitrogen down. Your betta does not need substrate, a large tank, full of decor and lights - nice to have, but not a priority IMO - so allowing him to heal may be the best choice.

I have had similar - with a scissortail rasbora and a guppy that jumped out when I netted them and didn't notice for a while - and the best advice is to ensure water quality is good, temperature is at an ideal level and that infection doesn't develop - you mentioned he is 'flaking', its due to the fact his slime coat dried up and is now coming off. The slime coat helps to reduce infection on the fish, so a loss of it can be alarming - hence why ensuring water is good and keen observation to ensure infection doesn't develop on fins and body.

Products like prime do help increase slime coat production - can't remember if it increases the slime layer production by the fish, or if its forms part of the slime layer - so that may be wise to dose something like that to help start forming his slime coat again.

 

Update:
Dragon has passed to better waters. Thank you for everyone who shared advice and those who gave me tips on how to provide better care for him.

 

Update:
Dragon has passed to better waters. Thank you for everyone who shared advice and those who gave me tips on how to provide better care for him.

Sorry to hear.

 

I'm sorry