Betta Stuck In Filter

So, I was netting one of my bettas out and it swam straight into the filter! Thankfully, I unplugged it instantly and it swam out. However, it got stuck in the filter and it has some serious fin damage. What should I treat it with? I’m thinking clean water and aquarium salt as a little bit of an antiseptic? My major question is how much salt? He’s in a liter jar currently (was in his own 10 gallon tank). So, how much salt??? Also, 50 percent wc’s every other day???
Thank y’all.
Ps. I have had this betta almost a year and am extremely attached.
Pps his roomie betta (In divided tank) broke the divider and died because they were fighting. So, a caution: don’t do divided tanks.
Ppps the red one is the one that died

 

You can use melafix or Betta fix but make sure to keep good water and he’ll probaly recover. If your concerned about it happening again get a prefilter.

 

I’ve read that betafix can cause issues with the gills. Am I mistaken? Also, how much salt would you use?

 

Is it a bath or is it temporarily living there

 

Also read up on melafix I don’t believe that is the best for bettas ... Indian almond leaves and clean water is sometimes the best medicine

 

Yeah if it’s a bath dose heavier if it’s temporary living dose 1 tsp per gallon

 

Also read up on melafix I don’t believe that is the best for bettas ... Indian almond leaves and clean water is sometimes the best medicine

I’m thinking about doing a black water with leaf litter for him when he gets better. I also agree that melafix is bad for fish. I’ve seen too many failure stories to completely trust the “miracle cure”...
Edit: he’ll be living there until the fins heal slightly...
So, for one liter, like a sixth of a teaspoon.

 

Do about 1/4 of a teaspoon

 

Move him back to his original tank, it's better than being in a jar. If he has trouble swimming, then keep him in a breeder box or lower the water level.

All you need to heal damaged fins is clean water. I don't think salt is needed because it's an irritant which can make him more stressed. Other optional additives such as Indian almond love or Stressguard have therapeutic and antiseptic properties that can speed up the healing process. I also don't really believe in the use of the 'fixes' in the aquarium.

 

Unfortunately, moving him back into his old tank isn’t an option because it’s saltwater now. He was supposed to be just in the jar for transport to where my bio display for a work presentation is, but with his fins being so nasty, I’ll just draft another one of my bettas. Then, he’ll have a decent tank when the bio display comes home. The only reason I turn to salt is because with other bettas I’ve had in similar situations, it has really helped them. I tend to dose lower than recommended so as not to add so much that it becomes a major irritant.

 

How about putting him into the tank just vacated by the betta who is on display elsewhere?

I've never really understood the logic of taking an ill or injured fish out of a healthy aquarium, and sticking it into a probably-unfiltered/unheated pickle jar to convalesce. A fish like this is in need of the best and most-stable conditions possible.

 

The betta isn’t yet on display. That’s the issue.... I’d just divide the tank but that didn’t work out for me so well the last time. The jar is heated and filtered but an upgrade should be coming within the week.

So far, I have a 1 gallon tank empty. I was thinking about setting it up as a Thailand Blackwater, but now it’ll just have to hold a betta!

 

That’s still small try to get at least a 2.5 gal

 

Unfortunately, moving him back into his old tank isn’t an option because it’s saltwater now. He was supposed to be just in the jar for transport to where my bio display for a work presentation is, but with his fins being so nasty, I’ll just draft another one of my bettas. Then, he’ll have a decent tank when the bio display comes home. The only reason I turn to salt is because with other bettas I’ve had in similar situations, it has really helped them. I tend to dose lower than recommended so as not to add so much that it becomes a major irritant.

How much salt did you put in his original tank? The International Betta Congress suggests 1 tablespoon for every 5 to 7 gallons for bettas and state that amount is safe for plants as well.

Why don't you just dilute whatever concentration of salt you put in his original tank down to that recommended level with a water change and put him back in there. What kind of filter and heater works on a 1 liter jar? I'd like to get some of those for when I have to move fish!

 

That’s still small try to get at least a 2.5 gal

I know it’s small, but it’s what I have and can get ahold of currently. There will be an upgrade in the future.

How much salt did you put in his original tank? The International Betta Congress suggests 1 tablespoon for every 5 to 7 gallons for bettas and state that amount is safe for plants as well.

Why don't you just dilute whatever concentration of salt you put in his original tank down to that recommended level with a water change and put him back in there. What kind of filter and heater works on a 1 liter jar? I'd like to get some of those for when I have to move fish!

I didn’t have any salt in his previous tank. So, for the heater I’m using an aqueon mini. The filter is a Jerry rigged connection to my quietflow 50. Water goes in through aquarium tubing and out through aquarium tubing into my 29 gallon tank. It’s not a huge deal pathogen wise since they have shared water for a while.

 

?? In a previous post when @RepolI opined that his original tank would be better for him you said, "Unfortunately, moving him back into his old tank isn’t an option because it’s saltwater now."
So if his original tank isn't compromised, why is he in a jar and not in there?

 

I’m confused now!
His original tank is saltwater! When he was in it there wasn’t any salt. His original tank is cycling for clownfish. He is in a jar because I don’t have another tank currently available. In a week or so, I’ll have a 1 gallon tank available.
Am I making any sense Momgoose56 ???
Ps. This is what I get for posting without coffee.
Edit: the quietflow 50 is hooked up to my 30 gallon tank. While I’d put him in there if I could (it’s temp compatible roughly) , I have a feeling both my gourami and big angel would eat the betta. Also, O agree that his original tank would be better, but I was supposed to take him to my bio presentation and he’d have a big tank there. With his current finnage, that’s not going to work.

 

I have a fluval spec 5 and took the filter tube out to clean it, and my betta swam right into the little hole.
He cant swim out because his propeller fins are in. He can't swim into it because his body is too big. He's freaking out and chunks of scales and fins and falling off. There's no way to break the plastic without killing him.
Do I just let him suffer and die there? do I poison the whole tank with some substance to humanely calm him and put him to sleep?
He's already recovering from columnaris that he had for 3 months. I feel horrible.

I'm freaking out. He's injured so badly and only making it worse.

I know this is all my own fault so please don't attack me. I had no idea he would do this.

 

Is the filter off?

 

Best to not panic and no one will attack you. I don't think it's your fault-you had no way to know this would happen and prepare/prevent. I've had a bamboo shrimp do this so now I remove the uptake every time to prevent.

Turn the filter off. You might have to remove the tube from the filter, but put the tube and the betta back into the water immediately. Turn the light off.

I wonder if holding the tube vertically so gravity sort of works might help. You might have to gently grasp his body and ease him out. Just keep his body wet as much as you can.

 

I'm sorry this is happening. You definitely aren't the only one to have their betta attempt this stunt. I had my betta in an Imagitarium 3.7g with the same type of hole. I was fortunate in that he fit through the hole, but on the other side were 3 compartments--all too small for the net. It took me well over a half hour to get him out, not to mention some creativity, determination, and patience. I thought for sure he would be injured and exhausted, as he was showing signs of significant distress, but once I finally got him out, he took all of a couple minutes to shake it off (although he was a bit pouty the rest of the day).

Have you tried turning all lights off and maybe even covering the tank to see if he'll relax enough to work his way out on his own?

If you've already tried that and believe you have no option but to act, I would tend to try to gently push him back out rather than try to get him to swim forward as, from the photos, it looks like he hasn't quite gotten to the largest part of the body yet. That would be my own course of action, but without it being my fish and without actually being there, I definitely cannot say it is the best course of action.

Edited: To try to push him back out, I would probably try to apply equal pressure to gently pushing his head back with one hand and pulling his back end with the other hand.

 

the filter is off. I ended up getting him out but he is very badly injured and I've put him in a bowl and he's lethargic (understandably).

To be entirely honest, I used dawn dish soap to lubricate the back half of his body.

I don't know how bad he is suffering or if he can recover with this kind of damage. His propeller fins were bent entirely in the opposite direction, which I imagine is like bending someone's elbow the wrong direction and permanently breaking their arm....

A friend suggested I give him a day to see how he recovers... would euthanasia be neccessary?

(also I do see the fin rot as well-- I was in the process of treating him for that when this accident happened!)

 

the filter is off. I ended up getting him out but he is very badly injured and I've put him in a bowl and he's lethargic (understandably).

Edited: I hope you're able to get him to heal, although euthenizing him would be understandable. I wish they would either redesign those types of tanks, provide a cover for the hole for during filter maintenance, or at least provide a clear warning. It’s common to keep bettas in those types of tanks, and bettas are just the right size for a serious accident. I have no idea what makes them suddenly want to dart through the hole, but it definitely happens quickly and unexpectedly.

 

For now, just leave him alone-as hard as that may be.

He's been sick, had medication, endured a trauma, is covered in dishsoap and has been removed from his tank. That's a lot for a fish.

If you do decide to euthanize, what are your plans. Might be good to have that info on board sooner rather than later.

 

Thank you all so much for your support and help. My state is currently on lockdown and I don't think I'll be able to go out and find clove oil, which I am seeing is best...
I don't think I have anything else around the house other than... the chopping block.

I love this fish so much. But he is BADLY messed up now. I will leave him alone for now though...

 

I was just thinking about you-thanks for the update. Sorry this is your day right now.

I don't think anyone who's kept fish hasn't learned at the expense of a life. It's a weird hobby that way.

 

How is he doing now? Sorry about your fish

 

He has passed on. As the hours passed, he didn't have the energy to stay upright in the water, sunk to the bottom, and eventually stopped breathing. Just buried him.

I'm heartbroken. I keep seeing him struggling in that hole, bits of his flesh being torn off and floating in the water. My poor baby. What a horrible experience to have before you die.

 

I'm so sorry. That is heartbreaking. You did what you could.

 

I’m so sorry. What a horrible accident.