Betta suddenly traumatized- acting sick

Hi everyone,

Happy New Year!
My betta is normally bold, brave, likes to be stroked, lunges after food (misses a lot in his efforts so funny), he’s a lot of fun.
I took him out of his 3G and put him in a 5G that became available (had been in use for two years) and he immediately froze - he’s always been very sensitive aka easily stressed (eating his tail for different reasons at random). I thought it would be nice for him to have more space but I realized I should have left well enough alone.
I immediately put him back in his old tank. I always use a cup not a net.
Since then, he’s hidden from me, acts terrified of me, he’s not eating, he is super stressed and breathing hard and now I fear he’s coming down with swim bladder. He barely swims, mostly floats at the top or lays on the bottom. I don’t know what to do.
I put aquarium salt in his tank today as per api instructions. I gave him frozen daphnia yesterday in case he would eat. He didn’t even notice.
The one good sign is if he sees food fall he moves as though he’s going for it. I’ve given him an air stone too.
Tank parameters are perfect - he eats high quality floating pellets - 2 twice a day. Tank water changed 50% every week - he’s been in there at least a year and I do a thorough gravel clean every other week.
I love this little feisty guy. I’m worried I may have injured him or something and traumatized him. It’s been three days now. His colour is dulling and his eyes aren’t black

 

Hi everyone,

Happy New Year!
My betta is normally bold, brave, likes to be stroked, lunges after food (misses a lot in his efforts so funny), he’s a lot of fun.
I took him out of his 3G and put him in a 5G that became available (had been in use for two years) and he immediately froze - he’s always been very sensitive aka easily stressed (eating his tail for different reasons at random). I thought it would be nice for him to have more space but I realized I should have left well enough alone.
I immediately put him back in his old tank. I always use a cup not a net.
Since then, he’s hidden from me, acts terrified of me, he’s not eating, he is super stressed and breathing hard and now I fear he’s coming down with swim bladder. He barely swims, mostly floats at the top or lays on the bottom. I don’t know what to do.
I put aquarium salt in his tank today as per api instructions. I gave him frozen daphnia yesterday in case he would eat. He didn’t even notice.
The one good sign is if he sees food fall he moves as though he’s going for it. I’ve given him an air stone too.
Tank parameters are perfect - he eats high quality floating pellets - 2 twice a day. Tank water changed 50% every week - he’s been in there at least a year and I do a thorough gravel clean every other week.
I love this little feisty guy. I’m worried I may have injured him or something and traumatized him. It’s been three days now. His colour is dulling and his eyes aren’t black

When you moved him to the bigger tank did you acclimate him or just drop him in? Also, when you moved him back to the new tank did you acclimate him or drop him in again? Were the water parameters in the 5G also good? Did whatever lived in the tank prior die due to disease or did it just get upgraded?

I am no fish expert either, so i cant say anything about if he is sick or not.

 

Can you please fill out the emergency template so we can better help you with your little guy? RoseyFlower10 makes good suggestions - it's likely he's experiencing either shock or injury but knowing the water parameters & other info about his current tank will help us make recommendations.

I'm very sorry your friend is so ill.

 

When you moved him to the bigger tank did you acclimate him or just drop him in? Also, when you moved him back to the new tank did you acclimate him or drop him in again? Were the water parameters in the 5G also good? Did whatever lived in the tank prior die due to disease or did it just get upgraded?

I am no fish expert either, so i cant say anything about if he is sick or not.

Hi,

the parameters/temperatures were the same in both (i had just done water change in both the day before as well so nice and fresh) but no - now I feel stupid - i did not acclimate him, yes I did both times just place him in.
The betta that lived there diied of old age as far as I could tell, from research. I euthanized him humanely with clove oil in another container of course.
How could I not remember to acclimate?? Can it possibly have that strong an effect? If so can he recover?

 

Hi,

the parameters/temperatures were the same in both (i had just done water change in both the day before as well so nice and fresh) but no - now I feel stupid - i did not acclimate him, yes I did both times just place him in.
The betta that lived there diied of old age as far as I could tell, from research. I euthanized him humanely with clove oil in another container of course.
How could I not remember to acclimate?? Can it possibly have that strong an effect? If so can he recover?

No no, it's okay. He probably just got spooked. Also, could you please fill out the emergency template? Betta fish are resilient little guys, so he should recover. It seems like he is very stressed out, which is making him ill. Maybe go to a LPS and get some almond leaves and driftwood to add natural tannins, and maybe pick up some aquarium salt. Try a 50% water change and follow the instructions on aquarium salt. Do a water change every other day- every day. If you have a heater where you can change the water temperature up it a bit to like 80'F if it isn't that already. That's all I can think to do right now. Hopefully, he gets better soon! You are doing amazing!

 

No no, it's okay. He probably just got spooked. Also, could you please fill out the emergency template? Betta fish are resilient little guys, so he should recover. It seems like he is very stressed out, which is making him ill. Maybe go to a LPS and get some almond leaves and driftwood to add natural tannins, and maybe pick up some aquarium salt. Try a 50% water change and follow the instructions on aquarium salt. Do a water change every other day- every day. If you have a heater where you can change the water temperature up it a bit to like 80'F if it isn't that already. That's all I can think to do right now. Hopefully, he gets better soon! You are doing amazing!

Ok thank you will do! Almond leaves - on it. Yes I do need to update my emerg template. it’s quite out of date for what I have now. Thank you again fingers crossed

 

Ok thank you will do! Almond leaves - on it. Yes I do need to update my emerg template. it’s quite out of date for what I have now. Thank you again fingers crossed

Of course! If you didnt know tannins will make the water this brownish color. It's completely natural, its good when it does that!

 

Great! One last thing - I went to update my profile and can not figure out how to edit it or create new. Thoughts?

 

Hi Aquanata and Roseflower10,

I thought it might be nice to hear good news.
Prince is back!! My boy came around fully just two days ago lol. I’m so thankful to you both because I wouldn’t have known to wait it out. I would have thought he was sick and suffering and euthanized him. Thank you!!
Now if he’d leave his fins alone. Baby steps.
Aquanata I cannot figure out how to edit my profile. I tried. Thoughts?

updated pics

 

Hi Aquanata and Roseflower10,

I thought it might be nice to hear good news.
Prince is back!! My boy came around fully just two days ago lol. I’m so thankful to you both because I wouldn’t have known to wait it out. I would have thought he was sick and suffering and euthanized him. Thank you!!
Now if he’d leave his fins alone. Baby steps.
Aquanata I cannot figure out how to edit my profile. I tried. Thoughts?

updated pics

Oh that’s amazing!

 

Hi Aquanata and Roseflower10,

I thought it might be nice to hear good news.
Prince is back!! My boy came around fully just two days ago lol. I’m so thankful to you both because I wouldn’t have known to wait it out. I would have thought he was sick and suffering and euthanized him. Thank you!!
Now if he’d leave his fins alone. Baby steps.
Aquanata I cannot figure out how to edit my profile. I tried. Thoughts?

updated pics

I'm glad your guy is feeling better. The fin biting thing can be hard to break. While it's not for everyone, I use diversion for persistent fin biters: sand substrate for digging, pest snails for hunting & even small feeder shrimp for the same. I regularly change up floating plants & make small shifts in hide locations or types to offer new exploration opportunities.

How are you going into your profile? From the top bar or thru your avatar on a post? Going thru your member name on the top bar should give you access to your member profile. Then I think you choose About to find your profile details & make changes. If that's not working, there may be info available via the search function - I know there are articles about managing member details, just not exactly where. If all else fails, a mod may be able to help.

If you're thinking about the emergency template tho, when someone uses those words they'll come up in colour as a link. Tap the link & copy/paste the template into your post, filling in the relevant info.

It's not the same thing as updating your profile. It's what folks need to most helpfully respond to specific questions about an animal in crisis. The member About thing is more so others can see something about experience levels or shared interests.

Good luck with Prince. Hope he continues well.

Hi Aquanata and Roseflower10,

I thought it might be nice to hear good news.
Prince is back!! My boy came around fully just two days ago lol. I’m so thankful to you both because I wouldn’t have known to wait it out. I would have thought he was sick and suffering and euthanized him. Thank you!!
Now if he’d leave his fins alone. Baby steps.
Aquanata I cannot figure out how to edit my profile. I tried. Thoughts?

updated pics

Just checked the member profile thing. On my tablet if I tap "Edit" once into the account from the top bar, I'm stuck. Tapping the member name to the right of the avatar w/Edit on its face instead, takes me into the profile, where tapping About lets me edit details. Except birthday. We're forever the original age we input short of
mod approval. Alas, there's no fast forward or rewind even on fishlore. Hope it helps.

 

I'm glad your guy is feeling better. The fin biting thing can be hard to break. While it's not for everyone, I use diversion for persistent fin biters: sand substrate for digging, pest snails for hunting & even small feeder shrimp for the same. I regularly change up floating plants & make small shifts in hide locations or types to offer new exploration opportunities.

How are you going into your profile? From the top bar or thru your avatar on a post? Going thru your member name on the top bar should give you access to your member profile. Then I think you choose About to find your profile details & make changes. If that's not working, there may be info available via the search function - I know there are articles about managing member details, just not exactly where. If all else fails, a mod may be able to help.

If you're thinking about the emergency template tho, when someone uses those words they'll come up in colour as a link. Tap the link & copy/paste the template into your post, filling in the relevant info.

It's not the same thing as updating your profile. It's what folks need to most helpfully respond to specific questions about an animal in crisis. The member About thing is more so others can see something about experience levels or shared interests.

Good luck with Prince. Hope he continues well.

Just checked the member profile thing. On my tablet if I tap "Edit" once into the account from the top bar, I'm stuck. Tapping the member name to the right of the avatar w/Edit on its face instead, takes me into the profile, where tapping About lets me edit details. Except birthday. We're forever the original age we input short of
mod approval. Alas, there's no fast forward or rewind even on fishlore. Hope it helps.

Thank you so much !!! I'm sorry I didn't get a notification for your response but I think my problem was I was trying to do it on my iPhone. I'll just do it on my laptop of as you've instructed on my tablet. Very appreciative.
Also the suggestions for stimulation THANK YOU!! Great help. Will try.

Now, the bad news, Prince has now got a case of swim bladder. I am really feeling badly for this little guy. He can swim properly in formation he just cannot stay afloat. It's too much work. On the bottom when he sets himself down his back turns over slightly, head straight forward. This started Monday. I haven't fed him since Monday. Today I did a 15 minute Epsom salt bath with 50% tank water and 50% treated tap water - tank temperature - 1 gallon, 1 tbsp epsom salt. He's lying on the bottom at the back of his tank. I swirled a bit of a frozen cube of daphnia above his head for a couple of seconds to see if he might take a gulp or two but he didn't really notice. I understand bettas can recover from this. I'm also changing his water 50% every day just in case. Parameters are perfect in any case. He is breathing heavily so I think quite stressed.

 

Thank you so much !!! I'm sorry I didn't get a notification for your response but I think my problem was I was trying to do it on my iPhone. I'll just do it on my laptop of as you've instructed on my tablet. Very appreciative.
Also the suggestions for stimulation THANK YOU!! Great help. Will try.

Now, the bad news, Prince has now got a case of swim bladder. I am really feeling badly for this little guy. He can swim properly in formation he just cannot stay afloat. It's too much work. On the bottom when he sets himself down his back turns over slightly, head straight forward. This started Monday. I haven't fed him since Monday. Today I did a 15 minute Epsom salt bath with 50% tank water and 50% treated tap water - tank temperature - 1 gallon, 1 tbsp epsom salt. He's lying on the bottom at the back of his tank. I swirled a bit of a frozen cube of daphnia above his head for a couple of seconds to see if he might take a gulp or two but he didn't really notice. I understand bettas can recover from this. I'm also changing his water 50% every day just in case. Parameters are perfect in any case. He is breathing heavily so I think quite stressed.

I'm sorry this is a quick response - I'll explain more fully a bit later but ....

I treat w/1 tablespoon pre-dissolved epsom salt per gallon of dechlorinated tap water for swim bladder in a tupperware or bucket. 10 minutes, 15 minutes maximum. Then ...

Remove to 2nd recovery tupperware/bucket 1/4 tablespoon pre-dissolved epsom salt per gallon for 5 minutes. Then ....

Return to tank.

I generally do this once or twice a day for up to 5 days, stopping when I see significant improvement. Also, observe him closely for negative response, like thrashing or other panic, whilst submerged in either salted environment. Rare, but it happens. Remove immediately if negative responses are observed. Make sure both salted tanks are at a similar 80-82F as his tank - can be determined by touch.

You can fast for another couple days safely or try him after today after treatment on one or two of his regular pellets pre-soaked & placed directly in front of him. It or daphnia can be soaked in garlic juice too to make food more tempting. Kind of depends on if this is from constipation or infection. Try to observe if he's pooping & if so, what it looks like.

I'll check back a bit later but have to run now. Hope it helps quickly!

 

I dont know if the problem is solved or not but try letting your betta fast for a while I heard it could help

 

Yes, so far working with that in mind. Fingers crossed. Thank you!

 

Yes, so far working with that in mind. Fingers crossed. Thank you!

Any questions don't hesitate to ask.

 

fast for 2-3 days

 

fast for 2-3 days

The fish already hasn't eaten in 4 days & we're unsure if the SBD is due to constipation or infection. That does make a difference! Reading up the whole thread can provide a lot of info to guide responders in providing treatment suggestions.

It takes all of us a while to get the hang of the forum & how to help. It's always good to find fishkeepers here interested in learning about animal health & gaining experience!

 

It does not look like constipation maybe a infection?

Does your betta eat a lot of bloodworms they can make a fish get constipated if fed too much

 

It does not look like constipation maybe a infection?

Does your betta eat a lot of bloodworms they can make a fish get constipated if fed too much

No he doesn’t like them he usually just eats pellets. I gave him a second salt bath today as per Aquanata’s recommendation and since he hadn’t eaten since Monday I also soaked a pellet in garlic and gave to see if he would eat. He did! He’s no better buoyancy wise though.
I can’t imagine it being disease but anything is possible especially because he was so stressed before. He’s still able to swim ok just not lay properly without support.

It does not look like constipation maybe a infection?

Does your betta eat a lot of bloodworms they can make a fish get constipated if fed too much

If infection I’m limited in Canada as we have no medicines but I’m open to suggestions!

 

No he doesn’t like them he usually just eats pellets. I gave him a second salt bath today as per Aquanata’s recommendation and since he hadn’t eaten since Monday I also soaked a pellet in garlic and gave to see if he would eat. He did! He’s no better buoyancy wise though.
I can’t imagine it being disease but anything is possible especially because he was so stressed before. He’s still able to swim ok just not lay properly without support.

If infection I’m limited in Canada as we have no medicines but I’m open to suggestions!

Hi Jennie2021. I wrote a detailed explanation as to why the epsom bath treatment is the go-to step for swim bladder disorders, regardless of whether it's caused by constipation or bacterial infection, when a power outage cut the connection & the explanation. Sigh.

Basically, it's because epsom salts are multi-pronged, as anti-bacterial, laxative & in reducing swim bladder swelling. Even in countries in which OTC antibiotics are available & as you point out, they are not here in Canada without a vet's prescription, we start with epsom salt to reduce swim bladder swelling however we can.

Constipation (assessed by whether the animal is pooping as well as shape, colour, consistency & amount) isn't generally identified by looking at the fish. Accumulated fecal matter does put pressure on the swim bladder which is why fasting, fibrous food after & the laxative effects of epsom salts can be helpful if constipation is the initial cause.

Epsom salts address other potential causes of buoyancy issues as well, including bacterial infection & parasites. In treating ill, surrendered fish, I've rarely found antibiotics more useful than the epsom & aquarium salts, methylene blue, malachite green, clean water & temp changes most common in piscene med chests around the world.

Overfeeding of any food stuff can cause constipation, followed by SBD, but ... swim bladder disorders can be caused by a host of issues over which we have no control, from increasingly common genetic defects in betta to antibiotic resistant infection.

I think you're not only doing the right thing, but the best thing for Prince & you started that treatment on your own, without help from anyone. You have this & I have fingers crossed for success.

 

Hi Jennie2021. I wrote a detailed explanation as to why the epsom bath treatment is the go-to step for swim bladder disorders, regardless of whether it's caused by constipation or bacterial infection, when a power outage cut the connection & the explanation. Sigh.

Basically, it's because epsom salts are multi-pronged, as anti-bacterial, laxative & in reducing swim bladder swelling. Even in countries in which OTC antibiotics are available & as you point out, they are not here in Canada without a vet's prescription, we start with epsom salt to reduce swim bladder swelling however we can.

Constipation (assessed by whether the animal is pooping as well as shape, colour, consistency & amount) isn't generally identified by looking at the fish. Accumulated fecal matter does put pressure on the swim bladder which is why fasting, fibrous food after & the laxative effects of epsom salts can be helpful if constipation is the initial cause.

Epsom salts address other potential causes of buoyancy issues as well, including bacterial infection & parasites. In treating ill, surrendered fish, I've rarely found antibiotics more useful than the epsom & aquarium salts, methylene blue, malachite green, clean water & temp changes most common in piscene med chests around the world.

Overfeeding of any food stuff can cause constipation, followed by SBD, but ... swim bladder disorders can be caused by a host of issues over which we have no control, from increasingly common genetic defects in betta to antibiotic resistant infection.

I think you're not only doing the right thing, but the best thing for Prince & you started that treatment on your own, without help from anyone. You have this & I have fingers crossed for success.

Oh my - I feel your pain. I've lost an entire letter on here and had to start over. Thank you - this information is helpful both informatively and psychologically.
The one thing I can honestly say is, in all my time with Bettas, I have never seen one poop. EVER.
I had one in a quarantine tank once and saw poop on the clear plastic bottom and that is the one and only time. I suspect their fins get in the way but I have been looking for two years. How is this possible?

 

Oh my - I feel your pain. I've lost an entire letter on here and had to start over. Thank you - this information is helpful both informatively and psychologically.
The one thing I can honestly say is, in all my time with Bettas, I have never seen one poop. EVER.
I had one in a quarantine tank once and saw poop on the clear plastic bottom and that is the one and only time. I suspect their fins get in the way but I have been looking for two years. How is this possible?

They're shy & tidy? Their parents taught them manners? Holy, it's not good to laugh so much whilst tea drinking! But my gosh, you're right. They're not like goldies. Unless you're hanging over one of them medicated for hours, as I do pretty regularly, it's not something well bettas tend to show off! It'll be on your head when I wake up in the wee hours thinking about this & creep out with a flaslight to see if they save it up for lights out! Oh my gosh. Thank you!

 

They're shy & tidy? Their parents taught them manners? Holy, it's not good to laugh so much whilst tea drinking! But my gosh, you're right. They're not like goldies. Unless you're hanging over one of them medicated for hours, as I do pretty regularly, it's not something well bettas tend to show off! It'll be on your head when I wake up in the wee hours thinking about this & creep out with a flaslight to see if they save it up for lights out! Oh my gosh. Thank you!

It would seem then, that we are now both laughing. That’s hilarious! Oh, and you’re most welcome.