Betta under severe stress

My male betta had a run in with a three year old who literally pulled him out of the tank and was squishing him into the carpet by the time I got to him. He is now back in his tank but gasping for oxygen (lingering on the top)not eating - at least I haven't seen him eat, and sometimes falling to the bottom - it has been four days since the incident. I know it doesn't look good and he probably should be dead after the stress he went through but are there any suggestions on anything I can do at this point to help him?

 

I certainly don't have any suggestions since I'm new to bettas myself but I wanted to send my condolescences for your situation.

 

Appreciate the sympathy - I feel horrible for him but I am just trying to leave him as stress free as possible since I believe he is probably on his last few days... :'(

 

As long as he has something (a plant?) at the top he can rest on so he doesn't have to swim too far for some air I would think that is all you can do. Just keep him comfy and try hand feeding him? Good luck...sorry bout your little guy. Let us know how he's doing.

 

I have two plants that he seems to be resting on - one fake and one real. I will keep everyone posted. How would I go about hand feeding him??

 

can he eat? and does he swim at all? if the answer to either of these is no then I am afraid you are right and his chances for recovery are almost nil. He is probably horribly damaged. But I have seen some Bettas have the will to live through some terrible predicaments. I would not quit talking to him and encouraging him. You never know what human contact will do for him. Sometimes it can keep giving him the will to keep going through a lot of hurt.

I would try to put the tank out of reach of the child. Just a word of caution.

You do have my deepest sympathies, I know how very endearing a Betta can be and it is so hard to see them hurt.

Rose

 

Better news - I actually saw him eat a little today. I put the pellet right next to where he was hanging out and he ate - only one that I saw him eat but it is at least something. He is swimming a little bit but only when there is movement (me putting the pellet in) around his tank. He still seems to need to gulp oxygen pretty often when he swims he won't stay mid tank very long before he comes up - sometimes he is so still I wonder if he is alive but he is definitely a fighter. I will keep everyone posted!

 

Laura, talk to him and make over him. Spend time cooing over him and let him know you are with him. He will have an easier time with himself if you do. Bettas respond to humans better than about any other fish I know of and they need the contact, and yours does especially right now. It will help if nothing else will.

Rose

 

I'm so sorry to hear about him! Bettas are pretty tough...I had one survive a trip down the drain. Do all you can to keep him comfortable...maybe extra waster changes, hand feeding, lots of attention, etc. Keep on the lookout for secondary infections--he may develop ich or another disease due to the stress of the incident. I hope he gets better!

 

Thanks for everyone's help - he looks better today though still pretty lethargic. Definitely a tough fish!

Should I be changing his water - maybe partial? My dilemma is I don't want to stress him out anymore but I know some of the food has made its way to the bottom so I am nervous about bacteria. I suppose I could do a partial change and not take him out of the tank? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

A water change never hurts. Just try to keep him out of the flow of the water when you are pouring it in so he doesn't have to fight the flow. He will appreciate the clean water I am sure. I wouldn't do a major one though unless you think the food problem is major.

Rose

 

Good thing you caught him in time. I also advise keeping him out of reach but...that being said, three year olds can be very inventive, so you might want to think outside the box a bit.

I'm actually amazed the child caught the fish...

 

Trust me the three year old boy and my daughter will be supervised anytime they are in the same room as the fish. The boy got the fish out and it must have been difficult because there was gravel and plants stewn all over the room and my daughter who's pet it WAS (she is also 3) did nothing so I am still furious with her. She was so good with him up to then. She read to him every night and blew him kisses - ahhh - but that is another story. She is remorseful and 'visits' him everyday but he is now MY fish.

 

You may want to do more frequent (but slightly smaller) water changes. Just be extra careful that the clean water going in is exactly the same temp as the water in the tank. Don't try to do any huge changes though.

 

There`s nothing better than daily water changes to help a Betta heal fast.

 

I did a water change last night - so I will do one again tonight? Itthought changing it too often would be worse but from what I am hearing I should continue to do so -for the next couple of days? Anyhow he seems to be doing okay. He isn't eating as much as he use to but he is eating. I am checking on him often. Again, I appreciate all the advice - I am so glad I found this website!

L

 

Small daily water changes as just fine for a while but I wouldn't do more than about 10% or so if you are going to do daily changes. They do help them to heal faster. Clean water is very therapeutic to sick fish. It is much more stressful for their bodies to deal with even the smallest amount of toxin when they are injured. It is VERY good that he is eating, but I doubt that with the injuries you described that he is out of the woods just yet. A steady temperature and clean water are the key to a rapid and complete recovery. He is a real fighter, your little buddy.

Will he take a pellet or two out of your fingers or is he totally afraid of human contact now? If you can try to create a bond with him (if you haven't already). He needs to have some contact to feel loved.

I am glad to hear he is doing a little better. Do keep us informed.

Rose

 

Rose, would it be a good idea for her to raise the temp a little?

 

Good news ;D he is doing much better today. He isn't shying away when I drop his food in and he is actually swimming around - not lingering on top anymore. He really is amazing to go through what he did and survive. I am not trying to be too optimistic but if two weeks go by and he is okay then I will be ecstatic. It has been 6 days. When we first got him off the carpet and put him in water he was actually floating upside down and it looked as if half his body had turned white. Now his color is coming back and he is not as skittish.

Anyhow, any more advice would be welcomed!

Will keep you posted on his progress.

Thanks,

Laura

 

What is the temperature you are keeping him at? It would be the very best for him if you could aI'm for a steady 80 degrees (no lower) just to keep from having a secondary infection of some kind attack him while he is down. If he has been much below 80 then you may want to slowly (like a degree every 3 or 4 hours) put his temp up to 82 to keep the dreaded ich away. Ich is a cool water disease and attacks with a vengeance after an illness, stress, or injury and can take them out just when we think they are doing better. Keep an eye out for any spots or changes in his appearance. Let us know immediately if anything even minor changes. We want to stay on top of things right now. No medicine for anything right now though. Just the water changes and temperature control for now. Medication can further weaken him if it is the wrong thing.

Rose

 

Thanks for the advice Rose. The water is at 78 degrees right now - I will warm it up gradually. I am looking at him closely ever day and will continue to do so. Is there any safe time that we can say he is out of danger- two weeks, three weeks?

 

Each Betta recovers at their own speed and his injuries were specific to him so it is hard to tell. But I would say that until he is swimming happily around as though nothing happened and eating like a little pig (if you would let him) you are going to have to "baby" him along a bit. The small water changes can probably stop when he is up and about and eating better. But you will probably have to pet him and hand feed from now on as his confidence has been severely shaken. I personally enjoy doing this and spending this little time with my little folks anyway and they haven't gone through the stress your poor little boy has.

To give you the closest estimate I can, see how he is doing in a couple of weeks and then reevaluate the situation, but I would at least give it that long. It hasn't been that long yet.

It could be as long as a month with his type of injuries.

Rose

 

I'm glad he is doing better. My Oto Mist got caught up in a plastic plant and suffered some injuries...and seeing how he recovered, I have to agree with Rose, it may be a month before he's looking like himself again. But he may surprise you and recover faster. It's hard to say at this point.

 

Thanks everyone again for the information. He is doing so much better it is amazing. He still is a little shy when I first put the food in but he is eating much more agressively and swimming all around the tank now too. His new home is in the kitchen where most of the activity is so I think he enjoys that - thanks again for all your help!

If anything changes I will keep you posted!

 

They do love human companionship so he is probably enjoying watching the increased activity that is in the kitchen. (I do not know about your house, but it is busy in mine some days). He will watch everything you do and get to know you better that way and truly become your fish. I am so glad to hear he is doing so much better. I think all your hard work is paying off. Just a little while longer to make sure he doesn't get a double whammy and have a secondary infection attack him. They are great for that.

I am glad we could be of help. Let us know if there is any more assistance we may provide. Good luck. By the way, what is his name? If you told me, I missed it and I am afraid I don't have the energy today to go back through the whole post to see if it is listed. I am silly about using their names, but I like to address them as individuals.

Rose

 

Oh, goodness, how could I forget too? We must address the fishies by their proper names (if they have one).

 

His name is Dennis - sorry about tha ;D

He is doing great!

 

I love the name! A perfect name for a Betta - they can be little Menaces after all. LOL

I am thrilled that he is doing better and so pleased to meet him.

Rose

 

Dennis ... I LOVE IT!

So glad to hear he is doing well... they really are little troopers to survive so much!


Sidebar: Does anyone know of any good sites to read or books even about the history of bettas in the wild? You know, like where they came from, how they survive in the wild and stuff like that?

 

There are 2 books that I own from the Barron's Line of Books.  They are full of information about nothing but Bettas and are definitely worth the read.

Bettas: A Complete Pet Owner's Manual by Robert J. Goldstein, Ph.D.

The Betta Handbook by Robert J. Goldstein, Ph.D.

I have other books but these two are the ones I come back to quite often for just general information about the little guys.  Neither book is large and I got mine off of in their book section for a little bit of nothing.  Their books are very reasonable (usually you can get a used one) and I have even found some books for  $.01 plus postage.

Happy reading.

Rose

 

Thanks! I find myself yearning for more information about them and the internet is not really helping me. It just seems like every site I find has a LITTLE info about where they came from (nothing too specific of course) and then it's on to selling fish or products or whatever. I am also increasingly finding things that people can buy to make their bettas decorative ... I can't imagine putting one of my guys on "display" for decoration!!

Anywho, thanks for the info. I'll check these books out!

Laura -- I hope Dennis continues to do well! Hugs to him!! ;D 8)

 

I'm happy to hear that Dennis is doing well and ur post has helped me a lot I have a feel how I can help my female. What happened was I was foolish and thought read online that you can put a male and female together they will chase each other around the tank but nothing major its natural well there were no tank specs and not really anything beyond that. I found out that the tank was way too small *foolish me foolish me* and I'm totally under equiped to handle a sick betta but ur post has helped me out to take care of her thank you and I'm glad to hear ur little one got better it gives me hope thanx

brent

 

Re: Betta under severe stress - UPDATE

Dennis is doing wonderfully. He is back to his feisty self coming back from floating upside down and being absolutely white. He is brilliant orange again and swimming around aggressively as before. Thanks to everyone who helped me through this on this site - these are incredible fish!

Thanks again!

 

YAY DENNIS!!!

We knew you could do it!!


Laura - you must be so happy to see his beautiful colors and personality again. It is so hard when they are sick and all you can do is be there for them. you can't just FIX it. I am so glad to hear that he is back to his old self! Dare I ask ---- do you have any pictures? ;D

 

yes yes yes pics are a must common u know u want to

 

Oh, I am so proud of both of you.  I know you worked very hard to pull him through this ordeal.  and I know that Dennis worked hard getting well -  a lot of fish would have just gone "belly up"   He is a marvelous example of what happens when the human and animal kindoms meet and either fight or get along.

Rose
;D


GOOD JOB!!

 

I have no idea how to get a picture to this site. I am not a whiz with the digital camera. Dennis looks great and I think he really loves being in the kitchen. He 'follows' me when I walk around the room - it is hysterical. My daughter wants him back in her room but I told her no and tried to explain to her she needs to be a little bit older before she gets another pet.

Anyhow - if anyone has step to step picture instructions please let me know.

Thanks!

 

If I'm not mistaken there's a post on fourm announcements by mike on how to insert a picure... I just read your news now, its amazing he lived through it! congrats on being a good betta mom!

 

Great - thanks for the info - I will check it ou!