Betta w swim bladder - urgent! Could it be something else?

Hi everyone,

I am really concerned about my female betta. I thought when she was tilting a bit on Friday that she might have swim bladder. She got worse yesterday and is worse today - she can’t right herself at all.

I’ve been fasting her since Friday morning when i suspected this. I put her in an Epson salt bath yesterday for 30 mins 1 tbsp / gallon (her hospital tank).
Could this be something else?

Her water parameters were and are pristine, I was being careful about over feeding as she has a tendency to bloat. She is now in her 1 gallon tank w a large silk plant for support and a cave to hide but she can’t keep from floating to the top and she is always on her side sometimes now facing down.
I’m feeling pretty helpless.

Any suggestions or thoughts on it being something else?

 

A betta needs a 5 gallon or larger filtered and heated aquarium. The water temperature and the water chemistry needs to be stable. You need to do 25-45% water changes while sifting through the substrate with a gravel vacuum once a week. It is stressful and unhealthy to remove a fish for cleaning the tank or to have to change too much of the water volume to accommodate a large bioload in a small tank. There are many things that can go wrong and you will not always be able to identify them.

 

A betta needs a 5 gallon or larger filtered and heated aquarium. The water temperature and the water chemistry needs to be stable. You need to do 25-45% water changes while sifting through the substrate with a gravel vacuum once a week. It is stressful and unhealthy to remove a fish for cleaning the tank or to have to change too much of the water volume to accommodate a large bioload in a small tank. There are many things that can go wrong and you will not always be able to identify them.

I’m not sure I understand any of your response.

She lives in a 5 gallon heated pristine 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia, 5-10 nitrates, ph 7.4/7.6.
Although I didn’t mention it, I vacuum her substrate weekly and do 50% water changes every 7-10 days. Always have and she’s used to it.
I have never removed her to clean her tank - she actually finds it quite fascinating. I’m really unsure where this is coming from.

As for the large bioload, she’s alone in 5 gallons.
This response although accurate info, doesn’t fit the scenario nor does it help me or April.

She is in a hospital tank - a 1 gallon because she’s unwell. And as I explained has been there for two days fasting.

 

Hey, so the thing with swim bladder issues are they are a symptom and not the actual issue. We need to work out what the issue is to treat in the first place.
Keep her in her 5 gallon and change the water more often for the time being. Adding tannings with leaf litter is a good idea too.

What do you feed her? What temperature do you keep her at?

I personally don't understand the use of salt for fresh water fish, especially soft water fish like Betta's, it's the opposite of what you want. Having tannings in the water along with the organisms that come along with that is far more beneficial in my opinion.

 

I’m not sure I understand any of your response.

She lives in a 5 gallon heated pristine 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia, 5-10 nitrates, ph 7.4/7.6.
Although I didn’t mention it, I vacuum her substrate weekly and do 50% water changes every 7-10 days. Always have and she’s used to it.
I have never removed her to clean her tank - she actually finds it quite fascinating. I’m really unsure where this is coming from.

As for the large bioload, she’s alone in 5 gallons.
This response although accurate info, doesn’t fit the scenario nor does it help me or April.

She is in a hospital tank - a 1 gallon because she’s unwell. And as I explained has been there for two days fasting.

Sorry, I was not suggesting that you did not already do any of those things, I was just covering the basics. You did not leave us much to work with. And it sounded like you were keeping her in a one-gallon tank always. just trying to help.

 

Hey, so the thing with swim bladder issues are they are a symptom and not the actual issue. We need to work out what the issue is to treat in the first place.
Keep her in her 5 gallon and change the water more often for the time being. Adding tannings with leaf litter is a good idea too.

What do you feed her? What temperature do you keep her at?

I personally don't understand the use of salt for fresh water fish, especially soft water fish like Betta's, it's the opposite of what you want. Having tannings in the water along with the organisms that come along with that is far more beneficial in my opinion.

Thank you. Its frustrating finding all conflicting information when doing research. I now think the Epson salt is only good if there’s a bacterial infection and not just always for SB.
She’s not bloated but she hasn’t pooped since Friday. I’m thinking constipation is the problem but i thought something might improve by now.
She won’t even look at daphnia which I tried this evening.
So you suggest I put her back in her tank.
Ok can do! Will continue with the frequent water changes so her water is as clean as possible and pray for the best.
I will pick up one of those leaves tomorrow.
I hate to see her struggle like this. I’m in Canada so even if it was illness I can’t get medication for her. No antibiotics in CA. Stupid.

Sorry, I was not suggesting that you did not already do any of those things, I was just covering the basics. You did not leave us much to work with. And it sounded like you were keeping her in a one-gallon tank always. just trying to help.

I appreciate that - I didn’t read your answer that way but I see that now.
I’d like to know what to expect we will be three days in tomorrow - if her issue isn’t caused by constipation then We’re out of luck. Hopefully she’ll show improvement by morning. Fingers crossed.

 

Hi again,

So I am still not sure what I should be seeing at this point. She has not recovered in any way, she won't eat daphnia and she is on her side. She is breathing a bit rapidly but she has a plant to support her where she can rest. She needs it over top of her to hold her from the surface. I'm really concerned she isn't going to recover. She is still in the 1 gallon because I was hoping to see a sign of her pooping - still nothing.

I don't want her to suffer and I do know how to euthanize with clove oil but do not want to be pre-mature. Her scales are sleek, not pinecone like and she isn't looking particularly bloated either. Her coloring is also pretty normal so I hope these are good signs. .

Can she remain like this for a long time? Has it been too long?
Any suggestions would be welcome at this point.
Thanks in advance,
Jenn