Help Needed Please... Mars

[Tigerfishy]

So in my last thread about Mars, I told you about his big belly. This has gotten bigger. On Sat I decided to start medicating for bacterial infections, just in case. He got even bigger overnight as on Sun morning, he was bigger. His scales are still lying flat, no pineconing, but I do not know what is wrong.

I think it may be a fluid buildup, as he poops all the time, and I have tried peas and fasting, but the belly remains. This is how I know it is not constipation. Is there any method of getting rid of this fluid? I don't know that much about it, but I know if I don't do something soon, he could get very ill. He has been bloated for a week and a half now, with treatment only beginning on Sat.

I have heard of epsom salts, but I know salt is not good for bettas. Would one treatment of this be OK to try, or do you suggest something else, please help me. He was the first betta I got and is due to come home to me in 3 weeks. Water parameters are fine, he is eating as normal and still dances about. I'm so worried...

 

[yallyall1]

oh no!

My advice is, keep watching. Every time you walk past check his vitals and actions!

I don't know what it is... maybe he ate alot?

keep trying the peas...

I'm sorry that's all I know... maybe MMs might chime in?

 

[Aquarist]

Hello TigerFishy,

So hate to hear that Mars isn't feeling well. I wish I knew what else to tell you. I'm sure MartinsMommy wouldn't mind if you sent her a private message. Have you done a search for Bloated Betta?

Keeping my fingers crossed.
Ken

 

[Tigerfishy]

Thanks Ken I did, that's where I got the epsom salts info. He has just been big for a while, but no pineconing yet... I will message MM, good idea.

There wasn't much under it except dropsy, which I've encountered before. I do know that his bloating may lead to it, or be kidney failure too .

 

[Lucy]

I'm sorry Mars isn't well
I tried the epsom salt baths when when of my bettas got bloated. It didn't help and my betta eventually passed.
The epsom salt bath didn't help, but it didn't seem to hurt either.

 

[Tigerfishy]

If I do try it, I've found the dosage to be 1/4 teaspoon per gallon for no more than 30 mins. Although a thread I saw here was where a girl had added the salt to the tank? Personally I wouldn't want to put salt directly in his tank though...

 

[Lucy]

I didn't add epsom salt to the tank. I used a Kritter Keeper and water from her tank.
I've read where it can be really stressful, but my betta actually seemed to enjoy it.
There are a lot recipes out there. I'm sorry, I forget the ratio I used.

 

[Martinismommy]

I would recommend the salt treatment...I have done it many times and have seen it help...I hope your little man recovers soon....You may want to fast him for a couple of days as well.....

 

[Lucy]

I would recommend the salt treatment...I have done it many times and have seen it help...I hope your little man recovers soon....You may want to fast him for a couple of days as well.....

HI MM
Just to clarify for the sake of the thread. What kind of salt and what ratio did you use?

 

[Martinismommy]

I use aquarium salt added directly to the water and use 1/4 tsp per gallon...

 

[Tigerfishy]

Thank you so much MM, I do appreciate your help (and Lucy for helping me to clarify!). Thanks for taking the time guys.

He is stumping me this fish...! So I'll add it to his tank, and fast him a couple days, ooh how he will love me for that one lol! He will be due a water change on Thu after his meds finish, obviously this will remove half the water (I'll do half as he had meds too). How long should he have the salt in the tank for before I change it out again?

 

[Martinismommy]

Just do your normal routine of water changes...I wouldn't add more salt just change the water..

 

[Tigerfishy]

OK thanks a million, one time add, got it!

I read so much conflicting info that I just needed it sorted before I tried anything that may not have been any good for him.

 

[Lucy]

Thank MM!

Tigerfishy, please keep us up to date. Good luck with your boy, I hope he feels better soon.

 

[Martinismommy]

There are many opinions on using salt....Some swear by it some think it is the worse thing you can do for a Betta...I usually don't voice my opinion here about the use of salt..But I guess the secret is out now how I feel about using it lol....

I really hope it helps him....

 

[Tigerfishy]

Will do, thanks again, I do appreciate the help, I don't like having to ask as I feel bad lol! I know I don't mind helping people but I feel like I'm asking silly questions.

I'll let you know how he goes in a couple of days to let him settle and see if this has any effect, just some un-bloating would make me feel better as the more bloat, the more chance of pineconing and the less chance... Anything's worth a go, this guys been through so much and stayed so happy the whole time, he danced to me as I left last night haha!!

EDIT: we posted similar times lol! I'm willing to try as long as it has helped someone before, there's no right or wrong opinion, and as long as there's no overdosing and he's carefully watched, he should be fine. Everything in moderation...

 

[marina3]

Hope Mars get better!!! I have used Aquarium Salt before and I think it helped, but surely didn't hurt my betta...Everything in moderation...don't be afraid, it will be fine. keep us posted!!

 

[yallyall1]

well, good luck tiger!

 

[Tigerfishy]

Well last night, after 24 hours in the salt (just under a teaspoon for 3.7Gals), he has not got any smaller, but he is still the same, still dancing, still flat scales.

I will change his water on Thu as planned, but may go for an epsom salt bath if he has not got smaller. The last thing I want is this build up to cause his scales to rise...

 

[Charlemagne]

Awwwwww, I'm so sorry. I sure hope he gets better!

 

[Tigerfishy]

Well last night I got a text to say that it looked like his scales were rising, so I dashed round immediately withthe epsom salts. His scales had not quite risen, but looked a bitdubious. I gave him an epsom salt bath, I think I slightly overdosed, but the little boy had absolutely NO trouble with it, and seemed perfectly content swimming around in it.

I'll maybe give him another one tonight while I change his water and leave it at that. He's a hungry boy, but will be fed tonight after 2 days of fasting. (Garlic soaked worms as a treat!)

 

[Tigerfishy]

Here's an update, hence the back to back posts, in case anyone is following his story... I gave him another epsom bath last night while I cleaned his tank and I followed this with his special worms. He has had 2 half hourbaths, and I don't want to do another one, as they are not helping and the stress it must be causing is not good. He really does not mind the baths, even though I think the dosage again was too high (it's hard to judge in a half gallon tub.)

He does look like he is bigger underneath, and now I do know what the next stage is. It does not look like I have caught this in time and if I hadn't spent so long messing about fasting him and giving him peas and waiting a week and a half to start medicating, then maybe this would be different.

His scales are flat for now, but every time he turns, they look like they're going to pop up any minute. He is in his tank, it had a 90% water change to get rid of most of the meds, he has Stress Coat and Vita Chem (his fins are starting to go raggedy as I have seen before in these cases). He had such lovely fins before, it's a shame they are getting this way and slowly losing their colour at the ends where he had grown them.

He is still very active, dancing, being cheeky, but he broke my heart last night. He usually ignores me/swims away when I have fingers near him, but when he was in his bath, I could see him watching me, so I moved my finger around the surface and he just followed it. He has never done this before, I did not have food. Maybe he knows something is wrong and is trying to let me know he's OK for now, or I'll be OK or something, I just don't know :'( :'( :'(

 

[Aquarist]

Keeping my fingers crossed TigerFishy!

I know you're a good fish Mom and doing all that you can.

Ken

 

[aquariumgirl lauren]

Awww I'm sorry Mars isn't doing well I hope he gets better

 

[Tigerlily]

Fins and fingers crossed and abundant healing wishes to Mars.

 

[Tigerfishy]

Well, probably one of the last updates here...

He is still big, not getting any smaller, but you would not know anything is werong with him except the swelling! He is still very active, and even blew a bubble nest on Friday and has een adding to it all weekend, its the biggest one he's ever made...

He's being very strong, but I dread the next couple of weeks to be honest with you guys... The salt baths did nothing for his swelling. I just caught it too late, and it's a shame this wonderful little happy boy that has already been through so much has to go through this as well. I feel so bad, I could have done something sooner if I knew... :'(

 

[Charlemagne]

Awwwww, I'm so sorry Tigerfishy!

 

[ayelie]

I so sorry to hear things aren't any better for Mars. I'll keep you both in my thoughts.

 

[Tigerfishy]

So... Mars is still fine. Well, apart from the obvious of course...

He has not got any bigger, and his scales are still perfectly flat. I am stumped. It is not internal parasites as he poops normally, it is brown. As he was still OK, I gave him another epsom salt bath last night, slightly upped the concentration, and added another dose of aquarium salt to his tank (will be there until water change tomorrow) to see if we can get this swelling down.
It seemed to perk him up last night. He was hiding away behind his rock which is where he goes to sleep if the TV is still on so it is dark, and when I got up about11.30 to come home, he went crazy, dancing like a maniac at the top of his tank thinking I had got up to feed him!! He never does this at bedtime!

This fish is crazy, I hope we can get the belly down, it's been 3 weeks now

 

[Tigerlily]

Amazing little creatures, these Bettas. Sending more well wishes for Mars!

 

[bettaloulou]

I'm sorry Mars isn't doing well. I hope he pulls through . Ill be praying for you both