I Don’t Know What Is Wrong With My Betta!!

Hey everyone,

So I’ve had my betta for about three months now and I noticed he got a bigger belly, so with some googling I figured I should cut back my feeding as it appears I’m over feeding my betta. However, I think something else is happening to him right now(perhaps as a result of overfeeding). Does anyone know what’s going on with him and how I could possibly treat it? It looks like something is wrong with his gills.

Thank you in advance, any help would be appreciated!!

He’s in a 60L/15G, 50% water change every week, and as previously mentioned, I’ve cut down his feedings as I think I might have overfed him.

 

Could you help fill this out to give us more information to diagnose him: Fish Emergency Template
Can we also get more pictures of him from different angles?

 

Could you help fill this out to give us more information to diagnose him: Fish Emergency Template
Can we also get more pictures of him from different angles?

Oh I’m sorry!! I didn’t know this existed!

Tank
How many gallons is your tank?
15G 60L
Does it have a filter?
Yes
Does it have a heater?
Yes
What is the water temperature?
It was 26C when he was getting sick, it’s 24C now as I’ve read a slightly cooler temp could help?

Maintenance
How often do you change the water?
Once a week
How much of the water do you change?
40-50%
What do you use to treat your water?
Easy Life Filter Medium ( a dechlorinator)
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water?
Both

Parameters
What do you use to test the water?
I have not tested my water. Though I do a lot of water changed and I have plants in my aquarium I assumed my water is fine.
What are your parameters? We need the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.

Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish?
Twice a day
How much do you feed your fish?
A small bit
What brand of food do you feed your fish?
Either HikarI Betta Bio Gold or some frozen daphnia
Do you feed frozen or freeze dried foods?
Frozen and some pellets. I make sure I vary.
Symptoms
When did you first notice these symptoms?
About 1,5 week ago
Have you started any treatment for the illness?
Yes I got some Esha 2000 which says helps with gill diseases.
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase?
No
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all?
His fins started tearing and the ends of his fins appear red too. I also see only one swollen gill, which seems to be very swollen. He is also breathing pretty heavily and is staying at the same spot the whole day. He seems to have trouble to get form the bottom of the tank to the top, but seems to like the place at the top best so that is where he says.

 

I see a slight bit of pineconing

 

Oh I’m sorry!! I didn’t know this existed!

Tank
How many gallons is your tank?
15G 60L
Does it have a filter?
Yes
Does it have a heater?
Yes
What is the water temperature?
It was 26C when he was getting sick, it’s 24C now as I’ve read a slightly cooler temp could help?

Maintenance
How often do you change the water?
Once a week
How much of the water do you change?
40-50%
What do you use to treat your water?
Easy Life Filter Medium ( a dechlorinator)
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water?
Both

Parameters
What do you use to test the water?
I have not tested my water. Though I do a lot of water changed and I have plants in my aquarium I assumed my water is fine.
What are your parameters? We need the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.

Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish?
Twice a day
How much do you feed your fish?
A small bit
What brand of food do you feed your fish?
Either HikarI Betta Bio Gold or some frozen daphnia
Do you feed frozen or freeze dried foods?
Frozen and some pellets. I make sure I vary.
Symptoms
When did you first notice these symptoms?
About 1,5 week ago
Have you started any treatment for the illness?
Yes I got some Esha 2000 which says helps with gill diseases.
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase?
No
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all?
His fins started tearing and the ends of his fins appear red too. I also see only one swollen gill, which seems to be very swollen. He is also breathing pretty heavily and is staying at the same spot the whole day. He seems to have trouble to get form the bottom of the tank to the top, but seems to like the place at the top best so that is where he says.
View attachment 502063 View attachment 502064 View attachment 502063

I also meant to upload this

 

I do also see some slightly raised scales which seems like the very early stages of dropsy. The symptoms also seem to match up with dropsy. I don't know what's up with the gill though. Can you get Kanaplex and start treating it? I also wouldn't feed him during this time because he's very bloated and you don't want to be adding anymore to that bloat.

 

I do also see some slightly raised scales which seems like the very early stages of dropsy. The symptoms also seem to match up with dropsy. I don't know what's up with the gill though. Can you get Kanaplex and start treating it? I also wouldn't feed him during this time because he's very bloated and you don't want to be adding anymore to that bloat.

Thank you for your response!! I have tried looking up Kanaplex but I seem to be unable to get it in my country (the Netherlands). Do you perhaps know an alternative by chance? Any help would be appreciated. For how many days should I fast my betta? He didn’t get any food for 3 days now, should I try giving him some frozen daphnia or a pea? What is the best thing I can do until I can get some treatment (which will, if I find any, will be on Tuesday which is the soonest I can get any)? I am using Esha 2000 right now which according to the description can be used for a lot of diseases including gill issues
https://www.eshalabs.eu/europe/products/esha-2000supregsup.html
Would this medicine help, in your opinion?

 

Thank you for your response!! I have tried looking up Kanaplex but I seem to be unable to get it in my country (the Netherlands). Do you perhaps know an alternative by chance? Any help would be appreciated. For how many days should I fast my betta? He didn’t get any food for 3 days now, should I try giving him some frozen daphnia or a pea? What is the best thing I can do until I can get some treatment (which will, if I find any, will be on Tuesday which is the soonest I can get any)? I am using Esha 2000 right now which according to the description can be used for a lot of diseases including gill issues
https://www.eshalabs.eu/europe/products/esha-2000supregsup.html
Would this medicine help, in your opinion?

Kanaplex is the most effective medication for dropsy and the only other alternative I know of is Maracyn 2. If he was already fasted for 3 days, try giving him a pea. The only thing I can say is to do daily 25% water changes and if his scales get any more raised, epsom salt baths will help relieve fluid build up. Without antibiotics I don't think he can make it unfortunately. I've heard of Esha 2000 from previous encounters with people in the same situation, I don't think the stuff would help imo because it doesn't list any ingredients. I don't think there's much you can do without antibiotics and if he suffers more, you should euthanize him with clove oil.