I’m praying it’s not dropsy

Tank

What is the water volume of the tank? 2.5 gallons
How long has the tank been running? About 4 years
Does it have a filter? Yes
Does it have a heater? Yes
What is the water temperature? 77 degrees
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.) one male betta

Maintenance
How often do you change the water? Once a week
How much of the water do you change? 25%
What do you use to treat your water? Prime
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water? Not often but sometimes I vacuum gravel

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish? No, but it’s been 4 years
What do you use to test the water? API test kit
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10-20
pH: 7.2

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish? Normally twice a day, but I’ve been fasting him
How much do you feed your fish? 2 pellets in the morning and 3-4 pellets at night
What brand of food do you feed your fish? Hikari pellets, omega one bloodworms, bug bites, omega one pellets
Do you feed frozen or freeze-dried foods? Freeze dried

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish? 4 years
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms? I noticed the bloat many weeks ago but pineconing showed up yesterday
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms? Huge stomach, pineconing (I think)
Have you started any treatment for the illness? I have done one epsom salt bath
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase? Just the typical Petsmart betta
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? His behavior is the same. He’s very bloated

Explain your emergency situation in detail. (Please give a clear explanation of what is going on, include details from the beginning of the illness leading up to now) Lucky has been bloated on and off for a while now. I haven’t been to concerned about it except for when I thought I saw pineconing. He’s still acting the same. He’s always begging for food lol. I’ve been fasting him and giving him peas recently. I do have Kanaplex on hand, but I’m not sure if I should use it or wait. Please help anyone! I don’t want to lose Lucky!! Thanks!

 

If anyone needs better pictures, please let me know.

 

Looks like pinconing to me . I would do a three day fast and then feed him some daphnia. Peas don't really work.
I would also increase the water changes to 25% every other day.
I'm praying for him. Hope he gets better.

 

Looks like pinconing to me . I would do a three day fast and then feed him some daphnia. Peas don't really work.
I would also increase the water changes to 25% every other day.
I'm praying for him. Hope he gets better.

Ok, Thanks for the advice. Should I do epsom salt baths every other day as well? Would you suggest I start kanaplex treatment?

 

Ok, Thanks for the advice. Should I do epsom salt baths every other day as well? Would you suggest I start kanaplex treatment?

I would do the baths every day for 10-15 minutes. You could start the Kanaplex too. I might throw in a couple Indian almond leaves as well, if you have them on hand.

 

I would do the baths every day for 10-15 minutes. You could start the Kanaplex too. I might throw in a couple Indian almond leaves as well, if you have them on hand.

Ok do you think daily baths would stress him? I’ve also heard that medicine can weaken him? Is that true? Thanks!

 

Ok do you think daily baths would stress him? I’ve also heard that medicine can weaken him? Is that true? Thanks!

Lots of people do daily baths when their fish has this problem and they are generally fine stress-wise.
It's true. Some meds do weaken a fish's immune system. Not all, but some.

 

Lots of people do daily baths when their fish has this problem and they are generally fine stress-wise.
It's true. Some meds do weaken a fish's immune system. Not all, but some.

Do you know if Kanaplex would?

 

Also, it says on the instructions to dose every two days for up to 3 doses. When do I do water changes? After the two days are up and then start again after a water change? After all three doses? Sorry I’ve never used Kanaplex.

 

If you do a salt bath don't feed him in 3 days. So his body can focus in recovery.

 

If you do a salt bath don't feed him in 3 days. So his body can focus in recovery.

He should be able to eat a day (or maybe even a few hours) after the salt bath.

 

*snipOh no!! I’ve been feeding him food after a salt bath!! Will he be ok??? Also, can anyone help me make a treatment plan? Thanks everyone!

 

Oh no!! I’ve been feeding him food after a salt bath!! Will he be ok??? Also, can anyone help me make a treatment plan? Thanks everyone!

He’ll be fine! I think that you can feed him right after and he’ll be fine. I think you should do the baths daily for 10 minutes each time. Like I said in my post above, even a few hours after will be fine and I do think you can feed him right after. He actually will benefit from the food. It’s not going to hurt him.

 

He’ll be fine! I think that you can feed him right after and he’ll be fine. I think you should do the baths daily for 10 minutes each time. Like I said in my post above, even a few hours after will be fine and I do think you can feed him right after. He actually will benefit from the food. It’s not going to hurt him.

That’s a relief! Yesterday, I did a half dose of Kanaplex. I just thought of something. When I do my epsom salt baths, it takes about 25% of the water out. Is this taking out the Kanaplex? Should I add more Kanaplex in after each bath? How much? It’s a 2.5 gallon tank. I don’t want to overdose. I’ve heard methylene blue is helpful. Should I get that? How would I use it? Should I add any epsom salt to the tank itself? What about aquarium salt? I’m sorry about all the questions. Lol. thanks!

 

That’s a relief! Yesterday, I did a half dose of Kanaplex. I just thought of something. When I do my epsom salt baths, it takes about 25% of the water out. Is this taking out the Kanaplex? Should I add more Kanaplex in after each bath? How much? It’s a 2.5 gallon tank. I don’t want to overdose. I’ve heard methylene blue is helpful. Should I get that? How would I use it? Should I add any epsom salt to the tank itself? What about aquarium salt? I’m sorry about all the questions. Lol. thanks!

I can’t answer them all but I don’t think you should redoes the kanaplex if the instructions don’t call for another dose, overdosing can be much worse than under dosing. No epsom salt in the tank. Aquarium salt is optional but it could help if you add it to the tank. Salt baths, kanaplex, and possibly aquarium salt would be what I would use.

 

I can’t answer them all but I don’t think you should redoes the kanaplex if the instructions don’t call for another dose, overdosing can be much worse than under dosing. No epsom salt in the tank. Aquarium salt is optional but it could help if you add it to the tank. Salt baths, kanaplex, and possibly aquarium salt would be what I would use.

Thank you!

 

Everything said above is really good advice. I just wanted to chip in and say that if he is still interested in eating and acting pretty normal, there is still hope for him.

 

Everything said above is really good advice. I just wanted to chip in and say that if he is still interested in eating and acting pretty normal, there is still hope for him.

Thanks for the support! He’s still totally a pig. When I come over to his tank, he still swims up and won’t leave until he’s eaten lol

 

He should be able to eat a day (or maybe even a few hours) after the salt bath.

Yes you can but I personally don't feed them in 3 days. But I make sure I give him vitamins and put IAL. Because in his case the stomach of the betta is too big and giving food especially you are giving pellets and not live foods will make the situation worst.

 

Yes you can but I personally don't feed them in 3 days. But I make sure I give him vitamins and put IAL. Because in his case the stomach of the betta is too big and giving food especially you are giving pellets and not live foods will make the situation worst.

Well that would make the situation impossible because the OP is doing daily salt baths. The betta would starve to death or get an unhealthy amount of food.

 

I have bad news today when I went to get him for his epsom salt bath, the pineconing was worse then ever and I could barely catch him. I think it was very stressful. Then later when I went to feed him, he wouldn’t eat. What can I do to help?

 

Just yesterday, he was begging for more food. I don’t know what happened in a day

 

He is suffering right now. If it gets any worse, I would probably consider euthanizing. Very sorry .

 

Here are some pics from today’s salt bath

 

Here are some pics from today’s salt bath

I'm very sorry, but euthanizing would probably be best. At this stage of dropsy, the fish really can't be helped. Very, very sorry .