Mr. Bubbles Bloat seems to be resolving! YAY!

Mr. Bubbles Bloat seems to be resolving. WHAT NOW?

So the question is, WHAT NOW?



I'm now 99% sure he was constipated. I fasted him for 3 days, and then finally got him to eat some pea. The white stringy poop is now normal-looking. The bloat is nearly gone. The pineconing on his belly is completely gone. He swimming all over the tank, top and bottom. No more floating on his side or twitching. He is still a little slow to move, but I think he's still a little bit constipated.

So what is the recovery schedule? What do I feed him now? When should I start feeding him again? How much?

I have the following foods on hand:

• HikarI BioGold for Betta pellets
• Aqueon Betta Food pellets (this is what he ate for over a year, and was fine -- I know it isn't the highest quality food you can buy, but he thrived on it)
• Freeze-dried blood worms.

 

First of all, Congratulations on your fish's recovery! That's terrific.

Second of all pick up your bottle of dried bloodworms and run, don't walk to the trash bin and throw them out. Dried bloodworms if they are not rehydrated completely are responsible for digestive distress in bettas and other fish. Buy frozen or even the sterilpak in gel ones if you have to and feed those instead. Your fish will thank you.

As far as general feeding goes, you should continue to feed lightly, and keep up the shelled peas as a once a week habit. Fast the next day. Alternate frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp with pellets on the other feeding days.

 

Thank you so much for the specifics! Yes, I soak the bloodworms. I don't know HOW a betta could actually eat one of those things "raw". First of all, they are HUGE, and second, just so chewy! LOL.

 

Thank you so much for the specifics! Yes, I soak the bloodworms. I don't know HOW a betta could actually eat one of those things "raw". First of all, they are HUGE, and second, just so chewy! LOL.

Oh trust me, they manage.

 

HELP HELP HEEEEELP!!

I checked on him this morning, and his belly is bloated again! Minor pineconing. Fed him one BioGold pellet yesterday when his bloat was gone. Did a 30% water change. The mossy smell from last week is almost gone. Barely detectable.

BUT, for the first time ever, I recorded a pH change. Our pH has always been high - 8.20. But yesterday, the API chemical test recorded 8.40. I know not to buy a pH balancer. Lots of things could cause that.

The nitrITE has never been about 0. I have used Prime since I set up his Fluval. Is it possible it never went through a cycle? Could this be harming him? Or does Prime establish that cycle? What about Balance? Maybe introduce that? I have some on-hand from establishing Billie's Fluval III.

His red ventral fins have started to fade. The deep maroon shading on his analfin is turning back to blue. His sheen seems to be dullening. Could this be from the fasting? Do those color enhancing foods really work quickly -- and leave their little systems that quickly?

I'm starting to wonder if he isn't just dying of old age or has dropsy. When I bought him from PetSmart in August of 2015, he was quite large -- I think he grew about 10% at the most after I brought him home. Maybe he is about 2 years old? Hard to know.

Not sure what to do.

 

Deep breath.

Water change.

Epsom salt bath.

Fast.

Pea.

Try again in a three days with a thawed, frozen food.

Some fish once they bloat keep bloating. It's frustrating, but it happens.

Even if he is two, there should be nearly another year left in him.

Keep trying!

 

Deep breath.

Water change.

Epsom salt bath.

Fast.

Pea.

Try again in a three days with a thawed, frozen food.

Some fish once they bloat keep bloating. It's frustrating, but it happens.

Even if he is two, there should be nearly another year left in him.

Keep trying!

Did 30% water change right after you posted on Tuesday.

Checked water parameters - 0, 0, 0, 8.2 pH (which is normal and consistent)

Couldn't do epsom salt bath until yesterday as I didn't have epsom salts in the house (except for lavender oil infused).

He's on second day of fast.

Local fish store recommended increasing the filter strength to get more oxygen in the water, but I haven't done that yet, as I've not seen anyone on this forum recommend that. INPUT???

He is still very lethargic and bloated, with pineconing on belly only. Still floating on his side.

Spends about 90% of time hanging out out by filter intake, although right now he is down on the bottom of the tank hiding under a leaf. (First time I have seen him below the waterline in 3 days.)

Doesn't respond to lid opening.

Responds to a bit of water disturbance.

He did poop this morning, and I rushed to get a picture, but it sank onto black gravel. Rats. 1/3-ish inch long , white, stringy, about with 3 brown bulges about the size of his eye, each about the size of a pin head.

 

I always add aeration when treating fish. I use an airstone that can be pitched if I don't know what the issue is.

That he is excreting is good. White and stringy is often an indicator of parasites. Perhaps a course of General Cure (wormer) is indicated.

 

I always add aeration when treating fish. I use an airstone that can be pitched if I don't know what the issue is.

That he is excreting is good. White and stringy is often an indicator of parasites. Perhaps a course of General Cure (wormer) is indicated.

I really appreciate all of your help. It's now on my shopping list.