My betta jumped out of her tank...still alive :(

I have some sad news to share. I went to my LFS about 2 months ago looking for something to restock my 5 gal shallow with. I had no intention of getting another betta because in recent years I've had nothing but health issues with them no matter where I source them. However they had bought a local bred batch of pearlescent female dumbos that were super stunning and had quite impressive finnage for girls. So I picked up a really nice looking one. She was a tiny juvinelle but has been doing very very well in my setup even after I rescaped it and converted it to high tech.

Parameters are as clean as can be given I am using RO water and getting the tank ready for caridina parameters so there's not a good reason as to why she decided to jump out. It is partially my fault because I have high surface agitation and it's a rimless tank filled to the brim. She must have rode the wave and jumped out. I really was doubting this would happen because of her dumbo fins, but alas it did.

I really don't know how long she was on the floor for. I was in bed about to go to sleep when I realized I left my phone charger out in the living room (thank god) so I went out and like I always do, I peeked in the tank and couldn't find her. I just so happened to look on the floor next to the tank and there she was. Pretty much completely dry with cat hair stuck to her. I picked her up thinking she was dead but saw her body twitch! I quickly scooped up a small cup of tank water and put her in. I used tweezers to pull some fur off her and then transferred her into another cup with tank water to finish 'rinsing' her off. Within a minute her fins softened up and became unstuck from her body. She was moving around but breathing very heavily. I grabbed a fish shipping bag and floated her in her tank for about an hour, then released her back into the tank. Her eyes seem okay and her fins are still kind of clamped in, but I'm really surprised she was still alive. I checked on her a few times during the night and this morning before I went to work. She's sitting in the plants at the bottom of the tank still breathing heavily and it looks like she's shedding off her dried up slime coat.

Keep her in your thoughts guys... I really am fond of her and am quite upset because she was the healthiest and prettiest betta I've had in awhile, and my first female at that. Her water is warm and as clean as can be and tested throughout the week. I really don't want a lid on this tank for aesthetic reasons and also to keep the levels of oxygen saturation high but a glass lid is on the way regardless.

 

If she survived however long on the floor and overnight in the tank, chances are she'll pull through. You did everything perfectly, and it's good timing and sheer luck that you found her when you did. I have had a couple floor-diving fur-covered bettas before, and none of them ever died from it (I will say it always happened during water changes when I was there to pick them right back up, though). They would stress out and sit at the bottom of the tank, breathing heavy with fins clamped for a day or so, and then perk up and be just fine.

Good luck, and please update!

 

If she survived however long on the floor and overnight in the tank, chances are she'll pull through. You did everything perfectly, and it's good timing and sheer luck that you found her when you did. I have had a couple floor-diving fur-covered bettas before, and none of them ever died from it (I will say it always happened during water changes when I was there to pick them right back up, though). They would stress out and sit at the bottom of the tank, breathing heavy with fins clamped for a day or so, and then perk up and be just fine.

Good luck, and please update!

Thanks I will! I was surprised she started swimming around as soon as she did considering how dry she was.

 

Sending good thoughts your way!!!

 

Thanks guys just got home from work and she's very perky!! Pretty much swimming around like normal. She doesn't seem to have any problems swimming around and her breathing is almost normal. She came to greet me at the front and everything. Her beautiful dumbo ears are unharmed, however her dorsal fin is clamped and her anal and tail fin are pretty torn up. Otherwise she seems healthy and happy. I'll post another update in a few days to let you guys know if I notice her fins regrowing!

I think it's safe to say she will survive, but I'll be cautiously optimistic.

 

So glad!!! Keep her water pristine, and hopefully she will bounce back in no time!!

She's a very pretty little betta!!

 

So glad!!! Keep her water pristine, and hopefully she will bounce back in no time!!

She's a very pretty little betta!!

I will for sure! The lid will hopefully be here this week or next. Fingers crossed she behaves herself until then! She was very happy to eat yesterday and seems as chipper as ever. I'll update her condition in a few days in the meantime, I never got around to naming her? Suggestions are welcome! I considered opal or pearl but to me it sounds like an old lady name hahaha

Edit: just for fun another picture...look at the coloration on this gal, so interesting! Shes definitely like a little opal in the right lighting..peep the yellow in her

 

So gorgeous! Just a stunning little girl!!!

Have you lowered the water level a little? (until you get the aquarium top in)

As for a name, how about Glimmer? Gem? Jewel? Treasure? Glory? Sparkles?

(I know, some of them are lame!!! LOL)

 

So gorgeous! Just a stunning little girl!!!

Have you lowered the water level a little? (until you get the aquarium top in)

As for a name, how about Glimmer? Gem? Jewel? Treasure? Glory? Sparkles?

(I know, some of them are lame!!! LOL)

I have to top the tank off daily due to evaporation and unfortunately I have to keep the water level at a certain height in order for my surface skimmer to work properly but im keeping it at the minimum level, probably managed to lower it by half an inch. Her fins have rounded off and don't look as tattered as yesterday hopefully a good sign. She's still happy and active!

 

Great! Their tails/fins do mend quickly once the healing process starts.

 

Great! Their tails/fins do mend quickly once the healing process starts.

Yeah the poor gal lost a good bit of her tail fin. Her tail is the worst of it though. I think it's safe to say she will survive this incident!

 

An update:
She's so very energetic that it's hard to get a good picture if her fins because she won't stay still lol! Her dorsal fin has fully fanned back out and her damaged fins seem to be growing quite fast. They have that rounded off "melted plastic" look to them that is typical with fin rot but in her case I think it's the fin webbing reconnecting which is a good thing. They no longer look tattered or shredded.

Btw I finally settled on a name...
Luna! What do you think? She sort of reminds me of the moon...

 

I love the name Luna!

She looks absolutely wonderful!!!!

I am so glad that she's fine! And those fins heal so quickly, too.

 

I love the name Luna!

She looks absolutely wonderful!!!!

I am so glad that she's fine! And those fins heal so quickly, too.

Yes definitely! Unfortunately my new lid clips aren't working the way I had hoped so I am going to try a different set on Amazon, but the glass lid did come today. I just need her to behave stay put for a few more days!

 

Just another update about 2-3 weeks later. Luna is still happy and healthy and her fins have grown back slightly. Unfortunately for some reason her color is still much duller than before and her fins aren't nearly as long, but it hasn't been that long since the incident so hopefully a few more weeks and she will look as beautiful as ever! Thanks to the RO water and weekly water changes she hasn't had any secondary issues from the ordeal *fingers crossed* it stays that way.

 

Yay Luna! Really happy she made a good recovery. As for the slow grow back of fins, have you used any kind of antibiotics? Only reason I ask is because my betta jumped out a few weeks ago too and with a little stress guard and a daily 50% changes his fins grew back pretty rapidly.

 

Yay Luna! Really happy she made a good recovery. As for the slow grow back of fins, have you used any kind of antibiotics? Only reason I ask is because my betta jumped out a few weeks ago too and with a little stress guard and a daily 50% changes his fins grew back pretty rapidly.

No I didn't I stay away from antibiotics unless it's a dire situation. I would have added a slime coat guard but I didn't have any at my house. Her fins have definitely grown a lot since but she like half of her tail from it. It say her fins are about 3/4 of the way back.