PLEASE HELP!!! Is my betta fish egg bound / dropsy / swim float ???

Hi everyone!! I am not a fish expert and have no idea what could be wrong with our sweet Dorothy girl. Can anyone tell me what they think?? She hasn’t eaten in 2 days now and doesn’t seem well. She seems to be hanging out at the top and getting a lot of air. Please help!!!! Thank you so much for your time. ❤️

 

For starters, does that tiny bowl have a filter and heater? Did you cycle the bowl before adding him? Bettas need alot of swimming room and the minimum for bettas is 5gal. That tiny bowl is most likely causing stress which is why he is fin nipping as well

What are your recent water parameters? Including ammonia/nitrite/nitrates/ph . He look bloated to me. How much are you feeding him at once? Does he have a good variety diet besides just pellets? Are you presoaking his food? You need to be pre soaking all his food or they swell up inside the stomach causing constipation

 

We were told that was the right bowl, but I’m learning a lot now that indicates otherwise. We just have a fish bowl, but she’s been happy in there since December. Definitely looking into something else. I’m worry she’s been overfed. Never heard about pre-soaking food. She pretty much eats pellets and bloodworms. She was pooping a lot, but now she just won’t eat anything. Tried to give her a pea. Any recommendations other than the bowl? Should I do epsom salt or use any medications? I ordered maracyn 2.

 

We were told that was the right bowl, but I’m learning a lot now that indicates otherwise. We just have a fish bowl, but she’s been happy in there since December. Definitely looking into something else. I’m worry she’s been overfed. Never heard about pre-soaking food. She pretty much eats pellets and bloodworms. She was pooping a lot, but now she just won’t eat anything. Tried to give her a pea. Any recommendations other than the bowl? Should I do epsom salt or use any medications? I ordered maracyn 2.

Fast her for the next 3 days, then feed live Daphinia, not peas! Bettas cant digest peas as well like other fish so you need to use the natural bug laxative. You need to start pre soaking her food. Only feed frozen/freezedried only as treats, they are high in fat and will cause constipation.

You need to go out and get a filter instanly. All fishtanks need an filter, its what holds the beneficial bacteria needed to eat the toxic waste your fish/plants produce. You need to learn about the Nitrogen Cycle.

You will also need the API Freshwater testkit and Seachem Prime Water conditioner.

Are you doing daily water changes considering he is in a bowl with no filter?.. you need to start now to prevent Ammonia/nitrite/nitrates from building up and poisoning him since you did not cycle his tank.

I would go out now and get him at least a 5gal tank. 5gal is the best minimum but for now at least get him out of that bowl into something bigger than a 3gal. Then pick up the API Freshwater Testkit and Prime. You will need to do a fish in cycle at this point by doing daily water changes, testing the water parameters daily and dosing Prime to help neutralize the high toxic levels. You need to start now or he will not survive much longer

Also, do not add any medication. He does not need any medication. Just a clean, heated, filter , big tank will help with all his issues. Do not add any salt to his tank either. Salt does not evaporate and you will overdose and burn him.

 

For starters, does that tiny bowl have a filter and heater? Did you cycle the bowl before adding him? Bettas need alot of swimming room and the minimum for bettas is 5gal. That tiny bowl is most likely causing stress which is why he is fin nipping as well

What are your recent water parameters? Including ammonia/nitrite/nitrates/ph . He look bloated to me. How much are you feeding him at once? Does he have a good variety diet besides just pellets? Are you presoaking his food? You need to be pre soaking all his food or they swell up inside the stomach causing constipation

Ever try to respond to someone without the condescending tone?

 

Ever try to respond to someone without the condescending tone?

What tone? all i did was tell them what they needed to do to help their fish...

 

What tone? all i did was tell them what they needed to do to help their fish...

Re-read many of your posts, including the one I asked about.

 

Re-read many of your posts, including the one I asked about.

Settle down. I don't think they meant to be condescending. The problem with posting on a forum such as this is you can't read their body language or hear the tone of their voice. Things can easily get misinterpreted. This is a peaceful forum and I don't think arguing in public is a good image. Thanks.

 

I totally didn’t take it the wrong way, and I really appreciate the advice. That’s why I asked ☺️☺️ I just feel so bad having learned so much today. The fish was a gift, and I would’ve never bought one because I realize I know nothing about fish. Our housekeeper got it for our kids for Christmas, and she promised to take care of it. Now, my little Dorothy has really grown on me, and I feel really bad I didn’t learn more and just take care of her myself. Hopefully it won’t be too late, and I can give her a better life!!! She’s such a friendly, sweet little fish. I lost my 14 year old dog last year, so she’s kind of become my new “dog” because it was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. We have lots of conversations, but, unfortunately, she’s not much of a complainer ☺️ Thank you again!! Getting new tank and a filter and heater ASAP!!

 

I totally didn’t take it the wrong way, and I really appreciate the advice. That’s why I asked ☺️☺️ I just feel so bad having learned so much today. The fish was a gift, and I would’ve never bought one because I realize I know nothing about fish. Our housekeeper got it for our kids for Christmas, and she promised to take care of it. Now, my little Dorothy has really grown on me, and I feel really bad I didn’t learn more and just take care of her myself. Hopefully it won’t be too late, and I can give her a better life!!! She’s such a friendly, sweet little fish. I lost my 14 year old dog last year, so she’s kind of become my new “dog” because it was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. We have lots of conversations, but, unfortunately, she’s not much of a complainer ☺️ Thank you again!! Getting new tank and a filter and heater ASAP!!

Sounds like your doing the best you can! It always makes me happy to see people realize they have been given less then good care advice and want to fix it, it’s really shows that people aren’t always doing things wrong because they don’t care, it’s far more likely they just didn’t have access to a good source of information!

I would be happy to suggest some cheap tanks and products I like for keeping betta if that would help, sometimes there’s a lot out there and it can be overwhelming. My main tip is to look for used tanks (just do some googling and know what the item is worth before buying) on places like Craigslist or offerup. You can find some great deals or sometimes free tanks that way. Petco is also doing their dollar per gallon sale right now, it’s $10 for a 10 gal, just call in advance and make sure your location is participating. It’s a really good way to start out, and a 10 gal would be an easy tank to start with since you have some extra volume to deal with any cycling issues. There are also some great 5-10 gallon kits that come with a filter and a light which can be very convenient and if you find them on sale, a great deal. hope this helps!

 

Walmart sells 5 and 10 gallon kits with lights and filter for right around $30. As was mentioned, check Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. You can often score deals at thrift stores as well. Around a 50w heater should do you if going for a 5-10 gallon. If you need substrate, pool filter sand and black diamond blasting media are insanely cheap and come in bags with more than you'd need. Just make sure to rinse all substrate first by putting it in a bucket and run a steady stream of water over it. Swish it around occasionally and when it runs clear, you're all set.

For a faster cycling of your tank, ask your LFS (Local fish store) or a friend for some dirty filter media, since most of your beneficial bacteria lives in your filter.

 

Well, I went to Petsmart to buy a new tank, and I got talked out of it. I am clearly in over my head and realized I know nothing about fish or tanks or anything else to start a new home! She said it would take 3 days before I could put Dorothy in, and I’m just worried she’s going downhill quickly. Tonight, she looked even worse before I went and seemed to be getting white stuff around her. I opted to get Tetra Lifeguard All in One (since I don’t know what is wrong) and a small heater, and I’m going to try to find a fish doctor tomorrow. She actually seemed a little more peppy after adding both of those tonight, so I’m hoping maybe not feeding her and a little medicine and heat therapy helped.

She has a small white spot in the front very bottom part of her belly. Not sure if anyone noticed it or knows what it is. I’ll try to post another pic that shows it more clearly. I first saw it about a month ago, but couldn’t find anything that looked like it, so I assumed it had just always been there, and I hadn’t noticed. Not sure if that had anything to do with the bloating or not, but maybe the medicine is helping that.

 

Well, I went to Petsmart to buy a new tank, and I got talked out of it. I am clearly in over my head and realized I know nothing about fish or tanks or anything else to start a new home! She said it would take 3 days before I could put Dorothy in, and I’m just worried she’s going downhill quickly. Tonight, she looked even worse before I went and seemed to be getting white stuff around her. I opted to get Tetra Lifeguard All in One (since I don’t know what is wrong) and a small heater, and I’m going to try to find a fish doctor tomorrow. She actually seemed a little more peppy after adding both of those tonight, so I’m hoping maybe not feeding her and a little medicine and heat therapy helped.

She has a small white spot in the front very bottom part of her belly. Not sure if anyone noticed it or knows what it is. I’ll try to post another pic that shows it more clearly. I first saw it about a month ago, but couldn’t find anything that looked like it, so I assumed it had just always been there, and I hadn’t noticed. Not sure if that had anything to do with the bloating or not, but maybe the medicine is helping that.

Fishkeeping is very expensive and time consuming but it is very important you house fish properly. Did you get her a filter? or the API tetskit at least? She needs a filter more than a heater. You can't begin your cycle without a filter. Thats the most crucial part right now is to establish the beneficial bacteria to help eat away the waste she produce, if not shes just sitting in her own pee and poop.
I dont want to be rude but a doctor will most likely tell you the same thing. She is bloated with fin rot. Bloating requires no medication, just fasting, extra WCs and some Daphinia. Adding medication when she does not require it will add more stress and effect the water chemistry even more. Please get her a filter and an actual tank, that is all she needs to be stress free to recover herself. Also , the white spot under her belly is called the "egg spot" , only females have one. Nothing to worry about but her bloating, fin rot, and being in an uncycled/unfilter tank is very concerning

Here are some very important information about the Nitrogen Cyle and about how to properly house bettas as well

Nitrogen Cycle

Betta Care Guide

Betta Tank Setup

 

She is not egg bound or have Dropsy. As mentioned , several times, she is just bloated and has fin rot from being in a bowl with no filtration. You'll be wasting your money at the vet for a fish that can recover herself if in the right conditions...

 

Well, last night before I went to bed, she was in her cave, and when I checked on her this morning at 6am she was still there and had died. Not sure I could have done anything or if I just killed my poor Dorothy, but I agree that I will never listen to anyone at Petsmart again. They act very knowledgeable, and I’m sure some of them may be, but I wouldn’t take any chances with their advice again. She gave me this whole spiel about them living in mud puddles or something, and I read that’s a common myth. Definitely going through the stages of grief, and I’m really angry right now at everyone including myself. Wish I had gotten on this site earlier, and I really appreciate everyone’s advice. It’s just hard sometimes when you have some people telling you she’s egg bound, others saying the stress moving into a new tank might kill her, and the people at Petsmart saying their fish always live for years in a small bowl and she’s just bloated and needs a pea. The only experience I’ve had is my sister who had one in a small bowl in college and it lived past 3. In looking back, I think we cleaned the bowl too much, and didn’t keep enough of the water in. We started washing the rocks and plants too, so I see now that what we started doing probably was getting rid of any good bacteria.

I just wanted you all to know that the advice wasn’t a complete waste of time. If we ever get a fish again, I’ll definitely take the time to learn more and get a proper tank, and now I can also advise others to get on this site and find out more info early on before something goes wrong and not to keep a filter-less bowl or listen to people at Petsmart. My 3 year old cried for a while, so it’s been a tough day. I just hope she didn’t suffer too much. Thank you again, and sorry I failed so miserably at this.

 

So sorry about your fish. You did the very best you could with the information given to you. Don't beat yourself up. It just really sucks for your fish that it was bad information from the pet store. Now you know where to come when you want to get another fish. You now have ideas of what equipment you will need and about cycling the water first before getting it. I really hope you try it again because you really loved and enjoyed your Dorothy.