Purchased A Sick Betta

I went against everything I've ever told myself a purchased a sick fish. He was just laying there, I thought he was dead. Definitely not dead, but not in good shape either. Looks like he's got some ammonia burns around his gills, maybe septicemia (he's a cellophane so I can basically see right through him), torn tail and super skinny. Basically, he looks sad. I can't get a picture right now, I'm literally sitting in the Petsmart parking lot.

He's going in a cycled 5.5 gallon, 79F and I picked up some Erythromycin also. I'm unsure about dosage for the Erythromycin, one packet for 10 gallons, how do I divide a packet in half? Here's to hoping the stress of a move won't kill him.

 

It is exactly because of things like that that I now keep water conditioner in my car at all times. I'm guessing you just throw in half the packet and store the rest.

 

I think you should split the packet in half and just hope that the missing .5 treatment won't matter

 

I think you should split the packet in half and just hope that the missing .5 treatment won't matter

Another option would be to split it at just slightly more than half.

 

I take the smallest measuring spoon I have (1/8 tsp) and I measure out the package into a small dosing cup. (My came from cough medicine that was never opened but was past expiration so I kept the cup) My 3.5 actually on holds 3 gallons of water so the math was a little harder. lol

 

Well, I figured it out. The packet is 1/2 teaspoon, so I put in half of that. He did get a little more color but not a lot. He's super weak but did swim around his tank after I acclimated him but the last hour or so he's been laying at the bottom of the tank. The photo is him in his cup, I had him floating in an empty side of my divided 10 gallon while I got his 5 gallon set up. Fingers crossed he'll still be alive in the morning.

 

Poor guy. He looks bad. Hopefully he'll have the strength to pull through this. What kills me is that he was likely a stunning, healthy fish before being brought to the store.

 

Poor guy. He looks bad. Hopefully he'll have the strength to pull through this. What makes me mad is that he was likely a healthy fish before being brought to the store.

He's pretty pitiful. I never buy sick fish. Ever. I hate promoting the sale of sick fish and honestly, I can't stand the heartbreak when they die. I went in for cat toys! Not a fish! He seemed interested in a pellet tonight but he didn't seem to have the strength to chew it. Tomorrow we'll try some frozen bloodworms.

 

Pulling for your little guy.

 

He's pretty pitiful. I never buy sick fish. Ever. I hate promoting the sale of sick fish and honestly, I can't stand the heartbreak when they die. I went in for cat toys! Not a fish! He seemed interested in a pellet tonight but he didn't seem to have the strength to chew it. Tomorrow we'll try some frozen bloodworms.

The most recent betta I got, I went in just to look at their selection of Angelfish and see if they had anything different. I came out with an Koi HMPK female. I happen to be the complete opposite when it comes to sick fish. I tend to find the worst looking fish that everyone tries to tell me won't live long and rehabilitate it. I had a Swordtail that I was told wouldn't survive the drive home that I had for two years. She was killed by Tetrahymena just over a month ago along with the rest of the tank.

 

The most recent betta I got, I went in just to look at their selection of Angelfish and see if they had anything different. I came out with an Koi HMPK female. I happen to be the complete opposite when it comes to sick fish. I tend to find the worst looking fish that everyone tries to tell me won't live long and rehabilitate it. I had a Swordtail that I was told wouldn't survive the drive home that I had for two years. She was killed by Tetrahymena just over a month ago along with the rest of the tank.

Oh, gosh. Sorry to hear about your swordtail. Good for you on your new Koi gal, is she healthy? I was surprised, all the fish looked pretty good today, except him. I thought he was dead.

Just to add, I just checked on him before bed. He's still on the bottom but his breathing looks more regular. Not fast or labored but not slow and dead looking, so that might be a plus?

 

I feel like he'll look really good when he starts to get better and perk up. Good luck!

 

It's definitely a start. My girl happens to be perfectly healthy. I got her for a complete steal, $2.98.

 

I feel like he'll look really good when he starts to get better and perk up. Good luck!

Thanks! That one black scale is really interesting. His tail looks to have some grey/silver with a little bit of a soft rose color. His body is so iridescent it's crazy. I really hope he pulls through so I can see what he looks like!

 

Thanks! That one black scale is really interesting. His tail looks to have some grey/silver with a little bit of a soft rose color. His body is so iridescent it's crazy. I really hope he pulls through so I can see what he looks like!

I saw that black scale right away. I think you got a steal. Some of these bettas that the chains carry now are amazing.

 

I saw that black scale right away. I think you got a steal. Some of these bettas that the chains carry now are amazing.

He reminds me of that kids book "The Rainbow Fish" where he gave everyone a rainbow scale.

You're absolutely right! I have 2 absolutely beautiful and darn near perfect confirmation fish I got from Petco. One is a double tail PK and the other is a HMPK. I'm not looking to breed but if I was, I'd consider these guys.




^ He's marbled considerably more in the last 3 weeks, he's pretty much navy blue on one side, the other side is still pink/blue.

 

I saw that black scale right away. I think you got a steal. Some of these bettas that the chains carry now are amazing.

He reminds me of that kids book "The Rainbow Fish" where he gave everyone a rainbow scale.

You're absolutely right! I have 2 absolutely beautiful and darn near perfect confirmation fish I got from Petco. One is a double tail PK and the other is a HMPK. I'm not looking to breed but if I was, I'd consider these guys.




^ He's marbled considerably more in the last 3 weeks, he's pretty much navy blue on one side, the other side is still pink/blue.

 

I saw that black scale right away. I think you got a steal. Some of these bettas that the chains carry now are amazing.

He reminds me of that kids book "The Rainbow Fish" where he gave everyone a rainbow scale.

You're absolutely right! I have 2 absolutely beautiful and darn near perfect confirmation fish I got from Petco. One is a double tail PK and the other is a HMPK. I'm not looking to breed but if I was, I'd consider these guys.




^ He's marbled considerably more in the last 3 weeks, he's pretty much navy blue on one side, the other side is still pink/blue.

 

He reminds me of that kids book "The Rainbow Fish" where he gave everyone a rainbow scale.

You're absolutely right! I have 2 absolutely beautiful and darn near perfect confirmation fish I got from Petco. One is a double tail PK and the other is a HMPK. I'm not looking to breed but if I was, I'd consider these guys.

View attachment 318990

^ He's marbled considerably more in the last 3 weeks, he's pretty much navy blue on one side, the other side is still pink/blue.

View attachment 318991

Both look cool, but that first one is amazing! Always wanted a plakat, but my guy just died so I'm not really too interested in another betta right now.

 

Both look cool, but that first one is amazing! Always wanted a plakat, but my guy just died so I'm not really too interested in another betta right now.

Thanks! Sorry to hear about your fish, I always take a break before filling another tank.

 

Thanks! Sorry to hear about your fish, I always take a break before filling another tank.

I'm normally good with losing fish, but a betta is more like a friend than a pet. But I didn't really get upset over him, he was sick for a while, pretty much his whole life since I got him. Happy he didn't have to suffer anymore.

 

My PSP steal.

 

I'm normally good with losing fish, but a betta is more like a friend than a pet. But I didn't really get upset over him, he was sick for a while, pretty much his whole life since I got him. Happy he didn't have to suffer anymore.

I hear ya. My husband teases me because I have a betta burial in our front garden. Luckily it's only 2, but still. It never gets easier.

 

My PSP steal.
View attachment 318994 View attachment 318995 View attachment 318996 View attachment 318998

She's beautiful!!

 

I hear ya. My husband teases me because I have a betta burial in our front garden. Luckily it's only 2, but still. It never gets easier.

The only fish I'll ever get upset over is my Bolivian ram. My Melvin is honestly my best friend, no shame in saying that.

 

Oddly enough, right now my Bettas are the only ones with names. The new girl and my Veiltail male are still unnamed though. I can't seem to come up with any suitable names for my GBRs, or I would name them too.

 

The only fish I'll ever get upset over is my Bolivian ram. My Melvin is honestly my best friend, no shame in saying that.

Melvin! How cute. I'm looking into keeping Bolivian Rams soon, myself. I have an empty 55 gallon I keep looking at in my living room. Current inhabitants? 2 shoe boxes, an empty box for a glass lid from a betta tank and half of the filter it came with. Soon.....very soon....

 

Oddly enough, right now my Bettas are the only ones with names. The new girl and my Veiltail male are still unnamed though. I can't seem to come up with any suitable names for my GBRs, or I would name them too.

I refuse to name this guy until I know he's gonna live. I say that but I've been calling him "buddy" all day, so maybe his name will just be Buddy.

 

I've also considered Bolivians. I have my German Blue Rams already. I also refuse to name them when I'm not sure they'll live as I think it makes losing them even worse.

 

Melvin! How cute. I'm looking into keeping Bolivian Rams soon, myself. I have an empty 55 gallon I keep looking at in my living room. Current inhabitants? 2 shoe boxes, an empty box for a glass lid from a betta tank and half of the filter it came with. Soon.....very soon....

You won't regret Bolivian rams. They have interesting personalities. Melvin is scared to death of the platy, but he swims right up to the big idiot talking to him in front of the tank. Working on hand feeding, usually lets me pet him. He's still only a baby though.

 

You won't regret Bolivian rams. They have interesting personalities. Melvin is scared to death of the platy, but he swims right up to the big idiot talking to him in front of the tank. Working on hand feeding, usually lets me pet him. He's still only a baby though.

That is so cute...I can't wait to set this tank up. I really wasn't planning on a large tank but when I saw it for $25, I couldn't pass it up.

I'm heading off to bed now. I'll check in in the morning to see how he's looking. G'night, all!

 

Good luck!

 

Well, he's alive this morning. Maybe a touch more color than he had last night? He refused pellets and a frozen bloodworm. He's having a hard time swimming, staying mostly along the bottom but can come up for air. It could be one of a few things, swim bladder issues, malnourished, or the filter is too strong. I'm going to build my own filter today after work because I hate the one that came with the kit and I'll try cupping him to feed him. He really needs some nutrition or he's not gonna make it....

 

Guys! He ate pellets! I came home from work tonight not thinking he'd be alive but he ate 4 small pellets! I am literally cheering around my kitchen I'm so excited. He's actively looking for more food and I think he looks at me as a good thing now, rather than some big scary thing. I'm so excited! Round 2 of erythromycin this evening. Hopefully by Saturday he'll be well on the mend.

On a side note. I can see right through him and see his brain. At least I think it's his brain. How neat?!

 

It sounds like he is making some serious progress. He's a fighter.

 

Pardon the mess on the bottom, I have some anacharis that doesn't like the lighting in this tank. I definitely think he's got more color today! He has a grey-ish tint (in a good way!) on his body that matches the little bit on his tail. If this guy turns into a black metallic fish I will eat my own foot.

 

Pardon the mess on the bottom, I have some anacharis that doesn't like the lighting in this tank. I definitely think he's got more color today! He has a grey-ish tint (in a good way!) on his body that matches the little bit on his tail. If this guy turns into a black metallic fish I will eat my own foot.

 

I'm glad to see he's up and moving a bit.

 

I'm glad to see he's up and moving a bit.

Is it possible for a fish to have no scales on a part of their body? I know they can damage them but his head is smooth. All my other fish have teeny tiny scales around their head and face but this guy is so....smooth? It just looks like skin. Not raw or irritated, but how a shark looks? I don't know if that even makes sense lol.

 

He does look like he doesn't have any scales on his head. I have a male that looks the same way, color and all.