Sad Betta At Store

I was looking at the bettas in my local pet store and one was floating on his side at the top of the cup. I thought he was dead but if I put my finger against his cup, he would right himself. But then he quickly floated back onto his side. I was thinking swim bladder but than noticed a his spine is pretty curved. Gorgeous guy, didn't see wounds or fungus or frayed fins. I couldn't buy him today but I feel so sorry for him (and all the bettas in cups).

If I go back to "rescue" him and he's still alive, what might be wrong with him? Anything I could reasonably treat? I know swim bladder isn't that hard to treat but what about combined with his curved spine issue?

 

Usually with fish from the store like that they just need a good water source. Put them in a small controlled tank where you can increase the temperature and acclimate them to good water parameters. Lots of Life plants are recommended because they might be skittish and dart around the tank and Lyfe plants are less likely to cut them. The cold water inside the cups tend to weaken their immune system so it could be like a fishy cold right now

 

If you go back and purchase this fish you aren't rescuing him. Wish people would stop using that term incorrectly. All your doing is knowingly buying a sick fish so the store will continue stocking more sick fish.

Swim bladder is easy enough to deal with but a curved spine could be congenital. It could also be caused by a several bacterial or viral infection that has reached a point it is untreatable. Without a necropsy it's hard to say. Of course that won't save the fish, just provide knowledge after the fact.

If the Betta is already in that poor of a shape, it's already gone. Let it go. It's another dollar the store has lost.

 

Keep in mind that you won't be able to easily spot parasites... I would use aq salt and a dash ick or parasite guard... shine flashlight on him to double-check...

 

yeah I went to a pet stock place near me and about 3 of the Bettas had what looked like popeye I asked the lady if they treat them for sickness there and she said they did so I'm going back tomorrow to see if they have put them out the back in their hospital tank like the staff said they do. If their not being treated I'm going to tell them I'm not advising anyone to buy from their store and I will not be going back there again

 

If they are in some real bad shape I will usually offer to "adopt" aka take it home for free if I think it might die :/