The Rescue Betta Saga Continues

Hello all! I rescued a betta about 3 weeks ago. He was in really terrible shape, not eating, not swimming, sad fins, the whole shebang. Once he started swimming around and I could really get a good look at him, it looked like he had hexamita, so I began treating with Seachem's metroplex. Since he still wasn't really eating consistently, I chose to medicate the water versus the food.

I've completed a 14-day course of the metroplex. The lesions on his head do not have appeared to have gotten any better (I should also note they haven't gotten worse, either). He also appears bloated, which I pray is some constipation and not dropsy. From what I gathered, my other family members were feeding him who knows how much without telling anyone else. He must have been having 4 meals a day. He's fasted for 2 days and does not understand the de-shelled peas, even with garlic guard.

His appetite, energy, and curiosity levels are way up compared to his first few days. He eats everything and is always looking for more. He zips around the tank when anyone comes near him and comes right to the front to say hello. He spends his afternoons lounging on his betta leaf like a champ. His personality shining and his fins are beginning to grow back (he looks like a combtail!). Sebastian is definitely a little fighter.

I am trying to decide what to do next for this little guy. Does it look like he's constipated, or dropsy? Should I began feeding him the metroplex using focus on his food, or give up on the metroplex and try something new? Or try nothing at all?

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
Temperature: 78 - 80

Thank you! Any help is so appreciated

 

Welcome to FishLore! So, why do you think he has an internal parasite?

 

He does look a bit bloated, maybe even a little fat if he was getting that much a day. Imho it doesn't look like dropsy because he isn't pineconing at all from what I can see. You could try daphnia instead of peas.

 

Unshelled peas or live brine shrimp would work along with daphnia.

 

Welcome to FishLore! So, why do you think he has an internal parasite?

Thank you! He had the lesions on his head which kind of seemed to go along with the typical hexamita pattern. He had white stringy poos the first few times, but they seemed to have returned to normal once he started the metroplex. Do you think the lesions could be bacterial or fungal?

 

Did you trap the fish with a net? that's usually what happens when you're rough with the fish in the net. My tip is to just make sure the water is clean. I have never used any kind of Metroplex, so I can't tell you if that affects your cycle. And it's not either. Just a scrap.

 

Did you trap the fish with a net? that's usually what happens when you're rough with the fish in the net. My tip is to just make sure the water is clean. I have never used any kind of Metroplex, so I can't tell you if that affects your cycle. And it's not either. Just a scrap.

I usually try to avoid netting bettas, and I don't believe I ever netted this betta. He may have scraped up against a tank decoration, I had not considered that. Thank you! Earlier today I switched from gravel to sand; it's easier to clean (imo) and it is smoother on his little scales. I also switched the plants up to softer plants. Hopefully the lesions to began to heal on their own with the water changes.

 

Thank you everyone who suggested daphnia. Hopefully my local petsmart has some in stock