URGENT- Betta with pineconing scales and huge stomach

I have a just over one year old long-finned halfmoon betta in a planted 10 gallon tank. It's heated, filtered, with weekly water changes and stable water paramaters (ammonia has been slightly high so I've done extra water changes). My pH is also high, but its always been high and wouldn't be the source of the problem. He's fed twice a day, a variety of Bug Bites, Northfin Pellets, Aqueon Pellets, frozen brine shrimp, and frozen bloodworms. He lived with a large mystery snail until a few days ago when it sadly passed away, I believe due to old age.


He's struggled with fin nipping before, I believe due to heavy fins, an has dealt with bloating before, but has been healthy until recently. His stomach slowly began to bloat, so I tried multiple different fasts and different feeding schedules but nothing helped. I also did epsom salt baths in case of constipation but once again it didn't help. I've continued this over the course of just over a month, and he's been slowly getting worse. Last week I put him in an epsom sat hospital tank for four days. It was 5 gallons, heated, and I kept him in it for four days. I didn't hear of many people doing epsom in the tanks, so I put him back after not too long to be safe. His symptoms might have slightly slown down throughout it, but didn't get better. He had remained active and hungry, with no bouyancy issues until during the hospital tank, and they worsened when he was put back in his main tank, and he slowly began to pinecone, and is barely active and won't eat. Right now he has no treatment other than reduced feeding and only frozen foods, but I might put him in a hospital tank again. Antiobiotics are also unavailable to me. I still don't have a diagnosis as I've been back and forth on dropsy, swim bladder, and many other options. Each of which he fits some of the characteristics, but it really could be any. Images are available on his instagram @edenthebetta . All help appreciated, I've had lots of different opinions and I'm still very unsure on how to treat him.

 

Dropsy, I hope your betta makes it. I don’t think it’s curable

 

1. Emergency Template

2. This is 100% Dropsy. There are three main symptoms, pineconing, bloating, and sometimes curved spine. If your betta has just one of these symptoms, it is difficult to treat. Many fish do not survive. Most fish usually succumb to dropsy 15 or 20 days after contracting it. How long have you seen these symptoms? I’m sorry to say it, but your fish might be too far out and you might have to euthanize him...

3. I guess you can try Epsom Salt baths and Meth Blue.

 

Thank you for the responses, its been going on for a month which is why I didn't think it was dropsy, it progressed very slowly and the pineconing just started. I think I'll do my best to keep him healthy but may have to put him down if he gets worse.

 

It’s too late. I would give him a week and if things don’t improve I’d euthanize

 

He passed away this morning, thank you for your help

 

I’m so sorry, you did your best, if you plan on restocking I’d do a deep clean.

 

My fish is doing the same thing with the exact same symptoms, except his activity and appetite are normal despite his swelling being the sign of a small grape. Like you, I also did epsom salt baths early on with minimal improvement. At one point, I got it to go away for a week or two, but then it came right back.

With a fish in this position, I would euthanize when it becomes clear that the fish has no quality of life. For me, I’ll know that it is time when he no longer gives attitude and zips away from the net.

 

So sorry to hear for your loss. It's hard to see your betta going through it. I had a betta back in the spring who kept going in and out of it for THREE ENTIRE MONTHS. It's exhausting and heartbreaking. The best thing to do if you want to keep another is figure out why it happened and learn for the future.