Something is wrong with my beta fish, please help me!

[Celtic_Emperor]

I've had a male beta fish for about a year and some months. Everything has been fine up until now, but something is physically wrong with him now.

I noticed today that his gills or right behind them are bloated, swollen looking, and he look like he's in pain because he keeps swimming around frantically and constantly comes up for air.

My mother is very sentimental and loving when it comes to our animals, even a fish. She actually cried over this and is afraid he is dying.

I'm no expert on beta fish, or fish in general.

Can someone please help me and tell me whats wrong with my fish? Its really worrying me. Is my fish dying? I'm thinking maybe he can't breathe, and theres something wrong with his lungs or something.

 

[Neutron]

The Average Life

Of a Beta is about 15 to 18 months. They usually die shortly thereafter.

Have you considered he might have Dropsy?

Tron

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Whats dropsy? Is that why he's swollen?

 

[Neutron]

Here

Symptoms : Bloated abdomen, protruding scales, loss of appetite and lethargic. Info : Dropsy is a very fatal disease. Dropsy is caused by a bacterial infection of the kidneys.


In the early stages the fish seem rather frantic. Betas are prone to Dropsy.

Here are some medicines

Interpet #9 Anti Internal Bacteria and Waterlife's Octozin. The addition of salt (1 tsp/gallon) may also be beneficial

Tron

 

[Neutron]

Another Potential Cause Is Gill Flukes..

Gill Flukes
Symptoms: Fish gasps for air at the water's surface, gills open and close rapidly, gills are covered in mucus, part of gills may be eaten away, goldfish may scrape against objects to get the flukes off
These parasites will appear as tiny worms, but are very difficult to see. Gill Flukes are contagious and should be treated immediately. Gill Fluke eggs are resistant to medications, but the larvae and adults are susceptible.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Yes, that discribes what's wrong with him exactly, the first symptoms, and he is rubbing himself against the bowl. Although he has been eating ok.

Where can I get these medicines or is it pointless at this point? I've had him for so long, will he even get better? What if this is just prolonging his death and not actually making him completely better? Is there any way I can euthenize him (ok, stupid question), or however you spell without making him suffer?

Actually, this just started today, or late last night, because he was fine and not bloated yesterday. But he's getting old, so it might not matter.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

How do I know which complication he has? He's suffering a little of both but it's too early to say right now, and its already night time and I won't be able to tend to him until tomorrow.

 

[Neutron]

Go To The Nearest Pet Store..

They'll have the medicines. I wouldn't recommend going to a Walmart or anything like that. Find a good local shop that specializes in fish or pets.

Also, ask them how to give a fish a brine bath. You might want to do this at about a 5 to 6 hour frequency.

Tron

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Ok, thanks alot man.

How will I know when the medicines and/or bath is doing him any good and making him better? Will the swelling go down immediately or soon? Are there any side-effects?

Finally, what are some things we should NOT be doing, that may only make it worse?

 

[Neutron]

You'll See Improvement With A Day..

If he's in with any other fish get him out now before he infects others.

If you have some Ich medicine use it now.

Also, don't panic. You most likely have a lot of time.

Another piece of advice. If you have a community tank, never buy your fish at a Walmart or anyplace like that. Spend the extra quarter and get them from a real fish store.

Walmarts and others of the like are plague traps.


Tron

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

No, he's the only fish we have. I'd definitely be even more worried if we had others, and in the same bowl.

I don't mean to sound stupid, because we might have it but I'm not sure what it is. What is Ich, and how should it be applied?

 

[Neutron]

Ich..

Is a common fish disease. Ich medicine is available at pet stores. It's basically blue drops you put in the water.

A bit of Beta advice. When you're gonna change it's water prepare the water about two days in advance by treating it with ich medicine (methylene blue if I recall correctly)

Tron

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Alrighty. ^___^

Thanks alot, Neutron. I really appriciate your help, and so does my mother. We're going to take care of this tomorrow, and hopefully Droopy (my mother named him that because his fins droop) will feel better soon enough.

Again, thanks alot. 🙂

 

[Neutron]

Anytime Man..

How's the fish?


Tron

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Its really hard to tell. I haven't seen any physical improvement, but he seems more at ease and tranquil. The swelling hasn't gone down though very much or at all. Its hard to tell if it has or hasn't.

I wonder if the dropsy medicine isn't work. The girl at the store recommended other products if the dropsy medicine alone doesn't seem to be working after a while. But honestly, I think maybe its too soon to tell.

We may have to go back and use a combination of products if he doesn't get better soon.