Anyone know anything about Beta Fish?

[xtine]

I have noticed today, that my boyfriend and My beta fish has been acting a bit peculiar.

He looks swollen? or puffed up? and not eating as much.. is he sick? do i bring him to a vet? i know it sounds funny, but im worried.. he's been with us for so long, im attached the the little fella.

anyone know anything or suggest anything? im scared he's sick and i can't help him?

[wheeler53]

Is he in an aquarium with other fish? Have you changed anything recently? New food? New fish? Has his coloring changed? How long have you had him?

[rrosenberry]

I had 16 at one time,and yes they get sick and there are tons of medications you can buy at the pet store to treat them,do a google search there are a lot of sites that will help you with the symptoms the fish is showing, they even get consipated,,and swim sideways then, so ya go get the medicine,and about a day later,,, you see why he was sideways.. Good luck.

[rrosenberry]

Heres a link with symptoms~
http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm

BettaTalk,,who knew! lol

[wheeler53]

I did a search as well and found this information on Beta Talk about bloating..
" betta is overfed: Bettas belly tends to greatly expend when they are greatly fed . And I mean EXPEEEEEND. So your betta might look really "bloated" if you just fed it a huge meal. That kind of bloat is not harmful (but overfeeding may end up causing swimbladder disorder over time, so avoid it!) and the bloat should then come down within 24 hours or so.


female betta is full of eggs (or egg bound). Usually females may look a bit more round if they are full of eggs and have not yet released their eggs, or if they just released all their eggs and ate them all . In this case, you will find a white poop the next day and that is a clear indication that the mysterious bloat was from an over consumption of yummy eggs. On rare occasions a female may be unable to release her eggs and may become "egg bound": She will then look very bloated and uncomfortable and may lay at the bottom. If this condition does not pass, and the eggs are not released, the female may die. But this is a very rare occurrence (only happened to me once) (mmmm... Wait. That sounded kinda "funny", so let me rephrase this: only happened to one of my female bettas once .


betta is constipated: This is also very rare, but could happen if say, you are feeding a lot of overly dry foods. In all honesty, I doubt that this is what is ailing your fish, but I thought I'd mention it as a remote possibility. (just as remote as the hope that Berlin might, one day, let us enjoy our fire without prootprooting all over it). LOL


betta has dropsy: This is usually the most common cause for bloat. Although dropsy is not the same type of bloat. It is not bloat caused by food in the stomach or intestines, nor is it bloat caused by eggs, nor is it bloat caused by gas (not even sure fish can get gas... But Rotties, on the other hand!!!! LOLOLOL). Dropsy is a bloat caused by the retaining of fluids in the betta's tissues. This usually comes from kidney failure. And the kidney failure comes from disease. There are many bacteria that will attack the fish's organs and cause the kidneys to eventually fail. Then the water builds up, and the fish start looking like a pine cone cross with a balloon. Death usually follows, sometimes promptly (3 to 4 days) or more slowly (up to 3 weeks in some cases). Either way death is as sure as Berlin's proot proots. ("

[xtine]

Thank you all so much for the responses.

And that link is amazing. It had pictures so i was able to find out well in my opinion what my betta has. I believe he has dropsy

He is isolated already and in his own little aquarium, so i'll just clean it out and disinfect it and pray he gets better. I never knew they could get kidney failure?! poor little guy
i'll keep yall updated!

[rrosenberry]

I have had plenty that I thought were " on their way out" but I have nursed em back to health. I had a couple that lived 4 years! That's pretty darn old for a betta.
When I had 16 at one time, they are so pretty in all their decorative vases, then Bailey came along,and the cleaning and changing of the vases every 3 days became too much, I gave alot away.

[mustangbee]

There's a plant, I think it's called a Peace Plant,
that Beta's can live with. It keeps them very healthy.
We had a Beta in a large vase with that plant for years.
I'd still have him if my girlfriends daughter didn't love him so much.
He now lives in her room.

[Lola LaRue]

I have a Beta Fish named Henry. My Mom always tells me to add a little salt to his water when he does'nt look so good. This has always worked in the past. Also, make sure you are using a treatment in his water because betas are prown to bacteria problems.

[yougetthesmiles]

we have had Beta's and the pet store told me they dont live long, maybe 9 months, they also told me to use distilled water in the tank. They told me to only feed them everyother day.

[xtine]

Originally Posted by yougetthesmiles

we have had Beta's and the pet store told me they dont live long, maybe 9 months, they also told me to use distilled water in the tank. They told me to only feed them everyother day.

is that really how long they're supposed to live? cause it's been that long since we've had him and i don't know how long the pet store had him prior.

i hope it's not his time yet.. i really love the little guy.. he swims around and keeps me company when i'm alone at home bored to death we have great convos lol.. seriously he's a great listener

[TatumsMom]

We had a Beta named Snoopy that lived a full life of 4 years. Never did anything super special for him except fresh water (tap water.... not distilled). Somehow he made it without much special treatment. But then we got another that didn't last long at all (I think it was dropsy) and he got replaced with another that didn't last long again. With those I used distilled water I think because by that time we were living in the country and I wasn't sure how good the well water would be for them. I plan on trying again with a new one soon but wasn't sure which water to use.

I hope yours feels better soon, xtine! Sorry that I couldn't give you any advice.

[bchgirl]

I have learned more about Beta fish than I ever knew from this thread. Who knew fish pee'd? No wonder you have to change the water...they are swimming in fish urine.

I hope your fishy gets better, xtine.

My girlfriend had one that committed suicide while she was cleaning his bowl....he leaped from the container she'd placed him in....any way she cried over him...so ya know....if ya love 'em ya love 'em....eben wif no fur

[TatumsMom]

The attempted suicide story brought back memories.... These little boogers can be tough at times. I had a big fish bowl break one time and Snoopy flew half way down the long kitchen counter. I couldn't find him for what seemed like forever but when I did, I put him back in water and he bounced right back. You never know.....

And no, I'm not as attached to fish as I am my furbabies but there are some that are. Never underestimate an animal lover's devotion to any animal.

[rrosenberry]

Speaking of... once came home and there was something on the floor that looked like a leaf, I went to pick it up, IT MOVED, I screamed and realized it was Bippy the fish... made Bf pick it up, covered in carpet fibers and cat hair,, threw him in the bowl,, He survived, God only knows how long he flopped around on the carpet...