Need Advice--Betta with Swim Bladder
 

My betta has been doing really well until two nights ago. At first, he seemed to not respond very well when I went to feed him. I noticed he was going up to the top of his tank for air more frequently than usual. I fed him and he did eat and I changed part of his water. I also changed the filter cartridge. I put some BettaFix remedy in the tank as well. He seemed to be okay later that night and yesterday. But last night, he was down on the bottom of the tank by the filter. When I moved the filter he swam around for a bit but them began sinking and couldn't get to the top of the tank. I took him out of the tank and put him in his small container that I use when I am cleaning his tank. He was laying on his side breathing hard, gasping. I thought he was dying but everytime I checked he was still breathing and he had gone to the top of the small container for air when I went near him and then would sink back down on his side. He is about 10 months old or so.

I tested the water in Albert's tank and the PH, amonia and nitrite levels were perfect. He was still breathing in the small container that I had him in, but I knew that he could not stay in there for too long as it would run out of oxygen. I put a divider up in the tank and put him in the side away from the filter and heater. He was floating vertically against the divider, but then began lying on his side at the bottom of the tank in his favorite sleeping spot. He was still breathing hard, gasping (I could see the deep red of his gills as he was breathing) and didn't seem to have the strength to swim or even move his fins except when I went near him or attempted to move him, then he moved for a moment. I didn't do that often as I did not want to stress him out.

I was feeding Albert two times a day. In the am he got 5-6 Top Fin Betta Bits and in the pm 5 Hikari Betta Bio Gold. He is in a 2.5 gallon tank and I do 1/4 to 1/2 changes every week to two and on occasion full water changes. I keep the temp at 76-78 degrees. I have checked him under the light and do not think I see anything else wrong with his body like spots or fuzz or anything. His face seems a bit whiter/silverer than normal but not really sure, but his body is still maroon and smooth. I now know that was way too much food. I have not fed him since Monday evening and will not feed for a couple more days.

Based on information I received, I believe he has swim bladder. Today he was doing better, upright and by early evening he was swimming around a bit and even to the top of the tank.

It was suggested that I do a 100% water change of his 2.5 gallon tank which I did tonight. When he was in his holding container I noticed he started to slide to his side a bit. Now he is back in his tank and he is just sitting on the bottom, he is upright and he will move his fins when I shine a light on him but he can't seem to get off the bottom. Is this normal in a fish with SBD after a water change?

I am hoping that once he acclimates to the water change he will be back to where he was earlier this evening. I will test the water much more frequently to make sure the levels are okay. I did not test it yet tonight as I was giving it a chance to settle, should I test it tonight or wait until tomorrow?

I would truly appreciate any other advice you have.

Thanks,
Mary Ellen

hello Mary Ellen!! It seems like you are doing everything you can!! Good for you!! The only thing I can think of is to try a cooked, peeled, cut into bits pea. Just the regular green garden variety. If you can convince him to eat it, it should help him to move things along. It sounds to me like his constipation is definatley caused by overfeeding. The poor guy isn't finished digesting by the time you add more food. And they just can't say no, the poor little guys!!
So, do not feed for a few more days, to give him a little room in there, and then try the pea. Don't feed again for a few more days. He will be ok. They can go weeks before they starve, and this guy is definatly NOT starving :D
I think a large water change is a good idea, but perhaps not 100%. The swim bladder is delicate even on good days, and the netting etc could be a problem. I would suggest sucking out the water until there is about an inch left or so, and then adding the new water. Try and suck from the bottom so that you are getting anything that IS moving through out. Clean water will help him move things along, as will a little salt if you can. But only aquarium salt. Don't believe people when they tell you table salt etc is ok. Human salt is not as pure, and contains toxins, which may not hurt us, but is a problem for your fish.
If he is having a really hard time breathing, I would also suggest lowering the water level so he can get his air better. Bettas do get the majority of thier air from the top of the tank, instead of through thier gills. Thier gills do work, but not as efficiently as those of other fish. So, if he can more easily reach the surface, he can more easily breathe.
I hope this has helped!!
Jenn

Jenn,

Thanks for your reply. Before I got it, I had already done a 100% water change. I noticed that he was tilting sideways in his holding container and a bit when I put him back, didn't know that the netting would cause any problems. He is able to swim to the top now every once in awhile, but he spend most of the time on the bottom kind of leaning to one side a bit.

I also noticed last night, didn't notice the night before because I was so focused on the fact that he was on his side that a lot of his tailfin is gone and it is frayed at the end. I think this happened when he was unable to swim free of the filter as his back end was up towards the filter. I still have the divider up and I also got a filter sponge to prevent this from ever happening again. Should I give him anything for his fin, I have heard that it will most likely grow back? If I do need to give him anything, do you know the dosage and also should I turn the filter off? I am afraid he will not get enough air if the filter is off.

I think he is going to be okay. I am keeping a close eye on him and so far so good.

Thanks again,
Mary Ellen

I think a filter in most cases is a good idea. The water qulity can fall between cleanings, and a filter will help to avoid this. The problems come in when the current is too strong for your guy. You have done the right thing with the sponge, I use a piece of panyhose over the intake, which both slows the flow, and stops him from getting "stuck". And as far as turning it off, I guess it really depends. If he is the only one in there, bettas do not really need a filter, and I have found my guys to be happier without, so long as I mantian my water changes. But if he is in a tank with others, he will likely need one.
The best thing to do for a frayed tail is to get him some Melafix. The dosage is on the bottle, 1 tsp for 10 gallons. It will help his tail grow back although in many cases it will be clear. After some time, the colour may come back. You will want to get the Melafix as soon as possible to stop opportunistic fungus and bacteria from feasting on the vulnerable tissue that has been exposed by this injury. If that happens, you will need some different meds, perhaps Jungle Fungus Eliminator. You will know, because the tail will not start growing back and the ends will be black or grey. It may even get worse. To help his tail, and his digestive system, VERY clean water is a must.
I did not mean to get you excited about the 100% water changes. Netting is fine under normal tank cleaning circumstances. Unfortunately, the swim bladder is like a ballon in there, filling or releasing air back and forth to the blood to determine how high in the water he will be, changing his density. If he is constipated, it will squish his "balloon" and he cannot inflate it, or it inflates crookedly, to cause him to be stuck at the bottom, or swim on his side. He should still be able to move up and down, unless he is really weak, he just has to stay swimming to do it. He cannot "hover" like they do in mid "air". Anyways, the point I was getting at, is that if they are stressed, then in the case of some fish, they lose the function of thier swim bladder. Some fish apparently have this problem every time there is a water change. But to reduce the stress, I would avoid the netting, etc, until he feels much better. Just continue the large water changes. And clean the rocks/glass as well as possible.
When I have to do 100% water changes, I simply scoop them up in a cup. It seems less stressful to me that way. In the bigger tanks, I bait them to the top with a tasty treat, like freeze dried bloodworms, and when they are there, I stick the cup in, and it sucks him on in *slurping noise*. Or, i fhe has really caught on, I may coax him in with the net (to the cup).
Good work Mary Ellen!!
Jenn