Sick Betta

[[email protected]]

I need some advice from you all. I've had a betta for approx. 2 years
now. A couple of months ago I moved him (along with a couple of tetra)
from a 20 gallon to a 3 gallon tank. After about 2 weeks he started to
just sit at the top of the tank and not move. I diagnosed him with a
possibly bacterial infection. I moved him into a bowl and treated him
with drops for about 12 days. After about 2 weeks, he started swimming
around and being much more active, I think moved him back to the larger
tank.

He did well for about a week or so. Now I'm noticing that he is again
sitting on a plant near the top of the tank. He is still eating and
moving around but he sinks when he tries to swim. I just feed him and
now see a white string hanging from him. Is it possible that he's had
worms this whole time? I don't feed live worms in this tank but some
of the ornaments came from a tank where I used to feed black worms.
The ornaments had been out of any water for over a year and were rinsed
before putting them in this tank.

The tetras are doing just fine and the algea eater in the tank doesn't
seem affected either. Is there anything I can do for him?

[Larry Blanchard]

wrote:

> He did well for about a week or so.**Now*I'm*noticing*that*he*is*again
> sitting on a plant near the top of the tank.**He*is*still*eating*and
> moving around but he sinks when he tries to swim.**I*just*feed*him*and
> now see a white string hanging from him.

That sounds like a problem I had with one of mine. Turned out it was
his intestine hanging out. I expected him to die, but I stopped
feeding for about a week and it went back in. He's slowed down a bit
now, but I think that's just old age - I've slowed down too :-).

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[Daniel Morrow]

Bottom posted.
wrote:
> I need some advice from you all. I've had a betta for approx. 2 years
> now. A couple of months ago I moved him (along with a couple of
> tetra) from a 20 gallon to a 3 gallon tank. After about 2 weeks he
> started to just sit at the top of the tank and not move. I diagnosed
> him with a possibly bacterial infection. I moved him into a bowl and
> treated him with drops for about 12 days. After about 2 weeks, he
> started swimming around and being much more active, I think moved him
> back to the larger tank.
>
> He did well for about a week or so. Now I'm noticing that he is again
> sitting on a plant near the top of the tank. He is still eating and
> moving around but he sinks when he tries to swim. I just feed him and
> now see a white string hanging from him. Is it possible that he's had
> worms this whole time? I don't feed live worms in this tank but some
> of the ornaments came from a tank where I used to feed black worms.
> The ornaments had been out of any water for over a year and were
> rinsed before putting them in this tank.
>
> The tetras are doing just fine and the algea eater in the tank doesn't
> seem affected either. Is there anything I can do for him?

Have you thought about other medications like anti-parasitic food (jungle
brand for example, sometimes you can soak the fish's food in liquid
medications for more effectiveness of the medication when using standard
tank-applied medications)? There are a lot of things that can be tried - but
be careful, you don't want a mess or chemical soup going on and you
especially don't want to stress out your betta too much. Good luck and
later!

[Gill Passman]

wrote:
> I need some advice from you all. I've had a betta for approx. 2 years
> now. A couple of months ago I moved him (along with a couple of tetra)
> from a 20 gallon to a 3 gallon tank. After about 2 weeks he started to
> just sit at the top of the tank and not move. I diagnosed him with a
> possibly bacterial infection. I moved him into a bowl and treated him
> with drops for about 12 days. After about 2 weeks, he started swimming
> around and being much more active, I think moved him back to the larger
> tank.
>
> He did well for about a week or so. Now I'm noticing that he is again
> sitting on a plant near the top of the tank. He is still eating and
> moving around but he sinks when he tries to swim. I just feed him and
> now see a white string hanging from him. Is it possible that he's had
> worms this whole time? I don't feed live worms in this tank but some
> of the ornaments came from a tank where I used to feed black worms.
> The ornaments had been out of any water for over a year and were rinsed
> before putting them in this tank.
>
> The tetras are doing just fine and the algea eater in the tank doesn't
> seem affected either. Is there anything I can do for him?
>

A few things spring to mind....he could just be plain old and seeing out
his last days in peace - IME they just slow down very quickly....he
could be constipated - try offering some shelled pea or algae wafer to
clear him out, I've also heard of epsom salts helping.

If you've had him two years and not introduced any new fish then an
infection is unlikely unless you have water quality issues....you say
that he has done fine in a different tank - I'd move him back....

IME betta stock isn't what it used to be and I struggle to keep any
beyond 6 months - they either get old or just die mysteriously....it
could be that your betta was already a couple of years old when you got
him....

I'd move him back to the tank where he was happy....offer some high
fibre food and then just trust to luck

Gill

[IDzine01]

Right off the bat I would start by checking my water parameters to see
if there is anything obvious. (I.e. ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH
to start) His lethargy started after you moved him the first time so
there may have been some acclimation issues. It returned only after you
moved him again. There are stressors associated with changing tanks so
it could be from the moves.

Can you describe the white stuff you're seeing? Is it coming out of him
as a result of feeding or is it hanging off of another part of the
body? White stringy feces may be a sign of internal parasites. Jungle's
Internal Parasite Guard or Parasite clear contain some pretty effective
ingredients for treating flagellate parasites.

[[email protected]]

I'm experieced with successfully treating several tanks for ick
(including another beta) and with the fuzzy fungal infections, but I've
never seen the white thin string like thing hanging from him.

I may try to internal parasite medication. Unfortunately, I do not have
the old tank to move them back to as I am planning a move from NJ to FL
and everything had to go into storage in preparation for the move.
Once I get to the other end I will set everything up again but it'll be
a few months before my living situtation is settled.

Thank you for the tips.

[Curt]

I also see the white stringevery now and again. I stopped worrying
about it cause its here today and gone tomorrow. I am keeping a close
eye on it tho.