I tried posting this in the betta clinic yesterday without much help.
I went to petco on Sunday and saw this sad little boy in a cup. Severely clamped fins, not moving too much, occasionally rolling on to his side. I took him home to help him and I know it doesn’t do anything for the disgusting state of the betta market currently. But I could not leave him there to die in that tiny cup alone.
I already had a hospital tank setup (2.5g), so I put him in there and started treatment for swim bladder with Epsom salt baths and tannins added to the water. Water temp @80. There are live plants, floaters, and several places for him to rest.
He has no notable pineconing, but he does have some tiny holes present in his face and he is severely emaciated. I have treated bloat a few times in betta and dropsy in a guppy successfully. But this kinda has me stumped. I assume he is extremely weak from how thin he is and he only swims to move spots in the tank. Otherwise, he remains stationary and floating with clamped fins. He no longer rolls to his side, at least.
I’m not sure if my attempts will be successful, but if anyone has suggestions, please tell me. I am kinda at a loss and already love him very much after 2 days. I understand I got myself in to this situation of potential heartbreak.
Anyway, this is James Taylor and we would both love any further insight 🖤
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1t4ef4b
Posted by OhHai_ItsKai
2 Comments
I recently rescued a baby girl too! I texted you please look
I recently rescued a female that behaved similarly. I thought she was a goner – so completely listless & pale, and several times I thought she actually was dead. I put a piece of floating driftwood in her tank (the one piece that refused to get waterlogged no mater how long I boiled it and then held it down!) and she found a cozy nook in there where she could rest. She stayed there for 2 days, barely moving but still alive. On day 3, I woke up to see her swimming around her tank like nothing happened. Her color is finally starting to come back as well.
TL:DR – try adding some driftwood and/or catappa (indian almond) leaves. Boil it to kill any germs / soften leaves, but not to the point you remove a lot of the tannins as that is very healing for them. You can add the cooled water to the tank as well to provide additional tannins.