Sorry for the quality, i have a really bad smartphone.
This is a little girl i rescued of a pet shop a month ago, she was lay down and could not get up.
I put her on a 3 gallon container thats shallow so she could breathe better, and filled her up with methaline blue and she got better.
as she was getting better and eating like a maniac i realized she couldn't swim rigth. She stays in the bottom all day until food is involved. She is overweight, but i already got her that way, im working on it.
I dont know what to do with her bad swimming, i think is a genetic issue. I used to breed lineage bettas some years ago, i never in my life had seen a genetic effect like this, so i don't know how to fix it.
As a vet tech and a future veterinarian i don't know what to do, and my teachers are telling me to humanely euthanize her, i dont wanna do that, she is so happy when i bring her different kinds of food, change her water or simply interact with her.
I did rescue her so she could have a better quality of life, but with every professional telling me to euthanize her, i dont know what i shoul do, even with me breeding thousands of bettas in the past.
Its not curable apparently, i need you guys help.
https://v.redd.it/n7x3gmt0q8xf1
Posted by searomester
2 Comments
I would start with feeding a lot a lot less, like a little once every few days if you aren’t already. It could be that the extreme weight is messing with her swim bladder.
But even if the swim bladder is damaged permanently, it’s imo no ground for euthanasia if she’s fine otherwise. I’ve got an alien with permanent swim bladder, and he’s being moved to a shallow 10g to make life a little easier. The disability doesn’t affect his activity level, apetite, or anything else about him other than making him look like a goby with the way he hops about, and feeding takes a bit more effort.
From someone with no experience other than keeping fish on and off throughout my life (no breeding, no vet). I have had several bettas & other freshwater fish though. She seems so happy from what I see. I would not put her down just yet especially if you don’t want to. I can’t say she will improve at all (may be doubtful according to the professionals) but if you are ok with her living her life just like this, I think it’s fine. She does not seem to be in pain. If she goes downhill, then at that point in time you may change your decision. Right now she is moving, seems happy and eats. Just my thoughts. What are the “professionals” saying she has? Ultimately it’s your decision. Could she just have a birth defect?