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Post by notaquitter2003 on Nov 14, 2003 19:31:00 GMT -5
:'(Hey ...i am quickly becoming addicted to this board...i used to participate in the Delphiforums Betta Breeders til this week when it unexpectely shut down..i must admit...i like this one better and i am glad i found you!  Ok here is my puzzling question.... my copperfield has been having issues..i am now fasting him for a couple of days...he has been floating at the top..somewhat lively at times..but the poor guy has a little bit of a bloated belly..hence the fasting (and i did the pea thing too) i did a water change tonight, no filter running (actually got rid of it)..ok so he blows a bubble..then sucks it back in..then lets it go out his gills...i have never seen it before...Houdini who shares his tank (with a divider of course) is fine....swimming around quite content and when he blows bubbles this has never happened..... Copperfield has blown bubbles to build a bubble nest but this gulping back the bubbles to only suck them back in and let them out his gils is quite puzzling...any ideas what is wrong with my little boy? Confused in MA (windy MA)    |
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Post by notaquitter2003 on Nov 17, 2003 10:21:05 GMT -5
Ok...i am convinced that the BIO GOLD Hikari Freeze Dried Bloodworms are making my babies sick  Copperfield is getting worse and doesn't seem to be doing better...i have moved him to another bowl and cleaned out the 2.5 gallon so that just in case Copperfield had anything "contagious". Last night at 2 in the morning i happened to go downstairs to get a drink when both of them looked like they were on the verge of death..not just "sleeping" but bloated bellys etc. So hence my moving Copperfield and then giving Houdini a change of water and his own 2.5 gallon home... Sadly, i don't think Copperfield will make it....they were fine until they ate the bio gold worms...so i have stopped feeding them those...albeit Houdini protests...which other foods do you guys use? I have the Wardleys pellets...which my two at work eat just fine but besides the blood worms...any other options that won't make them sick? I am heading home during lunch to check them out...here's hoping for the best.  |
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Post by Emerson on Nov 17, 2003 12:21:45 GMT -5
When Horatio had a blockage in his intestines, I noticed that he would sometimes blow bubbles out of his gills. I'm not sure if it's something soley related to intestinal troubles or is a sign of something else going on, but I did notice it w/ Horatio. He was eating BioGold pellets exclusively. Too much of any one thing can cause constipation in Bettas, especially dry foods. Moderation and a varied diet at the best safeguards against tummy trouble. I've heard many say that freeze-dried bloodworms in particular can be very binding if over-fed.
If your guys are truly constipated (are you finding any poo?), I would suggest that you not feed them until they poo -- even if it means fasting for several days. Give their system a chance to pass the bloodworms for the next couple of days, then try a little more pea. If they still don't have a bowel movement, then repeat the process.
After you notice a bowel movement, I'd suggest feeding lightly for a day or so. If you can get some flakes and a small pellet food, you might try that after they are back to normal. I personally wouldn't use Wardley's, as the pellets tend to be pretty large. Or cut them up first. Remember -- Betta stomachs are the size of their eye!
Good luck; I hope your guys get better.
sef
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Post by notaquitter2003 on Nov 17, 2003 13:38:59 GMT -5
Thanks for your reply..i emailed the hubby to find out if they are still alive and so far they are ok...he said copperfield is listless, lethargic but ok...Houdini is fine. I have seen a couple of poos from Copperfield...long ones...for the past couple of days...i am being patient at this point...i will try to get some flake food in the next couple of days...when schedule permits...
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Post by Emerson on Nov 17, 2003 20:13:24 GMT -5
The long poo can also be a symptom of constipation, as well as lethargy. How is the swelling?
sef
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Post by notaquitter2003 on Nov 17, 2003 23:47:09 GMT -5
You guys...i am really concerned....Copperfield isn't doing well at all and now has a white stringy thing coming from his gills Could this be fungus? I have him and Houdini separate...hoping that if Copperfield was contagious then i could at least keep things at bay. Houdini is doing better swimming but his color around his mouth area is getting pale (hes a blue boy)....My husband is going to go to the store tomorrow to pick up medications...what do i do.... |
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Post by Emerson on Nov 18, 2003 6:51:12 GMT -5
This almost sounds like internal parasites, but my experience with treating parasites is very limited and I couldn't say for sure. I do know that swelling and stringy poo (which can mimic constipation) can also be symptoms. Live foods such as bloodworms can introduce parasites into their digestive tract, but supposedly the freeze-drying process lessens the risk. There are others here on the board that may be able to better diagnose this for you and advise you as to treatment. I'm so sorry you're having trouble with your guys. sef |
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Post by notaquitter2003 on Nov 18, 2003 14:42:45 GMT -5
Thanks sef...i left work during my lunch hour and sped to Petco and picked up Maracyn, and the Jungle Fungus stuff...i then sped home put Copperfield (who looks horrible) in the jungle fungus stuff...i hope it helps..and that i am not too late... I also put some of the stuff in with Houdini as a preventative..cuz he has some of the beginning symptoms that i saw in Copperfield...so hopefully after this week all will be well.... My two babies at work (Iceman and Maverick) are doing well...I did a complete water change on Friday and Today, they are in small kritter keepers so i want to make sure i keep the water changes frequent..i am also using a turkey baster to suck the poo out of their homes...they are quite happy... Now i am just hoping that copperfield pulls through..... |
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Post by notaquitter2003 on Nov 18, 2003 20:56:04 GMT -5
Well..i got home and Copperfield is still lying on the bottom of his "hospital" tank...I have the Jungle Fungus remover as a treatment in the tank now and we lowered the water level so that he doesn't have to fight to hard to get to the surface to get air...he is having such a hard time gasping for air...but his color is a little better and the white stuff isn't as bad as this morning before the treatment... Houdini...who is in the 2.5 minibow...is also now in treatment...as a preventative.....he is swimming around eating well and content...i hope this helps him and keeps away this nasty thing... Sorry for rambling..it's been a long day and i am still on the hopes that Copperfield pulls through!
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Post by Betta MVP on Nov 19, 2003 13:50:56 GMT -5
The white stringy thing on his gill could be a sign of Flex, check out the thread here by Georgia Girl called "Betta has Flex?" and see if any of the symptoms that she describes might apply to your little guy. Be very careful in case it is Flex because it is highly contagious to other fish and it is very tough to get rid of. Also, keep your betta's water cooler than 76 degrees and if it turns out to be Flex, you will need some meds with more kick than JFE, like Kanacyn, Tetracycline, or Spectrogram. Good luck and I really hope he pulls through. webpages.charter.net/bettamvp/flex.html |
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Post by notaquitter2003 on Nov 19, 2003 14:53:06 GMT -5
Thanks....i am not totally sure what it was...but Copperfield passed on last night..despite my efforts... I have my other in the JFE for now and keeping a close eye on him |
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Post by Betta MVP on Nov 20, 2003 14:13:43 GMT -5
I'm very sorry to hear that he didn't make it. I really hope your other guy is just fine. |
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Post by notaquitter2003 on Nov 20, 2003 16:31:03 GMT -5
thank you for your well wishes...so far Houdini is doing well...my two boys at work are also doing well. I have Houdini in the JFE until tomorrow then he will get a complete water change |
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Copperfield is getting worse and doesn't seem to be doing better...i have moved him to another bowl and cleaned out the 2.5 gallon so that just in case Copperfield had anything "contagious". 
