care and handling of a betta with bladder disease

[kindheart]

I recently rescued a betta from Petco, and I'm pretty sure he's got swimbladder disease - he was stuck at the bottom of his cup. No visible bloating, but he can't swim up without sinking back down. I saw this firsthand when he escaped during acclimation and ended up on the sand, frantically flapping his fins.

My plan was to keep him in the cup, floating in the main tank, for a few days, changing the water frequently. I didn't want him to suffocate, unable to reach the surface for air. But when he escaped, I saw him manage to swim up to the middle of the tank - even hid in a hollow log. I left him for a bit, turning on the air pump to help him breathe.

However, when I returned, he was struggling at the bottom again, so I had to force him back into the cup. I feel terrible for doing so, as he clearly didn't want to go back in. I want to give him the freedom to swim in the main tank, but I'm worried about oxygen levels. The air pump wasn't enough for my previous sick betta, so I'm unsure if it'll be sufficient for this guy.

Since he doesn't seem to have a problem with his Sprig, will the air pump provide enough oxygen until his swimbladder disease clears up? I'm keeping him in the cup, floating in the main tank, as Petco didn't have Epsom salt and I don't have peas. I'm concerned that, despite no visible bloating, it might be something else. If the air pump isn't enough, is there a way to make him more comfortable in shallow water while he recovers?

[crunchie]

I recently rescued a betta from Petco, and I'm pretty sure he's got swimbladder disease - he was stuck at the bottom of his cup. No visible bloating, but he can't swim up without sinking back down. I saw this firsthand when he escaped during acclimation and ended up on the sand, frantically flapping his fins.

My plan was to keep him in the cup, floating in the main tank, for a few days, changing the water frequently. I didn't want him to suffocate, unable to reach the surface for air. But when he escaped, I saw him manage to swim up to the middle of the tank - even hid in a hollow log. I left him for a bit, turning on the air pump to help him breathe.

However, when I returned, he was struggling at the bottom again, so I had to force him back into the cup. I feel terrible for doing so, as he clearly didn't want to go back in. I want to give him the freedom to swim in the main tank, but I'm worried about oxygen levels. The air pump wasn't enough for my previous sick betta, so I'm unsure if it'll be sufficient for this guy.

Since he doesn't seem to have a problem with his Sprig, will the air pump provide enough oxygen until his swimbladder disease clears up? I'm keeping him in the cup, floating in the main tank, as Petco didn't have Epsom salt and I don't have peas. I'm concerned that, despite no visible bloating, it might be something else. If the air pump isn't enough, is there a way to make him more comfortable in shallow water while he recovers?

Honestly, I think keeping him in shallow water is your best bet for now. If it makes you feel any better, you could put him in a bigger container with some soft plants - real or fake, doesn't matter - to give him a place to hide. I'd say keep the water level pretty low, around 1 1/2 to 2 inches, depending on how big your betta is. I've dealt with this same issue before and it's just better to be safe than sorry.