I'm concerned about my betta's health and I'm hoping for some advice. I recently got him and the seller assured me he's healthy. He's been doing great, eating well and very active. But when I got back from vacation on Friday, I noticed he's lethargic and bloated. My friend was checking in on my tank daily, but I think something might have gone wrong.
I've moved him to a smaller tank temporarily until I set up a proper quarantine tank and treated the water with Esha 2000, as recommended by my LFS. I've recorded a video of him, which shows the bloating and possible pineconing on his belly, as well as his fins. I'd really appreciate any insight into what's going on and how I can help him recover. The fins have looked like that since I got him, so I'm not sure if it's a separate issue or related to the bloating.
Link to video:
betta care assistance needed
Re: betta care assistance needed
He does appear bloated, I think. It's possible your friend overfed him while you were away - do you know how much food he was getting? As for his fins, I'm pretty sure they're just a normal variation and not a cause for concern. I'd recommend holding off on feeding him for a couple of days and doing a water change to see if that helps. It's possible he's just constipated, so let's see how he does after that. If his condition worsens, I'd definitely seek advice from coltin - he's a knowledgeable guy and his icon is the blue and orange fish, so you can't miss him. Hopefully, this helps you identify the issue and get your betta back on track.
Re: betta care assistance needed
Does he have a filter and a heater in that smaller tank? How often do you do water changes? Have you tested the water lately? I noticed a few tiny holes in his fins, which could be an early sign of fin rot. Fin rot's usually caused by poor water quality, so I'm wondering if that might be the issue here.
Re: betta care assistance needed
@Fish384, I think you're right - my friend probably overfed him. I'll ask her about it. I didn't feed him over the weekend, just gave him some larva today. I'm a bit worried it might be something more serious, though - his scales around the bloated area seem to be pineconed a bit.
@barnicle, I know the small tank isn't ideal - no heater or filter. I just got back on Friday evening, so I couldn't get anything over the weekend. I'll be getting the proper stuff tomorrow. I have been changing and testing the water, making sure there's no ammonia buildup or anything that might harm him. Luckily, it's summer here, so no need for a heater yet. My main tank's parameters are always good - it's a stable environment. Just dealing with planaria right now, but that's for next week.
I'm still unsure about the fin rot, though - how can I be sure that's what it is? The fins have looked like that since I got him, so I'm not sure what's normal for him.
@barnicle, I know the small tank isn't ideal - no heater or filter. I just got back on Friday evening, so I couldn't get anything over the weekend. I'll be getting the proper stuff tomorrow. I have been changing and testing the water, making sure there's no ammonia buildup or anything that might harm him. Luckily, it's summer here, so no need for a heater yet. My main tank's parameters are always good - it's a stable environment. Just dealing with planaria right now, but that's for next week.
I'm still unsure about the fin rot, though - how can I be sure that's what it is? The fins have looked like that since I got him, so I'm not sure what's normal for him.