Who Gives A Fish Forums

Mr BRIGHTSIDE finally has a new home. His swim bladder issues have been a real rollercoaster for over a year now - on and off, it's been a struggle. I've come close to euthanasia multiple times, but he always seems to bounce back just in time. This time around, I'm hoping it's for good.

I've had him in a 1-gallon tank for months, doing daily water changes and feeding him a super varied diet. Despite his issues, he'd still swim for food and hide under his java fern - he just couldn't stay down for long. I started considering euthanasia again, but then he started to recover, slowly but surely.

It's been two months now, and he's been swimming downward with less trouble, staying submerged without struggling. His swim bladder's finally back to normal, and his body's smooth. I'm not sure if it's a fluke, but I'm taking the chance to upgrade his tank.

I've set up a Hygger arc kit in my room with my other bettas - it's pretty basic, just white sand, river rocks, and lava rocks for now. I'll add some moss and plants later, but I wanted to give Mr B plenty of room to swim. I know some people might disagree with my decision to keep him going this long, but that's just what I did.

Has anyone else had a betta with swim bladder issues that's improved on and off like this? I've got a video of how he's doing now -

Mr BRIGHTSIDE's journey has been quite the rollercoaster, and I can understand why you'd be hesitant about his quality of life. I've been in your shoes, wondering if it's cruel to keep him going despite his struggles with swim bladder issues. You're right, it's a tough call - but it's clear you've been giving him the best care possible.

I've had my own doubts about euthanasia, especially when he'd float on his side, unable to dive down. But every time I thought it was the end, he'd surprise me with a bit of improvement. The daily water changes and varied diet seemed to be doing something, even if it was just giving him a bit more time.

I'm not sure if I'd have made the same decision in your shoes, but I do think it's great that you're giving him a new chance in a bigger tank. The Hygger arc kit setup looks nice and spacious - I'm sure he'll appreciate the extra room to swim. I've had my own experiences with betta recovery, but I've never seen a case like Mr BRIGHTSIDE's. Has anyone else out there dealt with something similar?

I'd love to hear more about your thoughts on his condition and how you've been managing his care. And I'm glad you shared the video - it's great to see him swimming around, even if it's not perfect.

rockyfox wrote: ↑Thu Jan 02, 2025 8:26 pm Mr BRIGHTSIDE's journey has been quite the rollercoaster, and I can understand why you'd be hesitant about his quality of life. I've been in your shoes, wondering if it's cruel to keep him going despite his struggles with swim bladder issues. You're right, it's a tough call - but it's clear you've been giving him the best care possible.

I've had my own doubts about euthanasia, especially when he'd float on his side, unable to dive down. But every time I thought it was the end, he'd surprise me with a bit of improvement. The daily water changes and varied diet seemed to be doing something, even if it was just giving him a bit more time.

I'm not sure if I'd have made the same decision in your shoes, but I do think it's great that you're giving him a new chance in a bigger tank. The Hygger arc kit setup looks nice and spacious - I'm sure he'll appreciate the extra room to swim. I've had my own experiences with betta recovery, but I've never seen a case like Mr BRIGHTSIDE's. Has anyone else out there dealt with something similar?

I'd love to hear more about your thoughts on his condition and how you've been managing his care. And I'm glad you shared the video - it's great to see him swimming around, even if it's not perfect.

I think Mr BRIGHTSIDE is looking pretty good in the video, he seems to have balance now. I'm glad Lunahid gave him a bigger tank, it's a great decision. Considering his condition, maybe adding a betta hammock would be a good idea, so he can rest comfortably when he wants to.

rockyfox wrote: ↑Thu Jan 02, 2025 8:26 pm Mr BRIGHTSIDE's journey has been quite the rollercoaster, and I can understand why you'd be hesitant about his quality of life. I've been in your shoes, wondering if it's cruel to keep him going despite his struggles with swim bladder issues. You're right, it's a tough call - but it's clear you've been giving him the best care possible.

I've had my own doubts about euthanasia, especially when he'd float on his side, unable to dive down. But every time I thought it was the end, he'd surprise me with a bit of improvement. The daily water changes and varied diet seemed to be doing something, even if it was just giving him a bit more time.

I'm not sure if I'd have made the same decision in your shoes, but I do think it's great that you're giving him a new chance in a bigger tank. The Hygger arc kit setup looks nice and spacious - I'm sure he'll appreciate the extra room to swim. I've had my own experiences with betta recovery, but I've never seen a case like Mr BRIGHTSIDE's. Has anyone else out there dealt with something similar?

I'd love to hear more about your thoughts on his condition and how you've been managing his care. And I'm glad you shared the video - it's great to see him swimming around, even if it's not perfect.

Just a temporary setup to make water changes a breeze, he was actually living in a 20-gallon tank before this. I've had my doubts many times, but he never seemed ready to give up, if you know what I mean. His condition would fluctuate, but even on his worst days, he'd still swim over to greet me during feeding time and chase after his food to the bottom. His colors always stayed vibrant, and he never looked too stressed out, so I'm not sure how much pain he was really in. I'm just glad I didn't make the decision to euthanize him now that he's doing so well.

Giggletons mentioned a betta hammock, which is a great idea - I actually have some suction cup pots that I can stick to the back wall, and I plan on adding some crypts to them for Mr. B to rest on. I just need to dig them out of storage. He still drifts onto his side occasionally, but he's making progress every day.

It's wonderful to see Mr. BRIGHTSIDE thriving in his new home. The care and dedication you've shown him is truly admirable, and it's heartwarming to see him doing so well. His colors are vibrant, and he seems to be enjoying his new surroundings.