Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've posted before and wanted to get an opinion on Manny's prognosis... To give an update: I bought Manny about two months ago, and have kept him in a gallon bowl doing 100% water changes every five days (use water conditioner, ammonia clear, fungus eliminator, and aq. salt, water kept at about 76-82). His problems started off with fins tearing and looking ragged, so I used Melafix (as directed) and he seemed alright. On the 7th day, he started shaking, wouldn't eat, would only swim backward, stayed in an S-shape position (maybe I DID feed him too much; showed signs of swim bladder...) After stopping the Melafix, he still acted lethargic, only staying near his thermometer, and started gasping for air. Then one morning when I turned on the light, he started spazzing out, rolling in a ball and nipping his own tail, then froze up and sank like a rock. Thought he was a goner, but I tried one last thing and put him in his original container. He seemed to snap out of it after a couple days and I did a water change and added him back to his gallon bowl. Now I'm using Maracyn-Two (not the Melafix) and he seems to have perked up a bit (but he's still not eating). Some sites have suggested Melafix can be toxic to labyrinth fish, so I threw that away... could that have been his problem? Anyway, now I'm waiting on him to eat... How long can a betta go without eating? It's been two weeks and I'm afraid I may find him dead from starving... I've offered him peas (for possible constipation) and he won't even eat those.

wow, he's doing alot better since i added him to fresh water with no melafix. the maracyn-two seems to be taking effect already. he's swimming more and actually ate 3 pieces of freeze dried brine shrimp (though he threw a tiny amount back up... is that bad?) i posted some pics of him and added a url. i know they're fuzzy but u can still make out the tearing at the top of his rear fin.

Image

There is no need to use a fungus elminiator every time you change his water. You could actually do more harm than good treating for things that are not present. If Melafix was bad for any sort of fish or invert, it would say on the bottle. It is a tea tree oil base, and is a natural product. I don't think it would harm any fish, especially because there is a betta product out called betta redmedy or something like that, and it's a tea tree oil. Same stuff. He looks beautiful if you ask me.
By the way, I like how you've summarized everything for me. It makes diagnosing a lot easier. Although a time frame for the beginning of the problems would be nice as well (no biggie though). Do you have an air stone in the tank with him? It's not necessary, but oxygen does help a stressed fish. The less work he has to do to get oxygen (in a low oxygen atmosphere - water) the more energy he has to fight what he's got. If you already have one, good.
So I'm taking it from the second post you have, that he's eating now... that's a good sign. Whatever he is eating continue to feed him. It sounds like you've got things under control. There really isn't any illness or disease that I know of that would have these symptoms. Sometimes as fish parents we over react to things (although tattered fins is nothing to ignore and neither is not eating).
As for the eating question you had, fish can live for 5 days just on the stored fats in their body. He was obviously eating something or he wouldn't have lasted for 2 weeks. There seems to be hope for the little guy, and I hope he pulls through.
-----
Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

thanks for the positive feedback. he's pretty much back to normal... and just as a heads up, the initial fin probs began around the end of december (looked like there was some white lint or something stuck to the tips). that's when i started the fungus eliminator. then a couple weeks later (mid-january), i noticed his fins were looking extremely ragged, so i began the melafix and still used the fungus eliminator at water changes... perhaps it was because i used the melafix with the fungus eliminator??? anyway, i stopped the melafix after the seven days, did a water change, and that's when he spazzed. he's active and eating now (even wit the fungus eliminator still being used), but i'm still concerned about his fins. i'm using the coppersafe/maracyn-II for him now because his fins haven't shown signs of regrowth... how fast should fins start to regrow with proper meds and will it be noticeable? if his fins still don't grow, what else should i try?

It's great to hear he's doing much better.

His fins may never grow back. He may have had the fin rot for too long. If he had it when you got him and you didn't notice, then it could have been long enough for it to cause permanent damage. No amount of medicine will help. Just keep an eye on it, and if it starts to deteriorate again, I would use the melafix or fungus eliminator in your case because I guess that works for him. Whatever works for him. I would check on the fungus treatment label to make sure there isn't a maximum time limit you can use it without ill effects. Other than that, keep doing what you're doing, it seems it's working wonders.
-----
Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."