Author Topic: Betta laying on side at bottom of tank (Read 25084 times) 62 replies

Littlefish · « **Reply #20 on:** August 22, 2018, 06:30:45 PM »

He's eaten another bloodworm this evening.

Sue · « **Reply #21 on:** August 22, 2018, 06:35:15 PM »

Good

Matt · « **Reply #22 on:** August 23, 2018, 08:12:24 AM »

How is Seb this morning Donna?

Littlefish · « **Reply #23 on:** August 23, 2018, 09:46:22 AM »

Still laying on his side, but still alive.
I'll do the same as yesterday - water change, offer bloodworm, add medication.

Littlefish · « **Reply #24 on:** August 23, 2018, 12:01:48 PM »

Mixed news.
I've done a water change, and added medication.
I offered Seb a bloodworm, and although he ate it eventually, it took a few attempts.
He certainly wasn't as enthusiastic about the food as yesterday. I'll offer him another worm in a few hours, and see how he accepts that.
I'm also concerned about the surface of the water. Although it is very low (approx. 4cm, enough to cover the filter laying on the bottom of the tank) he hasn't made it to the surface to breathe, as far as I'm aware. How much of a problem is this, and what should I do about it?
If he can't get off the bottom of the tank, either to right himself or get to the surface, am I actually causing him to suffer, and/or refusing to face an inevitable conclusion?

Littlefish · « **Reply #25 on:** August 23, 2018, 02:00:30 PM »

I've just offered the little fella another bloodworm, and he ate it straight away.

Perhaps I'd just stressed him out with the water change earlier.

Sue · « **Reply #26 on:** August 23, 2018, 02:53:45 PM »

Do you have a tub of some sort that you could rig up to float at the surface, and that you don't mind punching a lot of holes into? An old ice cream/margarine tub would be perfect. I have used strips of polystyrene tiles tied to the rim of a tub to get it to float. And some plants, or even a few bits of plant in the tub to give him security.

I know that you know what all this is for, but for anyone else reading it:
The holes are to allow water to circulate in and out of the tub.
Bettas need to gulp air so if they can't reach the surface themselves, we need to help them get there. Using something to support the fish at the surface so he doesn't need to move other than turn his head helps them gulp air.

Littlefish · « **Reply #27 on:** August 23, 2018, 03:25:13 PM »

It just so happens that I have a breeding trap/fry nursery thingy available.
I'll just sort out some more plants & stones, and I should be able to use the stones to get the base of the container close enough to the surface.

Littlefish · « **Reply #28 on:** August 23, 2018, 06:45:00 PM »

I put Seb in the breeding trap, and propped it up so it was closer to the surface.
I've also put some small anubias in the tank, and he still has the elodea.
I gave him a few hours to settle, and I've just offered him a bloodworm, which he has eaten.

fcmf · « **Reply #29 on:** August 23, 2018, 06:57:17 PM »

Keeping an eye on this thread and keeping my fingers tightly crossed for Seb.

Matt · « **Reply #30 on:** August 24, 2018, 05:58:07 AM »

Quote from: fcmf on August 23, 2018, 06:57:17 PM

Keeping an eye on this thread and keeping my fingers tightly crossed for Seb.

Same here, I think it's encouraging that he's eating readily. I'm personally taking this as he is not in too much discomfort. I have been trying to think what would cause a fish to lay on its side and swim bladder is popping to mind. This is due to pressure of other things on the swim bladder most likely so bloodworm should "flush him out" digestive system wise and the meds should hopefully help with anything which might be inflamed internally. I think the anubias is also I good idea. I should want something in there that would allow him to props himself upright should he wish...

I don't know if this helps at all. I'm just conscious that apart from old age which is still a possibility of course; we hadn't really discussed what else might be wrong...

Littlefish · « **Reply #31 on:** August 24, 2018, 07:32:14 AM »

Seb is still alive this morning.
I have a few errands to run first thing, but will be doing the water change/medication/bloodworm routine after that.

I am also keeping my fingers tightly crossed, and also trying to be realistic about the situation. While he is still eating, and not seeming too distressed, things seem ok. I would prefer to see him actually getting better, but will take him not getting any worse for now.

My initial panic made me completely forget everything I knew about fish, which is not a good thing. It wasn't until I starting preparing the hospital tank (i.e. doing something practical and useful) that I started to calm down a little.

I think you've got a valid point @Matt - it's also a shame that our fish can't speak and tell us how they are feeling.

Rustle · « **Reply #32 on:** August 24, 2018, 08:37:11 AM »

Good to hear that Seb is no worse fingers crossed.

Littlefish · « **Reply #33 on:** August 24, 2018, 02:16:07 PM »

At some point since this morning he has moved to a different corner of the fry trap - the section over the air stone. Also, as I was removing water during the change there was a point where his head was out of the water for a moment, and I saw him open his mouth several times. I'm hoping that he was taking the opportunity to gulp some air (as opposed to trying to yell "FFS woman, leave me alone").
So, I've just done a water change, and added the medication.
I'll give him some time to settle, then try offering a bloodworm.

Thanks for all the support.

fcmf · « **Reply #34 on:** August 24, 2018, 02:54:10 PM »

Quote from: Littlefish on August 24, 2018, 07:32:14 AM

My initial panic made me completely forget everything I knew about fish

This happens to me too, which is exactly the reason why I clarified Matt's dechlorinated water as it's very easy for the mind to read everything literally in the state of stress and potentially act on it rather than realise that a simple typo had occurred.

Keep up the good nursing skills with him - you're doing all that you can, and I'm continuing to keep my fingers crossed that it pays off.

Littlefish · « **Reply #35 on:** August 24, 2018, 03:26:16 PM »

In my initial panic I didn't notice the typo. Just goes to show I wasn't reading anything properly.

Anyway, I've just offered the little fella a bloodworm, and he has eaten it.
I don't want to get my hopes up, but he seemed a bit more active today. I've also noticed that, when the water is barely covering him, he can lift his head enough to get air at the surface. This does make feeding him almost impossible, so I had to add more water to enable him to eat, then remove the water to the lower level before putting the lid back on the tank. I'm hoping that it wasn't my imagination, but when the water level was higher he also seemed a bit more upright, rather than completely flat on his side.

Again, just to reiterate, anything positive could just be my imagination - apart from the eating, he definitely did that.

Matt · « **Reply #36 on:** August 24, 2018, 03:29:55 PM »

Sending positive vibes your way Donna

Sue · « **Reply #37 on:** August 24, 2018, 04:50:15 PM »

Of course when he recovers you'll have a bloodworm addict on your hands

Littlefish · « **Reply #38 on:** August 24, 2018, 05:08:25 PM »

Thanks Matt.

Sue, he's always been a bloodworm addict. He refuses to take betta pellets from the surface, and has been known to stare at me whilst the pellets sink. In return I have been known to hide from him until he eventually swims to the substrate and picks the pellets off the sand.
In his defense, bloodworms are defrosted every day for the dwarf puffers & mudskippers, so no wonder he gets a bit grumpy.
Kimi, the pale betta, will eat anything put into his tank.

Littlefish · « **Reply #39 on:** August 25, 2018, 07:43:05 AM »

Quick update - Seb is still with us.
I'll do another water change later today, and see how things progress.

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Betta Laying On Side At Bottom Of Tank

Betta Laying On Side At Bottom Of Tank

Author Topic: Betta laying on side at bottom of tank (Read 25084 times) 62 replies

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