|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:34 pm
I noticed his swollen belly about two days ago but brushed it off, thinking that it was from too much food. But after skipping a meal (as I had no peas to ease the constipation), his belly was still quite swollen, and I began to have a suspicion. Holding my lamp above it, I felt my heart sink as I saw his raised scales.
Goddamnit.
I never actually thought I would have to deal with dropsy, only mild diseases such as ick and finrot, and now.... No pictures of him, as I let my cousin play with my cheap camera and she's lost it. There may still be some hope for him, however. The scales aren't totally pineconed, and his fins aren't clamped and he was flaring at his neighbor, but he has been sitting near the bottom of his tank moreso than usual.
Moved him to a quarantine tank, a one gallon bowl. Put a bit extra aquarium salt in, and added QuICK cure and a fungus treatment, as those are the only medications I have and I might as well try. Also have been reading about dropsy, and wikipedia says that having a slightly higher temperature may help so I put his jr. heater in the bowl despite it being for 2 gallons and up.
I have to leave now, but will update on his conditions.
ISF
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:29 pm
Perhaps it was simply the lighting that made it look like his scales were raised? I can't say much, as I have not seen him for myself, but once in a while I do a check up on one of my bloated fish and think they've pineconed. Most often this seems to be because they're so bloated up though, that the scales seem to be sticking out.
Is it the whole body's scales, or just around his stomach area?
Also, I wouldn't throw in all the medications you have if I were you. Too much medication can hurt the fish more than heal it.
What temperature is the water right now?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:03 pm
Update: brought home some Maracyn 2, which according to the Petland guy will help treat dropsy (and it says so on the box). Casanova's not looking too good, though, so I hope the meds will help.
Kokuryuu: I'm almost positive that it's dropsy, looking at some of the pictures of other people's bettas on Ultimatebettas that have it. His belly is quite swollen and greyish and looking from above you can really see that his scales are more raised than is healthy. I'd say I'm 95% positive.
Yeah. I'm quite the panicking sort and I do go overboard with the meds. I was looking at dropsy topics on ultimatebettas and a girl with a whole boatload of dropsy cases said she was treating her fish with everything she had and it wasn't helping, so she decided to use QuICK cure as it was the strongest thing she had (and she had Maracyn 2, I believe. I'll try and find the topic and see if I read it properly). Of course, the last post of hers that I remember wasn't very positive.
The temp's about 75...I'm starting to get suspicious that the jr. heater is broken, though...
But 75's about right for a betta, so I placed the bowl slightly nearer to my room heater, being especially careful not to place it so it will get overly warm or any hot spots to raise up the temp a few degrees. I'm keeping an eye on the thermometer, though.
ISF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:51 am
Update: I've decided to remove my QuICK cure from my fish medicine cabinet. So, malachite green is a main ingredient in the quICK cure, which give the medicine its blue color. http://www.sciencedirect.com The toxicity of this dye increases with exposure time, temperature and concentration. It has been reported to cause carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, chromosomal fractures, teratogenecity and respiratory toxicity. Histopathological effects of MG include multi-organ tissue injury. Significant alterations occur in biochemical parameters of blood in MG exposed fish. Residues of MG and its reduced form, leucomalachite green have been reported from serum, liver, kidney, muscles and other tissues as also from eggs and fry. Toxicity occurs in some mammals, including organ damage, mutagenic, carcinogenic and developmental abnormalities. So its carcinogenic properties increase in higher temperatures, and causes multi organ tissue damage, including the kidneys. Dropsy is caused by kidney damage, and bettas are warm-water fish. Well, geez. Didn't I just put gasoline on the fire. There ARE some scientific articles floating around online that say malachite green prevents proliferative kidney damage, but those experiments used coldwater fish, such as rainbow trout and other salmonoids. Hm. I feel that a water change for Casanova is due today. ISF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:51 pm
Update: I changed Casanova's water soon after the last post. I really hope that it didn't stress him out too badly.
I bought some peas after work and tried to feed him some, but he refuses to eat. I think his belly is looking more swollen and his scales more raised, but I may be paranoid.
Well. I can just pray that the Maracyn kicks in soon.
Off topic, I think I saw my soulmate in the fish section at Wal-Mart. After getting the peas I went to the bettas to look at them for a little bit.
"Get the ones in the back," a guy said. He was with his friend and looking at the tanks.
"I've got five at home, so don't think I really need another one," I said. Then I went to were the aquarium products were and while I was looking for another jr. heater I heard that guy say to his friend (they had begun looking at the bettas), "I'd hate to be one of those bettas. There lives suck."
"Why?" his friend asked.
"Dude, they're in cups. If they don't sell these things in a few weeks they'll die."
Dawww. He knows the proper conditions of keeping a betta. That's the way to a betta fanatics heart, that right there. heart
ISF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:23 am
I recommend you raise the temperature just a bit more, to around 78 degrees. I know 75 is a good temperature, but when sick, a slightly warmer water will do better (save for ick. Then you REALLY have to crank it up).
Hmm.... I think I'd better change my fish's water soon too...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:32 pm
Update: Came home. Casanova was dead.
I feel like a worthless piece of s**t. If only I hadn't been so rough to Casanova.
But thanks for the advice there, Kokuryuu. With this new experience under my belt and your helpful advice, along with me having the necessary medications to treat dropsy, next time I won't be so rough on the fish and may be able to help it rather than hurt it. Only wish I hadn't lost an innocent life in the process.
My grandmother laughed when she saw me in the hallway holding my bowl and the dead fish and looking like my friend died. (He did...)
But anyways, all equipment has been well-sterilized with bleach and hot water. I'll probably move Valentino into the 2.5 after a few days to be sure there's no bleach residue and if I'm good with my check next week and start depositing half in the bank I'll reward myself with another fishie to begin the necessary healing process. I saw an absolutely ADORABLE one at Wal-Mart.
Sigh....I don't even know that hot fish-guy's name. The human I saw there, I mean. heart
ISF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
