Hi all,
I had 1 male 2-year old Betta in a 2.5 gallon tank. (See below for more details.) About a month ago he started bloating up. I suspected constipation, and administered fasting for 4 days and then fed him a mashed pea. When that failed to work, I tried Epsom Salts (1/2 tsp. per gallon). Still no change. The PetSmart staff advised Melafix, and I treated him with that for almost 3 weeks. He seemed to be getting better, but eventually bloated up again.
As a last resort, I tried Maracyn II (thinking that maybe he had an internal bacterial infection). I treated him with that for 5 days but this morning I woke up and he had passed. :`(
Please help me figure out what this was! Could it have been dropsy? His scales were not pineconing although they were stretched (about 7 times normal size). I want to prevent my next betta from dying of the same disease Comet did.
Thanks for your help!
Detailed Info:
What is your tank size?: 2.5 gallons
Filtered/heated?: Yes
Aerated?: No
What are your water quality readings?:
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Chlorine: 0
Alkalinity: 180
Hardness: 50
pH: 7.2
Ammonia: safe
Fish age?: 2 years
Symptoms?: Severe bloating, lack of defecation
Treatment?: Fasting/mashed pea/Melafix/Maracyn II
I had 1 male 2-year old Betta in a 2.5 gallon tank. (See below for more details.) About a month ago he started bloating up. I suspected constipation, and administered fasting for 4 days and then fed him a mashed pea. When that failed to work, I tried Epsom Salts (1/2 tsp. per gallon). Still no change. The PetSmart staff advised Melafix, and I treated him with that for almost 3 weeks. He seemed to be getting better, but eventually bloated up again.
As a last resort, I tried Maracyn II (thinking that maybe he had an internal bacterial infection). I treated him with that for 5 days but this morning I woke up and he had passed. :`(
Please help me figure out what this was! Could it have been dropsy? His scales were not pineconing although they were stretched (about 7 times normal size). I want to prevent my next betta from dying of the same disease Comet did.
Thanks for your help!
Detailed Info:
What is your tank size?: 2.5 gallons
Filtered/heated?: Yes
Aerated?: No
What are your water quality readings?:
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Chlorine: 0
Alkalinity: 180
Hardness: 50
pH: 7.2
Ammonia: safe
Fish age?: 2 years
Symptoms?: Severe bloating, lack of defecation
Treatment?: Fasting/mashed pea/Melafix/Maracyn II