identifying a possible dropsy condition

[dawnings]

I'm really worried about my sister's betta, Bob. She left him with me in August and never came back for him. I went to the fish store and asked the worker what I needed to take care of him - I didn't research online, I just listened to what he said. Now I'm reading all these posts and websites, and I'm realizing I've been doing things wrong. Hopefully, I can make it right for him.

I was told a 1.5 gallon tank was fine, and that I didn't need a heater since the worker's tanks were at 68 degrees. But my tank is at 71 degrees. I've been doing 50% water changes every week because of the tank type. It's been 9 months without issues, but on Friday, I noticed Bob was sick.

He's just sitting at the bottom, only coming up for air, and he's not eating. I think his scales might be protruding - I'm not sure if it's bloating or dropsy. Now he's on his side. I'm guessing it's dropsy. I want to try and treat this. I moved him to a different tank so he can easily reach the surface - the decorations in his main tank were in the way. I tried feeding him peas, but he didn't eat. I'll be changing the water.

I've also tried Epson salt baths three times, but he's not getting better. I can get medicine from a store, but I want to make sure I'm not harming him more. Can anyone tell me what's going on with Bob? I really appreciate you reading this.

[juicebox]

I'm really worried about Bob, I was thinking, did his condition get worse overnight, like did he swell up or anything?

Also, I should probably check the water quality, right? So I was wondering what my ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels are, I don't have a test kit at home but I can get one.

And about his scales, when you look at him from the top, do they stick out like the points on a pinecone? I'm trying to figure out if it's dropsy or something else.

[dawnings]

An update to my post - Bob's upright now, not on his side. I'm still unsure about the nitrate levels, hadn't checked those yet. I did notice he was getting bigger last Monday, so it's been over a week. I fasted him on Friday, but when I didn't see any poop, I did it again on Saturday. He finally pooped on Sunday, but after that, he just didn't want to eat and stayed at the bottom of the tank.

When I look at him from above, the scales in the front where the swelling is do look a bit like a pinecone, but the back is only slightly raised. I've been looking at pictures online, and it doesn't seem as extreme as some of the other cases I've seen.

[juicebox]

If you suspect constipation, try feeding him a boiled, shelled pea to see if that helps. If it's dropsy, the outlook isn't great, but you could attempt to treat a bacterial infection with medicine - it might make a difference.

[dawnings]

I tried the pea, but he won't touch anything. He just comes up for air and then immediately goes back down.

[juicebox]

I'm pretty sure it's dropsy, unfortunately. I'd recommend trying to get some bacterial medicine for him, but the chances of recovery aren't great. Poor water quality is usually the culprit behind this. Do you have a test kit to check your water parameters?

A 75% water change might help, but either way, it's something you should do ASAP.

[dawnings]

i don't have a test kit, unfortunately. i'll change the water in the main tank and give everything a good wash. i did a full clean 2 weeks ago with just hot water, nothing else. i've been using filtered water for his tank the whole time. i haven't added anything to the tank since december, that's when i got him the moss ball.

[juicebox]

I'm really worried about my sister's betta, Bob. She left him with me in August and never came back for him. I went to the fish store and asked the worker what I needed to take care of him - I didn't research online, I just listened to what he said. Now I'm reading all these posts and websites, and I'm realizing I've been doing things wrong. Hopefully, I can make it right for him.

I was told a 1.5 gallon tank was fine, and that I didn't need a heater since the worker's tanks were at 68 degrees. But my tank is at 71 degrees. I've been doing 50% water changes every week because of the tank type. It's been 9 months without issues, but on Friday, I noticed Bob was sick.

He's just sitting at the bottom, only coming up for air, and he's not eating. I think his scales might be protruding - I'm not sure if it's bloating or dropsy. Now he's on his side. I'm guessing it's dropsy. I want to try and treat this. I moved him to a different tank so he can easily reach the surface - the decorations in his main tank were in the way. I tried feeding him peas, but he didn't eat. I'll be changing the water.

I've also tried Epson salt baths three times, but he's not getting better. I can get medicine from a store, but I want to make sure I'm not harming him more. Can anyone tell me what's going on with Bob? I really appreciate you reading this.

i don't think a full water change is the best idea, it could get rid of the beneficial bacteria. if you want to, you could do 90% tho.

[juicebox]

If Bob makes it through this, I'd really think about upgrading to a 5-gallon tank. It should have a proper filter and a heater to keep the temperature around 78 degrees. I know it's a bit of a change, but betta fish need the extra space to thrive.

[dawnings]

I didn't realize that about the water changes, I'll make sure to be more careful with that from now on.

If Bob pulls through, I'm planning on getting him a whole new setup - a 5-gallon tank with a filter and heater, the works. This experience has really shown me how much I care about him, and I want to give him the best life possible. He's been living on the dining room table this whole time, and he's truly part of the family. I've even given him his own little placemat and "seat" - we don't move him when we have company over, they just have to sit a bit further down the table.