Betta with SBD

June 24, 2017 10:06 AM

After fasting him for a few days, trying to feed him a blanched pea, and antibiotics, what is next step in a betta SBD treatment regimen? Should I fast him for a few more days and try a daphnia or epsom salts? Or is this likely a bacterial infection that antibiotics should fix?

About a week ago, right after getting a new tank, I noticed that my -- technically my daughter's -- Betta was having trouble swimming up. I'm pretty sure he has swim bladder disease. He had a somewhat swollen stomach and poor coloration.

I moved him into a small 3 gallon tank with a low water level, no rocks and a resting spot near the surface. I also started putting a very small amount of melafix in his tank. After fasting him for 3 days gave him a blanched pea, which he did not eat. The swelling has gone down (still slightly swollen stomach) and his color is back. He's had one very large poop in that time, but he's still having a hard time swimming up. I've gone back to very light feedings, because I'm not sure how long you can fast a Betta.

He doesn't look like he's on the verge of death, but I'd like to get him out of the sick ward.

posted by Llamadogdad to Pets & Animals (1 answer total)

How old is the betta? Are the scales pineconing out (dropsy)? Ive had success with pea/fasting/daphnia for betta constipation, if thats the case you might try that, or food soaked in epsom salt brine. As always pristine water quality helps. Keep tank dark and low stress.

But once they dropsy it seems to be irreversible, have never found a treatment that works in older (2-3 y/o fish), i suspect end of life organ failure.
posted by Orca at 11:33 AM on June 24, 2017