VERY URGENT!

Question
QUESTION: Hi linda, my fish is extremely sick, i took him to the pet store the guy said its something internal..but im not sure what it is yet, I have been researching on their diseases but haven't found anything that matches..He doesn't eat, he barely swims, he has trouble swimming, his body isnt in a straight line (that's what the guy said), he looks a bit fat, sometimes he wud stay at the bottom and sit on its back like humans sit, sometimes he wud stay at the surface and try to go into the filter, hes always panting but has trouble coming up for air, sometimes he look fine sometimes he doesn't, im not sure of what to do, please get back to me asap! i dont want him2 die ay any cost, thank you so much for your time

ANSWER: Hi Udani,
It sounds like your fish as swim bladder disease.  This is caused by poor diet, and overeating, which leads to constipation.  Feed him a cooked frozen pea.  Remove the outer layer, and depending on the size of your fish, cut it into pieces, and feed it to your fish.  He must waste.  If he does not waste, treat him with tetracycline, or Furan 2.  If you can find Kanamycin, that would be great, but it is hard to find.  Do not let this disease linger on, as it could damage your fish internal organs.
It could also be due to his living arrangement.  You didn't mention what kind of fish you have, what size his tank is, or the temperature of the water, and what you feed him, so I cannot help you more.  I would be able to give you a better answer if you gave me more information.
Make sure that the water in your tank is free of ammonia, and nitrates.  Do a good water change before you medicate.
I hope this helps
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi lynda, thank you so much for getting back to me, really appreciate ur help, im giving u more information so you give me a better answer
my fish is a male betta fish, he also has a white spot on his eye, tank is about the size of a basketball, im not sure what the temp was but it was a bit colder than before because i moved him to another room, i didnt have a heater in the tank, i went in again to check on him since hes at the place where i bought him, they said they would treat him there within a week, im just wondering if i did the right thing by leaving him there instead of treating him myself, n plus they put him in a tank with goldfish for treatment, they said he has a bacterial infection b/c of the white spot on his eye, but i also believe it could be swim bladder disease
help me please

ANSWER: Hello,
First I will tell you how a Betta should be kept.  You may find this interesting, and it will give you answers to why your Betta is sick.

Bettas need 5 gallons of water or more to be healthy, and happy.
In their habitat the betta may live in shallow waters, but they have lots of room to swim.  
Keeping Bettas in small bowls, containers, vases etc, is cruel.  The Betta is one of the most mistreated fish on the market.
They need a heated tank.  Temperature should be 78-80-82 degrees.  They are tropical fish, and are cold under this temperature.  Cold bettas get sick, are miserable, and live unhappy lives. ( Always remember  when heating a tank, do this very very slowly..1 (one) degree every two days, as bringing up the temperature too fast would kill your Betta.)  The temperature should always be stable.  Fluctuating temperature is very bad for bettas, and any other fish.  
They should have a silk plant in their tanks, so that they can rest on the leaves  They also need a little tunnel or some knick knack that they can go through.   One teaspoon to five gallons of diluted aquarium salt may be added to his water, when a Betta is well.  
Aquarium salt helps them with stress, and helps with parasites.  However if a Betta is showing signs of a swollen tummy, salt should not be used.
They need a varied diet. This is very important.  Betta pellets one day, Betta Flakes the next, Daphnia the next, and bloodworms should be given once a week as a treat.
He should be given one well cooked frozen cooked pea a week, and on the day you give him the pea, he should fast.    
A betta is prone to constipation, and constipation leads to Swim Bladder Disease.  A frozen cooked pea a week keeps them from getting constipated.  Always remove the outer layer of the pea, and cut it into small pieces feeding it to your betta one piece at a time.
They should have 2-3 small meals a day, and not one big meal.  We must remember that their tummy is the size of their eye.
Example:  2 pellets for one meal.
Water changes are very important.  Water changes must be made every week without fail with a good water conditioner such as Aqua Safe or Stress Coat.  There is also a conditioner made especially for bettas.  If you do not have a filter, change all the water in his tank weekly.
Never put two bettas in the same tank, they will kill each other...male or female.  The Betta male is a loner.  Females can be kept together in a big enough tank, but they are also aggressive towards each other, and the tank should be at least 30 gallons with many hiding places.
When treated well, a betta can live up to 8 years, if you buy him when he is very young.  (Unfortunately we do not know their age when we buy them at the Pet Store which is why some bettas die two or three years after we have bought them.)
He's an intelligent little fish, and should be treated with kindness.
Too many vendors know nothing about the betta, and don't care...so don't give good information on how to keep them.
They are there to sell, and will say anything just to make a buck.  They send you home with your bought betta, telling you a small bowl is perfect, and bloodworms!  The poor customer thinks he has everything he/she needs, and then the fish gets sick, money is spent to cure him, and eventually the fish dies.   
This turns my stomach over.  Unfortunately there are no laws to protect fish.  
Bettas kept in small bowls, one gallon tanks, and vases, will get sick, and are very hard to cure in such little water.  They end up dying, and
that hurts the person who has grown so attached to them.  They don't deserve to be treated this way.
I don't believe in keeping bettas with goldfish for the obvious reason that a goldfish lives in cooler waters.  A cold Betta is a miserable betta, and I don't think he will be able to cure him with a goldfish.  I hope he does, but he has all the odds against him.  A Betta is a tropical fish.  
This is how a Betta should be treated.  If treated this way, you will have your friend for a long long time.  I have bred them, love them, and know what is good for them.
I would buy him a bigger tank, bring him back home, as he must be stressed with the goldfish.  This is not helping him.  Then I would put him in the same degree water he is in now, and buy a thermostat, and bring the temperature of his new tank up slowly, one degree every two days...I know I am repeating this, but it is very important.  I would buy Maracyn 2 or Tetracycline, and try to cure him myself.  This is what I would do.  It is up to you...I sure hope that the little fellow pulls through, and I will say a little prayer for him.

If you have anymore questions, do not hesitate to write me.
Lynda





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi lynda, i was reading your answer and i figured out what went wrong with him, i am going to the petstore today and bringing him home, i just have a few questions on how to take care of him til he's back to normal. what should i feed him right now until he gets better? should i put aquarium salt if he doesn't have a swollen tummy at this point? is it safe to put salt and tetra cycline together? is it swim bladder disease or a bacterial infection? how often should i feed him when he's sick? i heard if he doesn't eat then i should do a water change immediately. im not sure what the problem is so is it safe to use tetracycline? your right! the guy at the pet store told me they don't need heaters but when i was doing research for the past few days i realized he was wrong and they needed to be treated just like all other fish. thank you for your help once again :)

Answer
Hi Udani,
Fill your new tank with water the same temperature he is in now, and once he is in the water, bring the temperature up one degree every two days until you have it to 78-80-82.  Bring it up very very slowly as if you do this too fast it would kill your betta.  
Do not add aquarium salt if he has swim bladder disease.  Clean water, should help him.  
Wash all your gravel and things very well with hot water only.
Let your betta get use to his new suroundings.  The fact that he is back home, and sees you will help him feel more secure.  He has been through alot for a little fish.  They are very intelligent, and this little trip to the pet store has stressed him.
When he is comfortable, feed him one pea, and nothing else for one day.  He must waste.  If he does not waste, you will have to treat him with Kanamycin, or Tetracycline, or Furan 2.
If he won't eat the pea, treat him as soon as possible with a good antibiotic.
It may be a good idea not to put any gravel in his tank to see if he does waste.
Keep me posted on the little fellow.  I hope he pulls through.
Lynda