Sick bett fish

Question
Hello.  My beta fish has a dried blood worm diet only.  He won't accept the pellots anymore once he had a blood worm.  Anyways, he is a fish I keep on my desk at work.  Several people take turns feeding him when I'm not at work, feeding him a pinch of blood worms twice a day.  Last week he started feeling ill and wouldn't half eat.  His abdomen looks swollen, his scales are definitely raised and he's staying at the top of the tank.  He also looks like he has little teeny tiny pin holes in his long fins, which he has never had before.  I did a water change yesterday with properly aged water, as I always do.  He keeps "burping" water while he sits at the top.  He doesn't move around like he usually does, and he tries his best to hide from me.  He refuses to eat.  Is it possible he has swim bladder?  

Thank you for your help!! Susan Thomas

Answer
Hi Susan
Poor little guy.
Sounds like he may have dropsy, which is a term used to describe abdomen swelling with scales sticking. There could be many causes to this and unfortunately once it reaches this stage it can be difficult to reverse.

Dropsy is stubborn and hard to treat with the right meds. I'm afraid you may not have much of a chance even with the best of treatment.

You should definitely read this short article about dropsy.

http://nippyfish.net/dropsy.html

Best of luck, I'm sorry to hear about the poor betta. :(
Karen~