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one of my female bettas jumped out of her tank yestarday afternoon. i dont know how long she had been out, but i found her dryed up, stiff and motionless in the airconditioning vent. i thought she wass a gonner, but stuck her back in water just to make sure.
she immediately started moving, gills moving, ect.....
its been 14 hours since then, and she still is far from being herself.
Current set up is my 10 gal hospital tank, with about 4 in of water on the bottom, as she doesnt have the strength to get herself to the top for air. there are some smooth river rocks and some tiny silk plants for her to prop herself up on, temp is at 78, water was from her 3 gal tank.she is currently laying on a plant, with her head just under water, raising it occassionaly to breath. i had tried adding an airstone, to get more o2 in the water, but even a tiny amount of current knocks her off balance.
I just got in from work was actually surprised that she is still alive. i just now tried to feed her some bbs, her favorite, i dropped it right in front of her, and she just let it sink. not intrested at all. she is keeping herself upright, but having a r eal hard time moving around, as if the back 1/3 of her body is paralized.
Is there anything else i can do for her, do i give it some more time, or is it time to let her go ??

bettas are very hardy fish, i would increase temp slightly to aid, make sure lots of oxygen in the water if she can't get to surface and just wait and see.
i had a male that jumped out and he fully recovered after couple days.

the airconditionor could have drid her out damaging the scales to much.

sorry couldn't give any more advise

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk

i dont know how to get more 02 into the water as ANY water movement ( filter, air stone) knocks her off balance, and blows her away. thats why the water level is so low, with things she can prop herself up on so she doesnt have o swim to the top to breathe.all she has to do is rest on a rock or silk plant and stick her head up a bit.

Im sure it was the a/c that dried her out.

any other advise? any idea why she isnt/ cant move her tail?

shes lost tons of color in patches around her face/gills, im guessing these are badly dried ou scales, as it looks like the scales are still there, on a light grey now instead of steel blue and mauvey pink.

OK, what is needed here is some really good supportive nursing.

Dont worry about the dissolved oxygen, she will breathe from the surface.

Try and position a (silk) plant so she can rest on it and breathe without having to move. Keep her warm (about 24C is good, I dont know how to convert from F-C) Dont feed her if she is not eating, but keep her somewhere dark and calm, dont be tempted to look at her a lot, check on her 1xhour no more.

If you have betta or melafix, use a 1/2 dose. Plan to be doing 100% water changes every 2 days - use the drip method so as not to shock her.

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

the betta is in the "extra" bathroom, so as not to disturb her to much, ive got a night light on in the room, which is just enough light for me to peek in on her without disturbing her.

water changes arent a problem, temp is at 78F, which according to the calcutor here on the site is 25.5C.

ive got small silk plants and smooth rocks scattered every few inches along the bottom for her to rest on, and so she can rest and reach the surface for air.

Ive thought about adding melafix- but scared that she is to weak to ????? I dont plan on trying to feed her again till this evening.

she jumped and fell about 4 feet, if it makes a difference.

she still has some lint/dust on her from the air duct, i "washed" most of it off immediately after finding she was still alive, by cupping her in my hand and swishing water over her, while she was in the water if tht makes sence.- anyway, will the rest come off in time, or do i need to "wash" her again??? im scared to do it again, and stress her even more.

well i just checked on her, and she was trying to do her feed me im starving dance, so i gave her a crushed up flake, and she did eat, still not swimming well, but definately stronger than this am.
About 30% of her scales have turned a grey white color- is this from drying out? ive never had a fish that jumped, and dryed out live .
i did add the melafix, since she is getting stronger.
also all of her fins, except the ones dirrectly behind her gills ( not good with anatomy) are dry/crusty looking, will they grow back??