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Ok, I've got a question...
I've got a betta with a white spot on his chin. Now after about a month, his scales tonight are standing out, and eyes are beginning to bug out. We've tried treating him with Melafix, but to no avail, and he isn't as active as he once was. He is about 2 years old now...
What can be done? Is there anything? What is wrong?
Thanks, Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Old Bettas never die, they just fade away...

And yours is doing just that, fading away.

Kidneys begin to fail producing excess fluid buildup as evident in the bulging eyes, the beginnings of Dropsy.

--garyroland.

Yeah, like Gary says, he is slipping away on you. Fish get dropsy; humans get ascites/edema from heart and/or kidney failure.

I just made my fish as comfortable as could be as long as he was eating. I figure any fish that is eating can't be suffering too much. But, when Bubba couldn't eat anymore and didn't die within the next 24 hours as I expected, I euthanized him with clove oil.

YOu can buy clove oil at any health food store and at some pharmacies. I use a baby medicine syringe to measure 9 mL and I mix that with about a cup of tank water in an oversized bottle so I can shake it vigrously. I put the fish in a container of tank water (about 1/2 to 1 gallon), the slowly pour the mixed solution in. Within about 10-15 seconds the fish will fall to its side. It goes unconscious. Lesser amounts are used to perform surgery on larger fish at this stage, but we overdose to put them to sleep permanently. Since it is used as an anesthetic, you need to follow through by leaving them in the solution for a longer period of time (30-60 minutes), then put them in the freezer with some tank water or sever the head. This is because they can regain consciousness in freshwater (like the toilet if they are not dead from overexposure) .

I have a friend who owns a fish store. He just can't bring himself to euthanize anything. He has "hospice" tanks that are dim where all of his hopeless cases go. Everyone has limits to what they can handle.


Last edited by Cory_Di at 01-Dec-2004 19:58

Last edited by Cory_Di at 01-Dec-2004 20:02

Thank you for the help, I'll pass it on to Leslie and let it be her decision. He is still trying to eat some...so he's fading, but not yet gone. I'll let ya'll know or Leslie will on what is decided for Gofish (Miss Sheila named him, after of course goldfish). Thanks again, Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle