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Well, I returned from the LFS with one free, battered betta. I offered to bring him home, heal him up and bring him back. One of my fav LFS employees told me to bring him home, keep him for a few years and that I had to bury him when he died. And then he told me not to tell because it would ruin his reputation if it got around that he was a nice guy. So... uh... no telling!

Anyway, I saw him and just couldn't bear how tattered the poor thing was. He barely has any finnage left. I knew no one would want to buy him in that shape, so I figured I could bring him home, fix him up and bring him back in shape to sell. Now I've got a betta to keep. ...My parents are going to kill me.

Bloody hell... why can't I get this good of a picture when the entire fish is actually IN the frame?


In honor of the Olympics being in Greece and whatnot, I've dubbed this little warrior Spartan, because he surely must have gone through some nasty battles to wind up this way!


The odd thing is that they're usually very good about keeping their bettas... they're all in long, custom tanks that have solid dividers with long slits cut for circulation between sections. There's a cover over the whole thing so that they don't get into each other's sections. It's odd that he's so torn up... *shrugs*

Anyway, I've put him in an extra one gallon tank and dosed with melafix. I figure in order to give him a good chance to regrow nicely, the water will be changed frequently and I'll keep up the melafix dosing. How often would you suggest water changes? Perhaps 50% daily or every other day and a good 100% weekly? I can't imagine 100% daily would be good for him in such a state as he's in. I'd think it would be too stressful.

Also, you can't really see in the pictures, but I think the tip of his upper lip might be damaged? It's hard to tell, but he doesn't quite have that pugnacious look of my other bettas. He was busy peering around his new home and didn't want to stay still for very long.

In the second picture, you can already see the white edges which should mean regrowing fins. I hope he heals up nicely, but I have NO idea what I'm going to do with him. My parents are going to have a hissy fit when they notice him... which hopefully won't be for a while![/font][/font]

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

it's good to hear that another betta was rescued. best of luck from me.

I wish you good luck with your "battered betta". I have noticed that when I go into certain stores that sell bettas, I see two males in one of those little cups they put them in with usually one of them dead. The first time I saw this and asked one of the employees what had happened, he said they have a problem with "punk kids" putting them in together when no one was looking to watch them fight. One of them usually dies of course.
Perhaps this is what could have happened to your betta but was saved in time. *crosses fingers for you*

Since I cannot see any fungus problems on the fins and because Melafix and Bettas may not be a good combination, I would avoid the med.

Your Betta is malnourished, the reason for the torn and stringy finnage.

An improved diet with some tasty morsels, good water and TLC should improve the finnage and the rest of the fish.

I would avoid the Melafix which could prove to be fatal for weak and stressed Bettas.

--garyroland.

[span class="edited"][Edited by garyroland 2004-08-21 16:51][/span]

He hasn't eaten yet, though I've tried both betta bites and FD bloodworms. He doesn't seem interested and is quite shy. I'll keep tempting him.

Why do you suggest he might be malnourished? Am I missing some sign of such a condition? Other than not being terribly interested in food at this time, I don't see any difference (other than finnage) from my other bettas, who are ravenous eaters.

I've never had an issue with melafix before with my bettas... I wasn't aware there was an issue. I've heard that basically bettafix is a reduced concentration of melafix, because the labyrinth organ would be irritated by full dose (or something like that). Instead of paying more for the bettafix, I just use a small dosage of melafix, which I have on hand, anyway. I only add a few drops to the gallon, so it should be fine, yes?

Anyway, onto the good news... My sister's promised to take Spartan up with her when she goes to school. Well, after I heal him up and get him to eat and all. Her betta, Sapphire, lives in the living room of her apartment, and I think Spartan will live in her bedroom, perhaps. Along with her 15 gallon. I think Spartan should be a lovely little boy when he gets better... he looks like my Equity, only with more blue/purple.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I'd give something live a go, as betta's love to chase living things around to eat..

(don't most fish)

Give it to me RAW AND WRIGGLING!

Garyroland have you had somethig bad happen to your fish with MELAFIX, because this is the 2nd time i have seen you bag MELAFIX,
I find it is very very good to use on bettas with finn damege.
I post alot on other forums and so many others use it for repairing finns on un healthy,sick and poor bettas with good resalts and so have i.

[span class="edited"][Edited by 2004-09-02 12:00][/span]

I dunno... never had anything bad happen to my fish due to melafix. Spartan's doing great. Fin regrowth is looking good. Like I said, I only add a portion of a dosage for melafix, but it looks like it's helping. There's been no infection or anything of the sort.

Since I've never had issues with melafix, I can't agree with you, gary... What's happened in your experience?



"I'm SO much better looking than that guy on the food container, aren't I? I'll be prettier one day, I will, i will!"[/font]

[span class="edited"][Edited by Kitten 2004-09-02 13:19][/span]

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Aww he looks like hes getting better!

Yep! Still a bit shy, but eating readily. He's showing a lot more blue than he did when I got him. Turning out rather pretty, actually. I can't wait to see what he looks like when he's all better!

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Wow lookin good!

ashley

As far as I know, the only bad thing about melafix is that for bettas (since they are in smaller sized aquariums) it can be easily overdosed. However, I have cut back on using it and have found that my bettas that have had fin damage grow their fins back fine without the melafix.

I used a small dosage of melafix every day for a week on my betta when his fins were tearing a little. He was back to normal in no time.

]<]Dani<]<