For starters: Do not flush your fish yet until you have read this post. He may not be as dead as you think.
This is Duncan ↓ and he is constipated.
Do not feel sorry for him. He is absolutely spoiled, and we love him. He loves us too. He knows when we enter the room each morning. If we walk by him without speaking to him or feeding him, he will throw his glass rocks to get our attention. Then of course we have to show him some attention.
He is two and a half years old. In the past he has suffered tail rot in which you can read about it here.
But twice he has gotten constipated. Both times was when we went on vacation for a week and left him with a beta feeder tablet. I think he eats to much that way or either stresses out that we are gone. Id say its the second reason mentioned.
What is it? Its also known as "Swim Bladder" and its common for Beta Fish.
Symptoms: Duncan was unable to swim right. He swam sideways often floating on top or sinking to the bottom. I was preparing his funeral because this can be deadly if left untreated. His digestive track was enlarged and pressing on his swim bladder. I bet he was in pain too.
Possible causes: This is caused by flake food or freeze dried food which expand in a fishes stomach and a fishes eyes are bigger than their stomach. It can also be caused by the water being to cold making their metabolism slow down. Their water needs to stay around 76-80 degrees.
How to fix it: Start with clean warm water (close to 80 degrees, but add it slow so it doesn't shock him). Take all the rocks off the bottom so you can monitor his poop. Do not feed for 3 Days!!! He will be fine. Betas can go as long as a week without eating even though I wouldn't suggest it. That would be just mean.
After 3 days, take a frozen pea (not a fresh pea, it could have pesticides on it) and thaw it out. Pinch off the pea skin and chop up ONLY a quarter of the pea in tiny pieces and feed the fish. Its good for him and he will love it. This will make him poop and no longer be constipated.
How do I know this? Well, I am no pet expert but I used Google and looked up his symptoms and how to fix his problem. and it worked.
Duncan is fine today, back to his old self and still throwing his rocks and begging for food. I only feed him pellet food and I may just have take him with me on my next vacation.
His fish cave shown in the photo was purchased at WhiteCitrus and she has alot of other cool ceramics. Duncan stays in his all the time. When I clean his bowl, I have to make sure I place it back in the same position or we will have another problem. He will pout. Hes a hand full I tell ya.
Ive shared this at:
thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop at katherinescorner
weekend-bloggy-reading-link-up at serenitynowblog
OH!!!! This must be what happened to our old Beta fish Alef!!!! He died like three times before his final death when the cat accidentally ate him. I think it was Alef that got eaten. Maybe that was our other Beta fish. It was long ago. They are a fun pet, but not so great if you also have a cat.
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