Betta Dropsy Miracle

[starsplitter7]

My parents have the coolest Betta I have ever met -- Blue Fish. I gave him to them last year, and he has always been a super active, inquisitive, well feeding, happy, healthy Betta. He has a huge bowl with java moss and MTS. When either overrun the bowl, I take the extras home with me.

On April 12th I visited, he wasn't eating well, not very active, and I looked in the tank, and he had definite signs of Dropsy. He looked like a bloated pinecone about 3X his normal size. I have lost Bettas to dropsy so I told my parents the bad news that he would die, but if they wanted to make him feel better they would need to go to the store with me.

We went immediately, and bought a small bubble filter, a mini heater, Maracyn1 and Maracyn2 and aquarium salt at a cost of $65. The store clerk was amazed that anyone spent money on a sick Betta. Put all the stuff in the tank (used just the bubbler without the filter, so it wouldn't filter out the Maracyn), and he immediately hid under the heater. Cut the Maracyn 1 and 2 into small doses, and figured out he needed about 2 tsp of salt, so we started the Maracyn and 1/4 tsp of salt. Each day added the Maracyn 1 and 2 and the salt. On the fifth day did a small water change and put the filter on the end of the bubbler.

I assumed he would be dead by morning, but thought at least my parents would feel better knowing they did what they could for him. He made it through the day, and I went home. I don't think he had eaten properly in about a month.

A week later, my parents told me he was alive and eating, returning to his normal coloring (he had turned gray) and acting like himself.

I visited yesterday, which was two weeks to the day of the huge dropsy, and he looks absolutely normal, although a little skinny. He isn't bloated, no sign of pineconing, has bright colors, eating like a little piggy. I didn't think that fish recovered from dropsy, so I am astonished. My parents are very happy.

My mom is very careful about tank maintenance, so I am not sure how he got sick in the first place. The only thing is that he didn't have a heater and the house was in the low 70's, and I think the coolness stressed his immune system.

Just wanted to post that there is hope, and what we did incase anyone else needs to help a Betta in need.

[loachmom]

Great story!!! I love happy endings!

[starsplitter7]

Thanks. I am thrilled.

[Laura]

Congrats! I'm glad the little guy made it.