I was cleaning out my divided betta tank, and had moved all 3 of them into various bowls so I could take the dividers out and do a good gravel cleaning. I was smart and put the dividers over the bowls so they couldn't jump out. After the gravel cleaning, I put the final divider in place and went to get the fish... but Cocoa wasn't in his bowl! I looked everywhere, and couldn't find him! I was getting more and more frantic!! After what seemed to be an eternity, I found him about 10 feet away from his bowl IN THE SUN on the hardwood floor . I immediately put him back in the bowl (which maybe holds 1/4 gallons) and he's breathing... he's full of hairs and fuzz from the floor... I put in a drop or 2 of prime, hoping that will help his slime coat and also compensate for the teensy amount of water he's in.

I dont' know what to do now... he's still all fuzzy, not using his fins, but I don't want to stress him out.. Should I put him in a bigger bowl? This would require fresh water, and I just don't want to do anything to make him worse... I have melafix, should I use that? Please help!!

I personally would not dump a bunch of meds in his tank and risk stressing him even worse...I would think giving him the best quality water possible would be the best solution. Of course if you start seeing wounds or fungus or something, then treat that but I wouldn't personally treat just to treat.

What are the parameters in the tank he is in? If the water is 100% cycled with no ammonia or nitrites and nitrates under 20 ppm, I'd leave him be vs putting him in an uncycled tank. If the params are not on target like this, then fresh water may be better.

fishyfan,

he's not in his tank, he's in a bowl (actually a tupperware) atm. His tank is cycled... but I hesitate to put him in there for a couple of reasons:

1: the current will be strong, and his fins aren't working very well
2: it would be a long way up to swim for air
3: the stress of seeing the other fish might do him in
4: the snails might get him

I've decided not to add the melafix. I'm going to leave him be, nice and quiet and dark, and hopefully he'll recover.

So, his bowl is not cycled. I have added prime, which will enhance stress coat and detoxify ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.

He's starting to look a little better. He's started using his fins again, and the fuzz is falling off his body. His eyes are all cloudy and crusty, though...

I had this happen to peanut a few months ago. His fins have grown back, but he can't see well out of one eye...he had a huge patch of scales missin on his head..ect.

Do NOT add any meds this soon. It will be too much stress for the little guy. I assume the water is perfect because you just changed it, so just leave him alone overnight. If he makes it overnight, he has a real chance.

Tomorrow you can see how he is. He will prolly loose some fins and might get pop eye, so if he is doing better tomorrow you can add a TINY amount of melafix and watch him like a hawk, some bettas do badly with it.

Good luck with the little guy.

The water is far from perfect. This is my main concern... the water is full of the fuzz that his body was coated in. Should I do a water change tonight before bed?

He is not looking too good, laying on the bottom and gasping now. I did a water change because all the lint that had stuck to his body was floating around in the water. I don't think he'll be with us in the morning.

Awwwww....sorry to hear that.

Well... Cocoa didn't make it He was a great betta... RIP

Awww! I'm so sorry to hear it!

I am so sorry for you! You tried. *hugs*

Oh, I am sorry to hear that Cocoa did not make it! I guess the sun was just too much... He may have been relly hurt in the fall... at least he is not suffering anymore.

I'm sorry,I'm sure he was a great betta

Thanks for all the nice words, guys

I know this is an old post, but how did the fishie get 10 feet from the table!?

He wasn't on a table... his bowl was on the floor. he must have flip-flopped across the wood floor until he came to rest in the sun. That's the only way it could have happened, as I don't have a cat or anything that could have moved him.

awww. Trish im so sorry you lost him.

Hey, I'm sorry about your fish. But this has happened to me repeatidly. ONe of my fish never woke back up, but the other one survived two times.

The first time, he lived. The second, he was in a similar condidition of the fuz and all that, and ironicly, I just tapped the glass ever so slightly, and in a burst of color, he was back to normal.

it was weird.

I know I'm a little late on this, sorry to hear you lost your betta this way.. a terrible way to lose them just lost one of my 1st females this way last friday