Rescued a dying Betta Fish from my LFS?

Hello :3

Today I went to get sand for some tanks and I ended up picking up a half dead Betta fish. He just looks so bad, but I wanted to give him a chance.
I added Prime so all my readings are 0ppm for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate (will test withing 48hrs). I did not test the water because I wanted him out of the dirty cup water so I did a water change on the tank and added Prime.

I am not sure what to do.
He is in a 10g tank with an UGFilter, heater (lights are off) and that is it. The little guy has (I think) swim bladder issues. I gave him a pea, but he only took one bite and I am not even sure if he ate it. He can't swim down and just stays at the surface of the water lopsided. He is breathing which gives me hope.

His name in Lucky (how unoriginal, but if you saw him then you would agree he is lucky).
Thanks for all of your valuable help.
For now he is still alive. He is a male blue/red Crown tail. Although right now his colors look really faded as he is probably extremely stressed.

The lady who saw me take him said "our specialist will take care of him and he will get better so just pick another one" (I told her I wanted to rescue him) and she hid him from sight. I went over to the counter and picked him up again and just purchased him after the lady left. lol

2013-11-23T23:19:17Z

I was doing a fish less cycle for this tank, but I ended up doing a water change and adding the Betta fish in; I know I was rash, but I am sure my cycle is more than half way (I needed him out of the cup!). I started with an HOB filter in that 10g (don't have it anymore, it is on a different tank as a replacement for the one that burned out). I then added gravel from an established tank to the UGF. I will keep a close eye on my water and do the necessary water changes. Not ideal, but my big filter crapped out and this was the only tank that was underway.

He has more coloration now. I raised the temp to 82F.
He does not look "bloated", but can't swim. I am dreading an internal parasite.
He looks like he has a lot of ammonia burns. I hope he makes it.
Thanks for your suggestion will try it out.

Anonymous2013-11-23T22:56:33Z

Favorite Answer

Well done for taking this fish i never advice people to take sick and dying fish but i hope this little guy has a chance in your care .
I will be honest it does not sound good for this Betta but in your care who knows it may just survive .
All you can do is keep the lights out monitor all your levels daily and do water changes daily was this tank cycled ?

If its not then cycling with a betta is not ideal but its better than the way he was living .
You could try a Vegetable flake tetra make one has the same affect as shelled blanched peas .
I wish you luck and hope this little guy pulls through.

Edit..the betta will be ok even if the tank is half cycled as many people do cycle with fish in situations like yours and they do survive .this betta has a better chance of surviving in the tank you have than the cup he was in .
You are a very experienced fish keeper by the sounds of it so know exactly what you are doing so i think this little guy will pull through .

You are doing everything right and giving him the best chance of making a full recovery .i have taken fish in similar situations from friends who did not have a clue how to keep fish and i battled for a few weeks but they pulled through .
And all i did was water changes Ammonia 0 nitrite 0 and Nitrate under 20.Tank lights off unless i was checking the fish and all fish pulled through .
I have rescued fish with fin rot tail rot slime coat problems you name it i have rescued it .
But funnily enough none of my fish have ever had a disease or sickness .But every fish that pulled through i kept .The fish that sticks out the most was a Krib i took in no tail no fins and he was dying took a few months but his tail and fins grew back and i have had him 10 years now and rules the roost in my 300 gallon tank .

He will dart out of his cave and chase my severum and angel fish .then go back into his cave again .

I really wish you luck please let us know how he is doing if you dont mind doing so ?

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