I'm in desparate need of help with my betta...**UPDATE**

**Alysser** · 12-18-2006, 05:40 PM

I have bad news, I think Rio is dying. He had fin rot in July and it went away because we put medicine in the water. It worked very well. He has it agian, and this time it isn't going away. We've tried three kinds of medications and I have no clue what is wrong. It just isn't going away. He's also been acting strange. Not eating for a week, and then the next week he's eating like a pig. I've clean his tank 3 times in the last week because he doesn't eat the food and the water is just getting dirtier and dirtier. I've almost had him a whole year since we "rescued" him from Petco, and I thought he was pass the danger point a long time ago. I don't want to loose Rio now. Anyone know what could be wrong?

UPDATE: Rio is definately getting better. His fins were very jagged on the edges and now they are beautifully straight. It even seems his scales are more shimmery. We had a little trouble getting him to eat the medicine, but he eventually did. I'm very happy with his progress. I even took pics of his "Stages" as you would call it and I see much improvement. Like the advice given I am continuing with the 100% water changes. I didn't find that freshwater salt in PETCO though, so I don't know if that would help very much.

**Alysser** · 12-18-2006, 05:53 PM

I looked up some other treatments and it said in most cases, stress is the problem. I think that's what it is, We'll be putting Rio in a bigger tank, and seeing how that works, also probably give him so more of the medicine, but this time a different antibiotic. I hope this works!

**My Peanuts** · 12-18-2006, 06:04 PM

You should get fresh water aquarium salt and introduce it slowly for the first time. Also look into Pimafix and Melafix, I forget which one is for fin rot. It's awesome stuff and it's not hard on their little bodies.

**BC_MoM** · 12-18-2006, 07:46 PM

Many would be against what I'm going to say, but I'll say it anyway - don't change his water so often. It could be stressing him out. I've left my guy for weeks without changing his water and he's healthy as can be. They don't get their water cleaned when they're out in Asia.

**Christmas_Hamster** · 12-18-2006, 07:52 PM

Don't do 100% water changes just do a 30% changes a day it won't be as stressful and it will keep the water clean.

**Zippy** · 12-18-2006, 08:03 PM

You might not want to move him to a bigger tank if he is already stressed moving him to a new home would put more stress on Rio.

**Alysser** · 12-18-2006, 08:03 PM

Too tell you the truth I clean his tank regularly every 2 weeks, but lately its been very dirty that I couldn't even see him. I will definately take your advice, thank you all! We'll be going to PETCO soon to pick up the antibiotics, freshwater salt, and a bigger tank.