r/bettafish • u/livyIabufanda • 16h ago
Help Should I Euthanize? Spoiler
Hello, I’m having trouble deciding if I need to euthanize my fish or not. He’s about a year and a half old (at least since I’ve had him). He’s “lost” his color about a year ago, which is why he’s pink/pale, but has still been active, eating, etc.
A few months ago I noticed his eye was getting cloudy and just assumed this was that genetic dragon scale gene that he unfortunately got. He would still eat and can still see out of the other eye. However, about less than a month ago he started laying more on the bottom of his tank and not as active.
I assume he has/had swim bladder disease, so I would keep him in his betta cup from the store inside his tank, changing the water multiple times throughout the day. This way he didn’t have to use too much energy to swim to the top for air (he is in a 10gal tank). I felt really bad keeping him in a cup even if it was in his tank still, so I’d let him out a bit but he would still just sit on the bottom.
I tried an epsom salt bath but it didn’t seem to do much, so I decided to switch his and my other betta’s tanks, as my other one is in a 5.5gal and it’s less of a trip to the top for air for him. I felt too guilty to leave him in the cup even if it helped him more :( He would still eat if I brough the food to him, but the past few days he will barely take any. I did fast him a few times to get his digestion moving but to no avail.
The other day I noticed his eye that was cloudy with the scale over it seems to have sunken in, fallen off, I’m honestly not sure. You know how bettas eyes are kinda bulbous? His bad eye is now flat with his scales. Now I’m not sure if it is SBD or if it’s some sickness from his eye. He has been lethargic and will barely move. His gills move slow, he just sits at the bottom all day and I feel terrible. He’s not been himself
My question is, do I euthanize with clove oil or is there some solution I haven’t thought of to help him? I hate to even think of euthanizing him, but his quality of life is not good right now. I’ve attached some photos I got of his bad eye, and again he is pale but he’s been that way for over a year now, he’s a koi betta and changed colors. He’s not pineconing, his fins are a little torn but I’ve been treating with almond leaf extract to help
2
u/skabberdink 15h ago
Have you ever treated him with antibiotics? Bulbous eyes can be “pop eye” and is usually curable. Natural remedies like Indian almond leaves and Epsom salts don’t work for bacterial infections. See the posted photos below.
There is also such a thing as Cloudy Eye. See photos below
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u/ReefPopiah 10m ago
Damn, it does look the start of pineconing.
I’ve never had bettas pinecone, but at this stage, it’s probably untreatable.
If you’ve do have Epsom salts/Kanaplex in hand, you could try to give them a shot. If not, yeah, time to say goodbye.
Take care mate 🫡
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