PrettyPink08

I have a Pink Male betta That i got in may of 07

I recently moved him to a 10 gallon tank from a 3 gallon tank after noticing him not swimming around anymore and looking bored so i thought "ok, maybe he wants more room"

well he just sits @ the top of the tank and floats then swims to the other side and sits and floats

he very rarely swims around @ the bottom

My tank has a heater, a hood w/ two lights, 2 fish houses, 5 plants and a filter that come w/ my 10 gallon tank

i'm very worried about my bambam *his name*
even when i turn the filter off he still sit there
i thought the current could be too strong but idk!!

any suggestions?


This is my betta in about november of 07 in his 3 gallon tank when he was happy and active

PrettyPink08

could my poor bambam be on his death bed?
im so worried about him!

≈ D ≈

PrettyPink08

Cycle?
Like let everything set up? I let everything run for 48 hours
and i started off w/ distilled bottled water
but he did the same thing in his other tank before this one
just sits and floats!

≈ D ≈

Um, that didn't cycle it.

Basicly, bambam is stressed.

Fistly, you should read this

PrettyPink08

Dangit!!
Ok well he's already and his old aquarium is already gone
so now what?

PrettyPink08

I do have an ammonia test kit in a drawer i got awhile back
should i check the water?

PrettyPink08

ok the ammonia test is done
it is @ 0 PPM

valentine

go to the fish store/petstore tomorrow and get "cycle" it will help speed things up and if you know anyone with an aquarium diry filters from a cycled aquarium or dirty gravel can help you can put it in a nylon sock and hang it in the aquarium

stay up with water changes it's really important at this point

EDIT* i've used the cycle for a long time noe and never had a problem and the tanks fully cycled about 1-2 weeks faster than with out

Blub

capekate

I agree with Hatchethaven, that the cycle product does nothing good for your tank.
Your guy is in a new tank, and its possible that he is just acclimating to his new and larger surroundings. I have never cycled a tank before adding any of my Bettas and a few Ive had are just shy of a year and they are still doing great.
Betta's in my opinion are one of the few fish that can get away with starting a home in an uncycled tank, and I am sure there are a lot of folks out there who will disagree with that statement. But if my guys are any indication of success, I can say that the Betta is very hardy. The betta tanks are now all cycled from time and in the beginning I made sure that I did partial water changes and tested the water readings so that there never was any danger of problems for my guys.
Just make sure to do partial water changes and do add a water conditioner such as Prime with every water change. BAMBAM sounds like he has a wonderful home there and hoping that he does well soon.
~ kate

capekate

I forgot to ask.. how is he eating? does he swim right up for his meals and get active at that time? Could be he is just an older betta, now that you have had him for a year, and is not as active as a youngster.
One of my guys, Glory loves to just lounge around on his sword plant taking 'cat naps'... and watching the world around him from there. But he comes alive when its time to eat. My other guy Phoenix is about a year old ( march) and he also swims around... checking things out, then takes naps. My girls who are much younger love to swim all over the place and enjoy following each other behind the divider.
All bettas have their own personalities... some are more active than others, some are shy... some could care less.. just gimme the food, and others love to interact with us.
If your guy's coloring looks good.. no fin rot.. no breathing heavily ... and is eating.. your ammonia is at 0, Id say he is just getting used to his new digs!

~ kate

PrettyPink08

I live in a very small town so just running to the pet store involves a 2 1/2 hr one way drive!!
I've never cycled any of his other tanks because they were all so small I usually did a full water change, which i know is debatable so say full change is bad in small some say its ok, well he's still alive!

Bambam never runs to the top when i feed him and hasn't for months, if i watch him he wont do anything, but when he know i quit watching he will swim and be active and i hope eat
i was going to try getting him to eat a pea later because i read that is helpful sometimes?

Also I've seen a little food ring so the food stays in one spot, do those work/week the tank a little cleaner? I was thinking maybe if its always in the same spot he will get use to it?

PrettyPink08

I took 2 pictures
one of the tank
and one of him
the one of him in the tank is a little blurry sorry he's camera shy!


Also I read that putting something on the glass makes him see his reflection less
would dark fabric work? Because i cant get a aquarium thingy (sorry not sure what it is called) in my town!

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Barbrella

Don't use distilled water for water changes. It's totally lacking in the minerals, salts etc that fish need.

Use regular tap water of the correct temperature and add the Prime as capekate mentioned.

PrettyPink08

Should I do a 25% water change today?
I use Betta water conditioner and some Tettra brand safe water stuff

Also i was thinking about getting some ghost shrimp like 2? to go in the tank maybe that would keep him interested in moving around?

Richard

In addition to everything mentioned in the previous posts, don't forget the lifespan of a Betta is pretty short (2-3 years).. and the older they get is the less they seem to move around.

PrettyPink08

yup! sad but a fact of life
I did a 2 gallon water change
and i tried feeding him some blood worms
he's not interested
he doesnt even look @ them!

capekate

Hi PrettyPink...
You can use dark cloth for a background. I made a background for my 55g tank using heavy cotton, doubled and ironed on seams. I used double sided velcro to attach to the back of the tank. This way I can easily take it off if needed for washing. I personally love the black background, it shows off the tank and fish so much better than a patterned one.
BUT since you are thinking of using it on the betta, there is a greater chance of reflections off the solid coloring. Another idea for background is getting some kewl patterned wrapping paper... it doesnt cost much and most local stores have wrapping paper. Have to be careful with it so that it doesnt rip, but it doesnt cost much, and you would have a whole roll to use.
Other than that, on one of my betta tanks I took hard paper stock and painted a background.
There are all kinds of ways to create a background without having to drive 2.5 miles to the LFS. But when you do have to go there.. you can pick up a background then.

~ kate

PrettyPink08

I found some scrap black cloth i had from a school project that was the perfect size for the back of the tank and is really good at anti-glare and makes the colors of his scenery pop more!
2 of his plants glow in the dark and at night i see him swimming around
but not during the day!
I turn the filter off @ night (is that a bad idea?) to give him a lil break from the movement of the water maybe thats why?

COBettaCouple

It's possible that he has internal parasites bothering him if he's lethargic and has little to no appetite. If that sounds like him, then you might want to treat him with Parasite Clear tablets, which can usually even be found at walmart.

PrettyPink08

My nearest walmart is like 2hrs away!!
I'm going to go to my local hardware store (also carries pet supplies)
and see what they have!
When my filter is on he floats on his side!
but he swims straight i think he's just getting old!!

capekate

Hi PrettyPink..
I was thinking after reading the above post, not sure if anyone else mentioned this, but is it possible that the flow from your filter is just too strong a current for him? If it is, and you have no way to turn the flow to a low current, how about adding some filter media to the inner filter? Like stuffing another sponge into the filter, it may slow the flow down and he wont have to try swimming through the strong current. It sounds like that is what he is trying to do and that the current is pushing him away...


~ kate

PrettyPink08

Hey Capekate,
where should i put the sponge Like where the water comes out or on the side of the filter before the water passes through it? Its non adjustable, what kind of sponge should i use?
i turned the filter off and he's still on his side, he's breathing but on his side,
but he has no signs of illness and the water is crystal clean, 0 ammonia, and the water temp is between 75-80F and i dont think he's been eating
i think he's just getting old?

capekate

Hi PrettyPink...
If he is still laying on his side, when the filter is off, then I doubt its the filter that is causing the problem. What kind of filter are you using?
Poor lil guy... cant figure out whats wrong with him, but if he is a year old, I cant say that it is "old age" that is the problem. One of my guys is about a year old, and seem fine for that age. Your ammonia is at 0, what about nitrates? What is your water change schedule?
I wish I was able to give you some good advice to get him up and moving around.... I wish you the best of luck...


~ kate

PrettyPink08

I'm using an Aqua Tech 10-20 power filter
i think it is a little big for the tank, 10g, because on the box of the tank, filter came w/ tank,it said it came w/ one that was smaller but in the but this one is larger i think they made a mistake

i do a 25% water change 1x a week and the water is nice and warm and very clean! i don't have a nitrate test kit

If he keeps floating this weekend im going to have to end his suffering because he's not eating and he's not swimming enough to remain healthy and i hate to see anyone/anything suffer especially my bambam!

chickadee

How do you intend to do that? Fish can look like they have died and unless you have used a medication or solution specifically designed for that purpose they could still be alive. Please do not try to freeze him or put him in freezing water or any of those methods. If you do decide to euthanize him there is a solution called Euthanase sold for this purpose and you can put him in a cup (disposable) and put the drops in to put him gently to sleep and then wait a while and add more drops to gently put him out of his misery.

I am not sure that this is necessary though. He may be having a swim bladder problem or some other infection if all that is wrong is that he is swimming on his side. If he were not swimming at all I would say that he is perhaps beyond hope but if he is still active at all then there is hope. Fish can go without eating for several days with no harm to them and sometimes it is even better for them if they have been overeating. What have you been feeding him and how much? If he has been eating too much and could be having stomach issues they may have caused an inflammation of his swim bladder and he may not be able to swim upright. In which case fasting is one of the treatments for the problem and perhaps BamBam knows what he needs better than we do. You can also try to raise the temperature of the water to 81 or 82 degrees as I have heard that if this is the case a slight raise in temperature will help.

Rose

PrettyPink08

I really dont want to have to do anything to him i love him!

Today he hasnt been swimming at all just floating then he floats into the filter current and gets put in the water current and then gets swirrled around, i turned it off and he just stays in the same spot for ever! I feel horrible like ive failed him or somthing!!

My heater doesnt have any adjustments it is either on or off, its all the store had! It is about 79-80 right now on the thermometer

I try and feed him 1 pellet in the morning which he doesnt eat and 1 at night which he doesnt eat, he's never eaten more then 2 pellets at a time @ most 2x a day but he hasnt been eating for like 2 weeks now!! I tried the pea and he wont even look @ it, i even tried soaking a pellet in garlic like i read on another board, no luck!!

chickadee

Please do not think I am accusing or trying to make you feel horrible. It is just that so many people have read of the really nonsensical methods of putting a fish out of their misery and so many have just flushed them that I usually try to make sure if someone is going to do this that they understand they need to make sure they use a method that is really going to kill the fish humanely.

Believe me I understand loving the fish and having to do this. I just had to euthanize my little Nate in January and it was the hardest thing I ever did. If your fish is as far gone as you say then you are perhaps making the most humane decision by considering this as an option. My thoughts will be with you and I hope that the decision will be right for the both of you.

Thank you for loving your fish as much as you do. I am sure that he appreciates it.

Rose

PrettyPink08

My dearest is not gone
He left peacefully on his own a few minutes ago

RIP bambam

I understand where your coming from though, I could never dream of hurting anyone/anything and i know some people who do
just leaving them in those cups is torture!!