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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Will seems to be fading :o(
Something is wrong with my boy....He isn't eating and he is lying on the bottom panting..His water conditions are perfect and I can't figure out what's going wrong..
I have a feeling he is going to be leaving me soon and I'm completely devistated  | 
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| I'm very sorry to hear Hopefully he will get better soon. | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| I'm so sorry Will's not doing well.
He doesn't have any wounds or noticeable problem like fungus or something? What temp is your tank? Maybe it's too warm and needs some aeration? | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy  I'm so sorry Will's not doing well.
He doesn't have any wounds or noticeable problem like fungus or something? What temp is your tank? Maybe it's too warm and needs some aeration? | Temp is 78 which is normal for him and he has plenty of aeration in the 55 gallon..Nothing wrong with his fins or body...He just seems lifeless and is panting...This is breaking my heart .... | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Mentor
| He looks black!!
Is there a clear way to the top for him to breath? Is there any plants he can rest on closer to the surface? | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by angelfish220 He looks black!!
Is there a clear way to the top for him to breath? Is there any plants he can rest on closer to the surface? | It's just the video....He's not black, he still has his color....He has plenty of space and a clear way to the top...He also has several plants to rest on.....I'm praying he is just having a bad day.... | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Is he bloated or is that just the way the video looks?
Is he still by himself?
Since they need air, can you reach down and bring him to the top for a sec? | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Helper
| If you have a hospital tank that is cycled put him in there with some silk or live plants that he can rest on near the surface or maybe a breeder net in the big tank so he won't have so far to swim up to the surface. I know it is stressful for him to be caught. maybe you can coax him to the surface and catch him in a cup. There doesn't seem to be anything external wrong with him like a fungus or parasite. Have you introduced any new fish to your tank including feeders? I am thinking maybe internal parasites, that is one reason I don't use feeder fish. When I don't know just what is wrong with one of my bettas I put betta spa in their water, feed them a higher protein diet like frozen brine shrimp and peas and very clean water I usually do 50% water changes per day if the fish isn't their usual perky buttedself. | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy Is he bloated or is that just the way the video looks?
Is he still by himself?
Since they need air, can you reach down and bring him to the top for a sec? | Yes, he is still by himself...I promised him he would be alone until he died after his last ordeal...
I just took this.Does he look bloated? If so, what should I do to help him?  | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by joy613 If you have a hospital tank that is cycled put him in there with some silk or live plants that he can rest on near the surface or maybe a breeder net in the big tank so he won't have so far to swim up to the surface. I know it is stressful for him to be caught. maybe you can coax him to the surface and catch him in a cup. There doesn't seem to be anything external wrong with him like a fungus or parasite. Have you introduced any new fish to your tank including feeders? I am thinking maybe internal parasites, that is one reason I don't use feeder fish. When I don't know just what is wrong with one of my bettas I put betta spa in their water, feed them a higher protein diet like frozen brine shrimp and peas and very clean water I usually do 50% water changes per day if the fish isn't their usual perky buttedself. |
Thank you for your help..He doesn't eat feeder fish he eats flake and brine...He's never eaten peas he doesn't care for them.. | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| He doesn't look bloated, but with his fins, it's kinda hard to tell.
Had he been 'going' ok recently?
There is something other than peas you can try, I'm looking for the post now. | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy He doesn't look bloated, but with his fins, it's kinda hard to tell.
Had he been 'going' ok recently?
There is something other than peas you can try, I'm looking for the post now. | Yes, he seems to be regular...I have noticed in the past couple of months he seemed to be slowing down..Not knowing how old he is it is hard to say if this is just old age... | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Ah, found it, it's called daphnia.
Could this possibly be swim bladder? I googled it:
"Symptoms can include:
Either floats uncontrollably to the top of the tank, or sinks to the bottom.
Seems to struggle greatly while swimming, and often will swim at an unusual angle.
May or may not have a "kinked" spine, often in the shape of an "S" when viewed from above.
May lie around, barely moving except when a mad dash is made to the surface for air.
May or may not have a swollen belly, often caused by constipation"
Good luck.....Prissy is sending Will get well betta vibes. | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Thank you Lucy...I just read about it...If this is what it is he should recover in a few days..I'll lower his water level and fast him for the next 2 days....I just pray he makes it...I'm so attached to this little guy..... | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Moderator
|  Your welcome, sorry I couldn't be much more help.
Keep us posted. | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| What is the ideal pH reading for Betta fish?
Here are the readings on Wills tank
PH 8.2
Amonia 0ppm nitrate NO2 0ppm
Nitrate NO3 0ppm
Jaggers are the same as Wills except his PH is 7.8
Last edited by Martinismommy; May 6th, 2008 at 02:47 PM.
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Sweetheart i feel for you, those pics break my heart. How long has he been this way? i still get confused with the time difference for you to the UK! | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| The profile says 7 to 7.5, mine is 7.6, but from what I've read
as long as the ph has been consistent, it should be ok, although yours is pretty far out of range.
Hmmm. odd that the ph is different in the 2 tanks. I would do a water change today, if you haven't already.
You have 0 nitrates? That's strange too, there should be some nitrates showing.
What test are you using?
Last edited by Lucy; May 6th, 2008 at 02:57 PM.
Reason: grammer lol | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Aquarium pharmaceutials master test....
The PH is different in Jaggers probably because I have been doing a 1 gallon a day water change...I do Will's tank once a week and do 5 gallons..... | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Are you shaking, banging and otherwise abusing the 2nd nitrate bottle? You really have to mix the heck out of it get a correct nitrate reading.
Even with water changes, your ph should be the same in both tanks unless there is something in there that's altering the ph. What is the ph coming out of the tap?
This is your 55 right? I'd do a huge water change today and depending what the ph is out of the tap, you may have to add the water back in slowly. | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy Are you shaking, banging and otherwise abusing the 2nd nitrate bottle? You really have to mix the heck out of it get a correct nitrate reading.
Even with water changes, your ph should be the same in both tanks unless there is something in there that's altering the ph. What is the ph coming out of the tap?
This is your 55 right? I'd do a huge water change today and depending what the ph is out of the tap, you may have to add the water back in slowly. | I use distilled bottled water not tap...The only other things in the tank are 2 yellow snails....I'm doing a water change today and will re-test and post...He's still hanging on right now so I'm hoping he is just constipated or something minor... | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| If your nitrates are showing as zero, then you need to retest as Lucy pointed out...you really do need to knock around the bottle to be sure the stuff inside is broken up and distributed throughout. We had a whole topic about that very issue - always retest if you get a reading of zero. It will NEVER actually BE zero. He's probably acting that way because his nitrates are too high and poisoning him. | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by luna If your nitrates are showing as zero, then you need to retest as Lucy pointed out...you really do need to knock around the bottle to be sure the stuff inside is broken up and distributed throughout. We had a whole topic about that very issue - always retest if you get a reading of zero. It will NEVER actually BE zero. He's probably acting that way because his nitrates are too high and poisoning him. | A 0 reading is the best reading possible...Maybe different tests have different readings? Here's what my booklet has to say about reading for nitrates...
In new fresh and saltwater aquariums the nitrate level will gradually climb to 10ppm..As the bioliolgical filter becomes established (4-6 weeks) nitrate levels will drop to 0..In an established aquarium the nitrate level should always remain at 0 PPM..The presence indicates possible over feeding, too many fish or inadequate biological filtration....
I was more concerned about the PH reading... | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Mentor
| Are you sure it is nitrAtes and not nitrItes? they get confused sometimes. (I confuse them every once and a while  | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by angelfish220 Are you sure it is nitrAtes and not nitrItes? they get confused sometimes. (I confuse them every once and a while |
Geeeeeeze I'm blonde alright! It is nitrtaes..Back to test the nitrates AGAIN....I honestly don't think this is water related because this is a tank that has been up for 8 years....
Report back in a few.... | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| I know your concern is your ph....the only thing I can suggest is a water change. The 2 different ph readings in 2 different tanks don't make sense. I would do a ph test on the distilled bottle water you use. Are you always using the same brand?
A member did some research about her 0 nitrAte readings and contacted API here is the result of that inquiry: Important Information for API Freshwater Master Test Kit Users! | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| It looks like a 10 ppm now....Is that within normal? I'm not a big water tester, I never have been..I have always kept up on my water changes and not had any problems even with my salt tank (knock on wood) | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy I know your concern is your ph....the only thing I can suggest is a water change. The 2 different ph readings in 2 different tanks don't make sense. I would do a ph test on the distilled bottle water you use. Are you always using the same brand?
A member did some research about her 0 nitrAte readings and contacted API here is the result of that inquiry: Important Information for API Freshwater Master Test Kit Users! |
Yes, I own stock in Sparkletts water lol.....Never used anything but that... | |
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May 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Mentor
| 10 is okay, but i like to keep mine below 5, basically because I get paranoid | |
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