Crystal

Hello all, I'm new here.

We have a betta we bought for our store. He's currently living in a 2.5 gallon tank with a heater and filter (although I did notice cleaning it yesterday that the heater is no longer working, not sure how long that's been going on - we're replacing it today).

Over the past week we've noticed white spots on each of his eyes. It's a round white dot that wasn't there before. It looks to be on the exterior of the eye.

I've read around on the internet and there's a bunch of solutions I've read - everything from medicine to adding salt to the water, etc. I'm looking to find out what would fix this issue so we can get him set again.

Thanks!

Fishies-for-me

Is it like a cataract ? Or fuzzy like ? I am sure someone that knows will be here soon....good luck. Oh and you might as well post the water parameters right away as those who know what to do to help will need that info and be asking for it...how long the tank has been set up...temp...ammonia , nitrites, nitrates...all of that will be helpful.

Fishies-for-me

Also is it possible to get a pic of what you mean...helps a lot to know what to do if they can see what you mean.

Martinismommy

I'm sorry your boy is having problems...I'd like to know what the experts say about this....

Wow I didn't realize fish could get cataracts! My boy Crush has cloudy eyes...I've been wondering what it was....I'll post pictures in a bit......He seems to be just fine...No problem seeing Mommy...

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore crystal!! as others have said, a pic would help alot!!

im taking my wildest guess that without a heater and without water parimeters, im gonna take a guess that its ICH...the stress will bring that on...if so, getting him a new heater and turning the temp up to 83 for two weeks should help him alot...make sure you do daily water changes as there is less oxygen in warmer water...and vaccum out his gravel as ich spores live in there as well ...perk up your lil man with some garlic guard (or fresh garlic juice), some fish protector and some vita chem if you can get your hands on it...goodluck !

Lucy

Hi crystal welcome to Fish Lore

I'm sorry your betta isn't feeling well.

sqrlyshrly1 is right about needing your water readings. A lot of illnesses are brought on by poor water conditions. A picture would really help too.

What test kit do you use? If you're using strips, they really not accurate.

Not that I'm saying you keep him that way, but I noticed you don't know about the nitrogen cycle. Here's some information for you to read about it:
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

I'd start with a water change, it can't hurt. How often and how much do you change his water?

Sorry I couldn't help you further, others should be here shortly to hopefully give you more information.

Good luck.

Edit: Gosh ya'll type fast. lol Shawnie's got some good info there.

Crystal

I'm actually not sure about the water reading - I don't have a kit. I guess I should get one, huh?

We change his water every 1-2 weeks depending on how it looks. He just got his water changed yesterday - I take apart the whole tank, pour everything out, wash everything, and then put it all back together.

We also put Splendid Betta Complete Water Conditioner in the water - we have been since we got him.

Crystal

I'm reading about ich here and it says to medicate the fish as I raise water temps. Is there something I should purchase to do that?

Also, I've read to add salt to the water - is that necessary?


ETA: While reading more into what you're recommending, would that Fish Protector serve as medication?

Amanda

Aha, that may be the problem. You never wash everything out in the tank. It kills the beneficial bacteria. This means that your tank is going through a mini-cycle every 2 weeks. That is VERY stressful for thr fish.

Crystal

Hmm, okay - now we have large stones in our tank - the decorative ones you can buy at Joann's or Wal-Mart for floral arrangements and stuff. The food he doesn't eat falls down to the ground in between those stones. How should we go about cleaning it if we don't take the whole thing apart?

Amanda

Vacuum the gravel with a....gravel vacuum. The only time you should ever clean the entire tank is if you are getting rid of it, or there was a disease in the tank. But remember, it has to cycle again before you add fish.

Crystal

I tried to take a picture with no luck - it's not coming out clear enough.

However, I do notice today that the spot in one of his eyes has faded a lot and now I can barely see it. I cleaned the tank yesterday, and when I did I could see both dots (one in each eye) very well.

Crystal

Okay, so just so I have this correct - I vacuum the rocks with the gravel vacuum, but won't this take water out of the tank? So I just replace with new water at that point? Does that water have to sit or be treated before it's added to his tank?

Crystal

Sorry for all the questions, we're new to this - we did have him in just a small goldfish bowl before a girl who referred me here from a cat board told me he needs MUCH more than what we had.

Lucy

Invest in the API master kit, it's reliable and well worth the money.

Too much cleaning isn't a good thing, sound weird, doesn't it?

Your goal with the nitrogen cycle is to build a colony of beneficial bacteria that convert the harmful ammonia (fish waste and left over food) and nitrites into less harmful nitrates.
The bacteria live in your filter, on decorations and on the gravel.
When you take apart the whole tank, wash everything, you lose your bacteria.

Did you read the link about the nitrogen cycle? Basically this is how it works:
First your ammonia will rise, in a few weeks you'll see the nitrite levels rise and the ammonia levels start to drop. After a few more weeks you'll see the nitrate levels rise and the nitrite levels drop.
When you having readings of 0 on both ammonia and nitrites with some nitrates showing, your cycle is done.


You should be doing 50% water changes daily to keep the ammonia levels down until the cycle is complete.
Also Prime is a good water conditioner, it neutralizes the ammonia.

A picture would really help others address his eye issue, which I know is what you came here for in the first place.

What's his name?

I'm sorry this was post was so long, but you need to cycle the tank in order to avoid other problems.

Lucy

Hey, we're glad you're here, ask all the question you need!

Getting him out of the bowl is definetly a step in the right direction.

Fishies-for-me

yes you treat the water before you add it to the tank...use a good quality chlorine chloramine remover stress coat is one good one...prime is another..others will also have favorites that they may tell you...also make sure the water is the same temp ( within a degree or two) as the water in the tank...good luck.

Crystal

Ah, okay - so I'll read the link about the nitrogen cycle, get some supplies today, and then go from there. I'll continue to try to get a picture of his eye.

His name is Laars. We have a pool supply store and we sell Teledyne-Laars heaters...which is how he got his name.

MinxMermaid

there shouldn't be food he doesn't eat, you should only be giving him what he can eat. what are you feeding him and how much?

most bettas eat only a few pellets and a few blood worms a day (3-5 each), or if you don't have worms, 3-4 pellets twice a day.

i'm not a water changer expert, (as my hubby does it) but hopefully somebody will explain that better to you as you're not doing it right.

hope your baby is feeling better soon, what's his name?

Lucy

Welcome Laars.

Crystal

Okay, I'm reading the nitrate page - do I need to take Laars out of the tank before setting it up to cycle, or not because he's been in there for a while?

Amanda

If he's in the tank when it's cycling - which it probably is - you need to do 50% water changes everyday. You could also add stress zyme or Tetra Safe Start to the tank.

Crystal

We give him a sprinkling of Top Fin Color Enhancing Betta Bits, and we do have Blood Worms. We feed him a shake in the morning and a shake in the afternoon, and he gets Blood Worms, too - from what you said, though, I'm thinking we're feeding him too much.

He gets so happy when we come by the tank, swimming around all happy - we always reward him!

Amanda

A bettas' stomache is the size of one of his eyes - just keep that in mind.

Crystal

Ooh, good to know! We just got a fish to add to the store, but now I'm finding he's much more work - and I'm actually really interested in learning a lot more about him and how to care for him. This seems like a great place - you all know so much!

Lucy

Once the tank is cycled, it will be alot less work, just maintenance, don't worry, you'll get there.

Since I haven't given you enough to read this thread has a lot of helpful information on keeping Laars a healthy boy:

Welcome and Betta Care Guide - Please Read First!!!

Fishies-for-me

And where are the pix?? we are a bunch of pic nuts here...we love to show off our betta and see other peoples...lol...pix plzzzzzz

Crystal

Lucy, thanks so much! I'll read that over.

And here's a picture of him in his tank. I need to get better shots, it's kind of dark.



This is what we had him in before we learned better!

Martinismommy

He is a handsome boy! He must love his new life in his new condo.....I bet it is exciting to watch him in his filtered home.....

Good job!

Lucy

The tank looks nice, and much better than the bow, thanks for sharing them with us.

Be sure to let us know how he's doing.