Titi

My betta, Charlie, is not doing very well. He was lying on the bottom yesterday, and seemed kind of pale. The first thing I should have done was test his water, but I didn't until today. ammonia is .25, which is weird, because his tank was cycled.

i feel so bad that I didn't pick up on this earlier. I did skip my water change last week, but i've added some Amquel+ every night. Are his symptoms the result of ammonia poisoning, or could it be something else too?

I'm giong to do a water change now, is there anyway to stress him out less while I do? I don't want to make him worse.

polkadotsmom

Your cycle could have crashed.- I recently had this happen as well.

Make sure you remove your carbon (if you use it) so it doesn't take out your meds your using to treat the tank.

If it were me, I would take him out while you do the water change. Once your done, test the water again and see what it says. If its lower, put him back.

You may also want to set up a Q tank quick to help medicate him- you may have better luck that way.

I am no fish expert- hopefully some others will chime in here and help you. Good Luck!

Shawnie

there is no medication for ammonia...just the daily water changes with your amquel + ...I hope he makes it!! if you can find some vita chem and fish protector, that could help also with his water changes... goodluck with your boy

Titi

thanks, I'm going to the store right now- I'll look for vitachem and fish protector.

COBettaCouple

Do you have any Prime? I like to use Prime and Fish Protector to treat ALL water, and it will also help protect Charlie from toxins while you get the tank back to cycled, along with 25-40% daily water changes.

agabr123

i'm sorry your betta isn't feeling well

50% daily water changes with conditioner is the treatment for you, that should get him back to normal in no time

Titi

He seems worse today. He's lying on the bottom and only his gills are moving. The store didn't carry vitachem or fish protector, so I did a 50% water change yesterday with stress coat and amquel+. Charlie isn't swimming at all, just lying on the bottom. Is it still ammonia poisoning, or could it be something worse? Is there anything else i can do for him?

Red1313

If he's not really swimming I'd put him in a breeder box ASAP to help him get closer to the surface.

Titi

My breeder box has baby fish in it at the moment- is there anything else I could use for right now until I can get another one?

Red1313

anything that will float and keep him closer to the surface.

capekate

Sorry your betta boy is not doing well. I would keep up those water changes til you get a zero ammonia reading asap. Hopefully if your guy is strong enough he will survive this.
If you have nothing to put him in, you can try lowering your water level and maybe add a plant that he can lay on near the surface.
Best of luck.. hope he makes a recovery for you.

pamd

This doesn't sound good at all, but I certainly hope Charlie recovers.

Lying on the bottom and losing color can be signs of the last stages of many disorders, but bettas have been known to make amazing recoveries when exhibiting these last-ditch symptoms.

Are his scales sticking out from his body? Is he gasping? I assume he's not eating. Is this correct? Is he trying to go up to the surface to get air?

If he's still alive, talk to him. All night long. If you're so inclined, sing to him and tell him how much you love him. You'd be amazed what your love and attention will do, whether he is to recover or for comfort if he's in his last few hours.

If he were my fish, I wouldn't move him. Can you drain the water (very gently) in his tank so he doesn't have far to go if he wants air? Then add conditioned water, just a little at a time.

I don't think your skipping the water change is what's happening, although that is an obviously undesirable ammonia level. If it were ammonia poisoning, he probably would have shown other symptoms first, such as darting around. So don't blame yourself, Titi.