Tropical Fish and Aquarium Information

Go Back   Fish Lore Tropical Fish and Aquarium Forum > Freshwater Aquarium Fish Forum > Freshwater Beginners

Freshwater Beginners A place where beginners can go to post their questions and hopefully get responses from those more experienced. Also check out the Freshwater Fish Beginner's Guide and Aquarium Setup Guides

 

Online Fish Stores: Drsfostersmith.com | BigAlsOnline.com | LiveAquaria.com


Aquarium Forum
General
Welcome To FishLore
Using the Forum
General Discussion
Members Fish Tanks
Photos and Videos
Member Photos
Member Videos
Freshwater Aquarium Forum
Freshwater Beginners
Freshwater Equipment
More Freshwater Topics
Freshwater Fish & Inverts
Ponds
Saltwater Aquarium Forum
Saltwater Beginners
Saltwater Equipment
More Saltwater Topics
Saltwater Fish & Inverts
Member Blogs
Member Blogs
Misc. Topics
Reviews
Aquarium Fish Clubs
Buy, Sell, Trade
Fish Profiles
Freshwater Fish
Saltwater Fish
Fish Forum Archives
Reply
 
Fish Forum Thread Tools
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Helper
 
I could use some help please.

I have mentioned in a previous post I had my bettas in small bowls. I have been updated my tanks.

My little guy seems sick to me. He's not eating to well. His tail looks like fin rot (but I'm very inexperienced at what it may look like) Also I don't know if he has velvet. I am enclosing some pics and any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have in a a bowl and i just set up a 2.5 gallon tank which I'm aging. I have been changing his water 100 % water changes every other day. I recently started using a water conditioner with each water change. the ammonia is .5

http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...in/fish001.jpg
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...in/fish006.jpg
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...in/fish007.jpg
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...in/fish008.jpg

Last edited by dinatwin; August 21st, 2008 at 06:05 PM. Reason: made an error
dinatwin is offline  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Keeper
 
The pH can't be .5 - at least I hope it isn't! That would be pure acid. Maybe the ammonia is .5? Then that would be why the betta isn't acting right. It could have ammonia poisoning.
Amanda is online now  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Helper
 
oops sorry that's what I ment.
dinatwin is offline  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Keeper
 
100% water changes will kill any beneficial bacteria that may be in the bowl - on the decorations. 50% water changes are better. And I would go do one right now, because the betta can't survive with ammonia in the water.
Amanda is online now  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Keeper
 
In the picturesi noticed your betta doesnt have a heater or filter which could be the cause of his illness, also, his bowl is far to small for him so get him into that tank as quick as possible.
platy ben is online now  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Helper
 
Thank you everyone. I am getting him into a bigger tank. I had no idea about needing a bigger one until i recently started reading intensly about it. I feel horrible about it BUT i am making changes.
I added another pic. I'm not sure if i see the goldish coloring for velvet. it kinda looks like it but i don't want to medicate him if it's not and stress him even more. Any ideas about his coloring or his fins? does it look like fin rot and velvet?

Thanks so much!!
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...n/fish2002.jpg
dinatwin is offline  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Bum
 
Hi I think having a filter and heater would be good. bettas do like larger tanks 5 gallons is what Ive had mine in before. and they enjoy vareity of food too.
fintail is offline  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Keeper
 
Yeah, his tail looks a bit odd. Seems thin. Maybe you could add some fresh garlic juice to his water-or add Vita-Chem. Seems to do wonders for other bettas on the forum.
Amanda is online now  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Helper
 
Garlic juice? How would i prepare that and how much should i give him. And the vita chem can that be purchased a local petsmart or petco?

Thanks again!
dinatwin is offline  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Keeper
 
Just take a dropper and drop in some garlic juice (I use mine from a glass of minced garlic) Vita-chem can be found at any fish store.
Amanda is online now  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Helper
 
Great Amanda!!

Thank you very much for taking your time to help
dinatwin is offline  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Keeper
 
No problem, I love bettas. Have 2 of my own. Have some pics in my album if you want to look at my betta tank for some future ideas. Good luck with your new tank! Your betta thanks you.
Amanda is online now  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Keeper
 
Great that you're prepping a bigger tank for him!!!

How long have you had him in the bowl? Sometimes they just kinda go downhill in that environment.

Just by putting him in the right type of tank, with good food and vitamins you will see a HUGE improvement.

the pics are a little dark, but it doesn't look like fin rot or velvet. does he lood DIFFERENT than he did before?
MinxMermaid is offline  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Moderator
 
Hi Dinatwin, congrats on doing more research and getting your bettas in bigger tanks.
Each tank needs a filter and a heater. What test kit are you using? The API master kit is highly recommended. The strips aren't accurate.
If your showing any amount of ammonia, do 50% water changes daily until your readings are 0 for both ammonia and nitrites with some nitrates showing.

You can just add a couple drops of garlic juice to their water, it'll help their immune system. I use the minced garlic in a jar.
You can also feed him a few bits or soak his food in it, it should stimulate his appetite. Mine even likes to eat tiny pieces.
Use Prime as your water conditioner, it'll detoxify the ammonia for 24 hrs.
Take a stocking and run them over any decorations, it if snags, replace it, it can rip your bettas fins.
He could also use a cave to hide in to make him feel more secure
Once you get him into a heated tank, you'll probably start to see improvements.

I hope this helps. Good luck.
Lucy is online now  
Old August 21st, 2008  
Fish Keeper
 
Kudos for doing your research and getting him a bigger tank. He will love you for it.

Amanda and Lucy pretty much covered everything I would recommend.

I love his colouring, he looks like he has a lot of gold in his tail! My orange and red bettas are developing a similar colouring in their fins. Awesome! What's his name?
Devon is offline  
Reply

Fish Forum Thread Tools

Fun Fish and Aquarium Games!
Fish Tycoon
Fish Tycoon
Insaniquarium - Insane Aquarium
Insaniquarium
Insane Aquarium
Jenny's Fish Shop
Jenny's
Fish Shop
FishCo
FishCo!



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.2.0 RC5 © 2008, Crawlability, Inc.
© 2008 FishLore.com - Aquarium Fish Information