Betta Fish Not Getting Better?

A year ago, I was incorrectly instructed by a small pet shop owner that I could keep my betta fish in a one gallon tank, without much of filter and air pump and they'd survive just fine! So I went ahead and kept my betta fish in a one-gallon without doing any research myself. That was wrong of me. A year later, my betta fish began to experience fin rot (assumed so by the way his tail was fading and falling off.) He also began to lose his energy, and started to rest a lot more on the bottom. He could only muster up the energy to go up to the surface to take a sip of air once in a while and for the most part remained motionless at the bottom of the tank.

I panicked and that's when I started to do my research. I learned about the best living conditions, of nitrogen cycle, etc. I assumed my betta fish has swim bladder disorder, or severe ammonia poisoning. He wasn't bloated, he's just very lethargic. But he didn't seem to be pooping as he should. I fasted him for 3 days and it didn't get better either. At first, he would still be enthusiastic enough to put in the effort to come up and eat...Now he seemed to lose that enthusiasm as well. But it is not like he lost his appetite because he would still eat if he happens to be on the surface for air around the same time I dump the food in, and he happens to spot it.

Feeling really bad for my fish and really wanting him to get better, I bought the aquarium master test kit too and began testing for the water parameters. Along with it I bought a 5.5 gallon fish tank, some live plants, sponge filter, heater, and air pump. At first, I wasn't sure if I should keep my fish in his one-gallon while I do a fishless nitrogen cycle, but I was informed by experienced betta keepers that in the case of emergencies--or at least my case, it may be best to just transfer him to the big tank and do a fish-in cycle. I was asking if I should give my betta some medications, but I was told not to do so because medications are chemicals that always pose pretty big risks if I mess up (especially since I'm pretty much still an amateur at betta keeping.)

It has been a week now since I've transferred him to his big tank, with the filter up and running. His water parameter has been perfect (all zero's for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate), and is dechlorinated with Prime. Water pH is about 7.0, but it went down to ~6.7-6.8 since I was told that adding Indian Almond Leaves is a safe and beneficial add to my tank. He is, however, not getting better....He used to breathe rapidly, but now it seemed to slow down a bit. I'm assuming that is the only improvement I've seen if I'm correct. He is still very well lethargic and resting on the plants or gravel. He moves when he has to, of course, but he is still lacking in energy. His tail isn't improving either....

I'm not sure what I should do now for him to get better....Has the ammonia poisioning given him permanent damage? I'm not sure if continuing to fast him is the right choice, I let him swim onto my palm and lift him up to the water surface to feed him, it almost feels like he's on a wheelchair (my hand being the chair). I put a lot of silk plants in the tank so he can rest on them instead of on the gravel floor. I can't find, however, his poop. He is not bloated. But he continues to be very motionless for the most part of the day.

What am I still not doing wrong, why isn't he getting better? Or should I just be more patient? I miss his energetic, **** self. Is there any type of safe treatment that is not too risky, or is there some type of medication or food I can give to him? I'm testing the water parameter every day and so far it's still all clean, I don't think he is even providing the ammonia enough to start a fish-in cycle, but I kind of don't want to put him through that stress too when he's currently still ill.

He is not bloated and is not pine-coning. I hope what I'm seeing right now won't develop into dropsy later on.

Attached is a picture of a close-up of my fish. I'm not sure if the white bits at the end of his tail is him growing new fins or just more dying off...

 

clean water warm water is the best treatment, but I would also put in some Indian almond leaves and aquarium salt. soaking his food in garlic juice is good to get them to eat and enhance there appetite.

EDIT. just read you are using Indian almond leaves, they might not make a big difference but I think the help. also come live plants and invertebrates don't do good with aquarium salt.

 

Hi!

Welcome to Fishlore!!!!

He is a pretty boy! I am so glad that you have tanken steps to make his life better. That is a very good thing.

You might need to give him some time. He was in that less than optimum situation for a while, so it may take a while for him to bounce back.

And I agree with betta06 about clean water and aquarium salt, if you don't have any invertebrates. Pristine water is the best medicine that you can give him right now. Any type of antibiotic will interfere with the cycle as it will kill off good bacteria. Concerning aquarium salt, if you do ues it, follow the instructions on the package. Don't use if for more than 2 weeks. When you do water changes, realize that you aren't removing all of the aquarium salt from the tank, so be very careful when adding more. You would not want to over dose him.

Even though you are cycling his tank, it will take a while for that to happen. Beneficial bacteria does not live in the tank water, so you can actually do small water changes every other day (like 25%). The tank will still cycle.

Unless you have a bare bottom tank, it may be hard to find his poop.

I would feed him if he is willing to eat. If he is having an issue with his immune system, he needs nutrition. If he is not bloated (and he doesn't look like he is), then eating will help him heal.

It sounds like you are doing all that you can do for him at this point.

I hope this helps, and I hope that he bounces back!

 

clean water warm water is the best treatment, but I would also put in some Indian almond leaves and aquarium salt. soaking his food in garlic juice is good to get them to eat and enhance there appetite.

EDIT. just read you are using Indian almond leaves, they might not make a big difference but I think the help. also come live plants and invertebrates don't do good with aquarium salt.

I have not yet heard of garlic juice before, I might try that! Thank you!

Hi!

Welcome to Fishlore!!!!

He is a pretty boy! I am so glad that you have tanken steps to make his life better. That is a very good thing.

You might need to give him some time. He was in that less than optimum situation for a while, so it may take a while for him to bounce back.

And I agree with betta06 about clean water and aquarium salt, if you don't have any invertebrates. Pristine water is the best medicine that you can give him right now. Any type of antibiotic will interfere with the cycle as it will kill off good bacteria. Concerning aquarium salt, if you do ues it, follow the instructions on the package. Don't use if for more than 2 weeks. When you do water changes, realize that you aren't removing all of the aquarium salt from the tank, so be very careful when adding more. You would not want to over dose him.

Even though you are cycling his tank, it will take a while for that to happen. Beneficial bacteria does not live in the tank water, so you can actually do small water changes every other day (like 25%). The tank will still cycle.

Unless you have a bare bottom tank, it may be hard to find his poop.

I would feed him if he is willing to eat. If he is having an issue with his immune system, he needs nutrition. If he is not bloated (and he doesn't look like he is), then eating will help him heal.

It sounds like you are doing all that you can do for him at this point.

I hope this helps, and I hope that he bounces back!

Oooh, thank you for these useful information! Since both you and Betta06 have suggested it, I may try aquarium salt. Do I just add it in his tank following the recommended amount? How dangerous and risky can it be? I'm just scared I might end up hurting him

But most of all, it looks like patience is the key! I might buy some daphnia or bloodworms/shrimps to see if it'll help with his appetite as well and give him the nutrients he need well he rests on his leaves all day. Thank you!

 

I have not yet heard of garlic juice before, I might try that! Thank you!


Oooh, thank you for these useful information! Since both you and Betta06 have suggested it, I may try aquarium salt. Do I just add it in his tank following the recommended amount? How dangerous and risky can it be? I'm just scared I might end up hurting him

But most of all, it looks like patience is the key! I might buy some daphnia or bloodworms/shrimps to see if it'll help with his appetite as well and give him the nutrients he need well he rests on his leaves all day. Thank you!

I have not found aquarium salt to hurt the fish at all if used in recommend amounts just the plants sometimes.

 

I have not yet heard of garlic juice before, I might try that! Thank you!


Oooh, thank you for these useful information! Since both you and Betta06 have suggested it, I may try aquarium salt. Do I just add it in his tank following the recommended amount? How dangerous and risky can it be? I'm just scared I might end up hurting him

But most of all, it looks like patience is the key! I might buy some daphnia or bloodworms/shrimps to see if it'll help with his appetite as well and give him the nutrients he need well he rests on his leaves all day. Thank you!

I would dissolve the required amount in some tank water, and then add it to the tank. Aquarium salt is a good general thing to have on hand to combat certain conditions and help with healing and breathing issues, too. Over use will make it ineffective, and long term use could be dangerous in that you could lose track of how much is added to the tank. Bettas are tropical freshwater fish, not salt water fish, so another reason to keep close track of how much you use.

And I agree with soaking food in garlic juice. It makes the food more appetizing to the fish. Seachem has something called Garlic Guard. I keep a bottle of it in my refrigerator. But I have also used the juice from a jar of chopped garlic that you can get in any grocery store.

Good luck with your fin baby!!!!