Betta not doing so well

[taylormarie213]

So I just upgraded my Betta to his new tank with a heater and a sponge filter. He seems to like it but before I moved him, I noticed a little piece of his dorsal fin came off. He seems not to be doing so well, but he’s a little better now with his new tank but what else can I do to make him better?

 

[Morpheus1967]

How long has he been in his new tank? What size? What temp? What type of filter are you using? Are you testing water parameters?

If he was in an unfiltered, unheated tank before, that may be part of the issue.

 

[fabienne]

Do you maybe have some pictures? They would help a lot

 

[taylormarie213]

How long has he been in his new tank? What size? What temp? What type of filter are you using? Are you testing water parameters?

If he was in an unfiltered, unheated tank before, that may be part of the issue.

He was in an unfiltered unheated tank. I finally upgraded him to a 2.5g with a sponge filter and a small heater. He looks a lot happier but still isn’t back to his full self. He’s been in the new tank for about 4 hours now. The water parameters are good.

 

[Morpheus1967]

Ah ok. Only 4 hours. He is pouting. I would bet give it a few more hours, maybe even a full 24 hours, and I bet he will be just fine. Try and get the heat to between 78-80. That, plus good water parameters, are about all you can do. But I bet he is just fine.

 

[taylormarie213]

Ah ok. Only 4 hours. He is pouting. I would bet give it a few more hours, maybe even a full 24 hours, and I bet he will be just fine. Try and get the heat to between 78-80. That, plus good water parameters, are about all you can do. But I bet he is just fine.

Thank you! He seems to be just staying in one spot on the side of the tank away from the filter and heater.
I hope his fins grow and flourish. His dorsal fin looks a little fragile right now if you know what I mean.
If he doesn’t get better, what do you recommend?

 

[Morpheus1967]

Right now, nothing but clean water. That is the best thing for him. He has probably never had a filter before, so it has to be a bit intimidating.

If possible, without spooking him too much, maybe try and get a photo of him and the fin in question. Also, if he is stressed out right now, keep his tank light off, if there is one.

 

[CoryBoi]

I had an extremely grumpy betta that whenever you moved something or put your hand in the tank, he would pout for at least a week!

 

[fabienne]

He was in an unfiltered unheated tank. I finally upgraded him to a 2.5 gallon with a sponge filter and a small heater. He looks a lot happier but still isn’t back to his full self. He’s been in the new tank for about 4 hours now. The water parameters are good.

Did you cycle the tank before putting him in or not? Also good job for upgrading his tank

 

[taylormarie213]

Did you cycle the tank before putting him in or not? Also good job for upgrading his tank

I did! The water was already conditioned before I even put it in the tank (I had a big container of conditioned water) and I let the filter run for a long time.

 

[Morpheus1967]

Unfortunately, that is not cycling a tank. Your profile says you are familiar with the nitrogen cycle? And how your filter needs to build up bacteria that converts ammonia to nitrites and nitrites to nitrates? This process can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks, less if you have some media from another tank filter you can put in the new filter.

 

[taylormarie213]

Unfortunately, that is not cycling a tank. Your profile says you are familiar with the nitrogen cycle? And how your filter needs to build up bacteria that converts ammonia to nitrites and nitrites to nitrates? This process can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks, less if you have some media from another tank filter you can put in the new filter.

I did add some gravel from the old tank to the new one and some of the old water into the new so it wouldn’t shock him so much.

 

[Morpheus1967]

That may help some, but the majority of the magic will happen in your filter. So, you have a couple of options.

1. Get some filter media from an established filter, and put it in the filter you have on your tank. This will really speed things up for you.
2. You will be doing a lot of water changes.

You said earlier water parameters were good. Do you have a test kit? To test water parameters? Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates?

Also, take a look at this. It explains everything you need to know about the nitrogen cycle:

Nitrogen Cycle

You have a great start by upgrading him to a larger, heated and filtered tank. Just need to get you the rest of the way there!

 

[taylormarie213]

That may help some, but the majority of the magic will happen in your filter. So, you have a couple of options.

1. Get some filter media from an established filter, and put it in the filter you have on your tank. This will really speed things up for you.
2. You will be doing a lot of water changes.

You said earlier water parameters were good. Do you have a test kit? To test water parameters? Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates?

Also, take a look at this. It explains everything you need to know about the nitrogen cycle:

Nitrogen Cycle

You have a great start by upgrading him to a larger, heated and filtered tank. Just need to get you the rest of the way there!

Thank you!!