Can Someone Please Help! Betta Losing Colour!

HI everyone!

So my 30 gallon is still cycling and my pearl gourami that I I order came earlier than expected. So I put my betta in a breeding box and put the pearl gourami in the same tank.

Its now a few days later and he is now losing colour. What do I do?

 

I’d move him to the 8 gal. You can buy a small heater and filter for pretty cheap, just keep a close eye on any preset heaters as they can be a little iffy. A sponge filter would work fine, but I’d probably go with a small HOB with adjustable flow so I could move some cycled media from the existing tank into it. Just keep an eye on water parameters and do water changes as needed. He’s likely stressed from sitting in a breeder box. Also keep an eye on the cycling tank with the gourami, if water parameters are off, that could be contributing.

 

I’d move him to the 8 gal. You can buy a small heater and filter for pretty cheap, just keep a close eye on any preset heaters as they can be a little iffy. A sponge filter would work fine, but I’d probably go with a small HOB with adjustable flow so I could move some cycled media from the existing tank into it. Just keep an eye on water parameters and do water changes as needed. He’s likely stressed from sitting in a breeder box. Also keep an eye on the cycling tank with the gourami, if water parameters are off, that could be contributing.

Thank you very much! As it is midnight here, and the shops aren't open. I quickly took out the 4 gallon, filled it about 3/4 of the way from my 8 gallon. I took the heater from the 8 gallon, and put it on the 4 gallon, and took the 30 gallon heater which is still cycling and put it on the 8 gallon...

Also took the spongefilter that is on the 30 gallon that is busy cycling and put it in the 4 gallon. My 8 gallon is now 2/3 full and the 4 gallon 3/4 full.

Did I do the right thing?

Also, my 30 gallon is doing a fishless cycle, and the pearl gourami I had to put in the 8 gallon and to be safe I followed some advice from people to put the betta in a breeder box in the 8 gallon. Luckily I have another 4 gallon

 

I think putting your Betta in the 4 gallon was a good idea. I'm sure he was stressing! Is he eating? Do you have decorations to put in the 4 gallon so it's a little more comfy? Just monitor the tank and do lots of water changes while your 30 gallon cycles to keep the water pristine. 4 gallons, while small, will still be better than the breeder box for him. With the clean water, and some places to hide, he should start calming down and regain his color. I've had a betta lose color when moving to a new home and gain it back once his environment stabilized.

 

I think putting your Betta in the 4 gallon was a good idea. I'm sure he was stressing! Is he eating? Do you have decorations to put in the 4 gallon so it's a little more comfy? Just monitor the tank and do lots of water changes while your 30 gallon cycles to keep the water pristine. 4 gallons, while small, will still be better than the breeder box for him. With the clean water, and some places to hide, he should start calming down and regain his color. I've had a betta lose color when moving to a new home and gain it back once his environment stabilized.

Thank you very much. I'm going to see what I can do first thing in the morning.

Just a update, my betta is looking much better this morning. Thank you for your help!

 

If you have any other kind of container, like a clean plastic bin or bucket, they'd be better off with lots of fresh water until your tank is fully cycled. How high is the ammonia or nitrite? We can guestimate where you are in the cycle and when it should be safe.

 

If you have any other kind of container, like a clean plastic bin or bucket, they'd be better off with lots of fresh water until your tank is fully cycled. How high is the ammonia or nitrite? We can guestimate where you are in the cycle and when it should be safe.

Sorry I was so tired last night, as it was about 2am in the morning when I discoverd my betta like this. He was in a breeding box inside a 8 gallon because my pearl gourami came early and the 30 gallon he is supposed to go into was still cycling. I had another 4 gallon laying around and put the betta in it with some water from the 8 gallon and a sponge filter from the 30 gallon. I also took the heater from the 30 gallon and put it on the 8 gallon, and took the 8 gallon heater and put it on the 4. He looks much better this morning. Also I put in beneficial bacteria into the 30 gallon a few weeks ago so hopefully the spongefilter that I put into the 4 gallon does have beneficial bacteria and can go on.