My nephew's betta fish.

So, my parents bought my nephew (10yo) a betta fish because I INSISTED that a gold fish cant live in a 1.25g tank ead:
Now, the poor thing is laying on the gravel looking like it's dead... here is the pasted sick fish template:

Tank

What is the water volume of the tank?
1.25 gallons (I tried to talk them into the 10g, but the nephew wanted the "cool looking" fish killer marina)
How long has the tank been running? 4 days
Does it have a filter? No
Does it have a heater? No
What is the water temperature? Room temp ~70°
What is the entire stocking of this tank? 1 betta

Maintenance
How often do you change the water? Every 3 days
How much of the water do you change? About 25% (I use water from my established 60g guppy tank that's 4 months old)
What do you use to treat your water? Prime
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water? Just the water, the tank uses some magical system with a lever you pull to drain the water into a reservoir)

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish? No, didn't have ANY notice but 5 min before we went to the store.
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.

Ammonia: 0.5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
pH: 7.6

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish?
Once a day
How much do you feed your fish?
1
What brand of food do you feed your fish?
Aqueon
Do you feed frozen or freeze-dried foods?
No, just dried non-color enhancing pellets.

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish?
5 days
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms?
About 3 days, that was when I changed the water and put cycled water in from the guppies.
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms?
Listless, laying on the bottom.
Occasionally gets up and swims a bit, then lays back down.
Have you started any treatment for the illness?
No, not sure what the problem is...
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase?
Not that I was aware of. He was swimming around fine the first two days.
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? Yes, was swimming, bow laying most of the time.

So, I got the "tank" set up, added the fish, and the second day in, it was laying around looking dead. Now, after adding cycled water, it lays around, and gets up every now and then but lays back down.

I have had other types of fish, but never bettas, so I dont know anything about their moods and whatnot. Do you think he is healthy? Or at least getting better?

 

Immediate change is needed to not kill the fish. 5 gallon tank minimum, heater set to at least 78 degrees, and a filter. Definitely not a healthy fish. Also the tank is not cycled. Adding water from another tank will not cycle a tank. That’s why you have nitrate readings and also ammonia readings.

 

So, my parents bought my nephew (10yo) a betta fish because I INSISTED that a gold fish cant live in a 1.25g tank ead:
Now, the poor thing is laying on the gravel looking like it's dead... here is the pasted sick fish template:

Tank

What is the water volume of the tank?
1.25 gallons (I tried to talk them into the 10g, but the nephew wanted the "cool looking" fish killer marina)
How long has the tank been running? 4 days
Does it have a filter? No
Does it have a heater? No
What is the water temperature? Room temp ~70°
What is the entire stocking of this tank? 1 betta

Maintenance
How often do you change the water? Every 3 days
How much of the water do you change? About 25% (I use water from my established 60g guppy tank that's 4 months old)
What do you use to treat your water? Prime
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water? Just the water, the tank uses some magical system with a lever you pull to drain the water into a reservoir)

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish? No, didn't have ANY notice but 5 min before we went to the store.
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.

Ammonia: 0.5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
pH: 7.6

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish?
Once a day
How much do you feed your fish?
1
What brand of food do you feed your fish?
Aqueon
Do you feed frozen or freeze-dried foods?
No, just dried non-color enhancing pellets.

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish?
5 days
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms?
About 3 days, that was when I changed the water and put cycled water in from the guppies.
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms?
Listless, laying on the bottom.
Occasionally gets up and swims a bit, then lays back down.
Have you started any treatment for the illness?
No, not sure what the problem is...
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase?
Not that I was aware of. He was swimming around fine the first two days.
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? Yes, was swimming, bow laying most of the time.

So, I got the "tank" set up, added the fish, and the second day in, it was laying around looking dead. Now, after adding cycled water, it lays around, and gets up every now and then but lays back down.

I have had other types of fish, but never bettas, so I dont know anything about their moods and whatnot. Do you think he is healthy? Or at least getting better?

I'veowned several. First your tank even at 1.25, while it should be larger as you tried to insist, he can still have a happy healthy betta but wrong fish I think for a 10 year old. If the tank has nothing in it that's an issue not only should it have a little substratethe poor little guy needs a low light easy plant that does well without fertz. The water should have been cycled and could be why he is sick regardless of using established tank water...

He needs a filter and a heater and should be feed small meals twice a day on a routine. Also he should have more the just pellets, try switching up his food to keep him healthier. Dried blood worms or fez brine shrimp are both cheap water temp should be at least 78

They are also social fish and like to communicate with their owners and will get "sad" if ignored constantly.

Both of mine are in 1.5 gals with a nerite a piece to help keep the tank clean. Both have live plants and give me happy betta nest daily. Hope this helps! Save him maybe, you might be more equipped to handle the little guy.

 

I'veowned several. First your tank even at 1.25, while 8t should be larger as you tried to insist, he can still have a happy healthy betta but wrong fish I think for a 10 years old. If they tank has nothing in it that's an issue not only should it have a little substratethe poor little guy needs a low light easy plant that does well without fertz. The water should have been cycled and could be why he is sick regardless of using established tank water...

He needs a filter and a heater and should be feed small meals twice a day on a routine. Also he should have more the just pellets, try switching up his food to keep him healthier. Dried blood worms or fez brine shrimp are both cheap

They are also social fish and like to communicate with their owners c anand will get "sad" if ignored constantly.

Both of mine are in 1.5 gals with a nerite a piece to help keep the tank clean. Both have live plants and give me happy betta nest daily. Hope this helps! Save him maybe, you might be more equipped to handle the little guy.

No. Minimum for betta is 5 gallons, 3 at the ABSOLUTE minimum. They need a heater, filter, and cycled tank with regular water changes. do not promote this. No betta is happy in 1.5 gallon tank. Please do not recommend this to someone who already had a sick fish.

 

Alright y’all, moving on. Sanderguy777 can you post a photo of the fish? This will also help us suggest what else you can do to help if they do end up getting a larger more suitable tank.

Edit: the reason I say IF they get a larger tank is because they are really no treatments or other changes that can be recommended or made if the tank is not adequately suited for the fish. Once that’s taken care of you have a baseline for getting the fish back into good health and we can make some recommendations.

 

He is probably not healthy. A mixture of water that’s too cold, ammonia build up, and lack of room overall is contributing to his condition. He will NEED a heater and a filter at the very minimum.

 

There’s already a lot of replies here, so I’ll just put what I think (sorry if I put something someone already said).
A picture of the betta and the tank would really help.
You should get him at least a 5 gallon tank.
The ammonia is pretty high, so that could be the problem. I would maybe try daily 50% water changes until the ammonia in his 1.5 gallon tank is down. You also definitely need a heater and a filter. Sponge filters work best for bettas (or any filters with a light flow). You should also be feeding him more than than just 1 pellet. Feed him 2-3 pellets twice a day and make sure to soak the pellets in tank water before to avoid bloating. You can also definitely feed him snacks like bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, etc. (but make sure not to over feed on the snacks).
Other things:
Bettas love live plants and Indian almond leaves will benefit your betta.

 

Thread has been tidied up, let’s concentrate on helping the op with their fish & not debate with each other, if you’ve nothing constructive to add here then move on to another thread.

 

Ok, so here are the photos.

I do have 2 live plants from my guppy tank. They are pogostemin stollatus octopus, which is obviously too large eventually, but should at least help.

 

Ok, so here are the photos.

I do have 2 live plants from my guppy tank. They are pogostemin stollatus octopus, which is obviously too large eventually, but should at least help.

Again yes bigger tank but in the interim all the things the guys suggested water changes daily, heater needed asap! And filter, more food and interact with him

Edit: also what is the contraption he is in lol, I've never seen that before.hilarious

 

Again yes bigger tank but in the interim all the things the guys suggested water changes daily, heater needed asap! And filter, more food and interact with him

Edit: also what is the contraption he is in lol, I've never seen that before.hilarious

The little rounded part on the lid pulls up and drains ~25% of the water off. Then you can take the blue, back part off and empty the water you drained. Pretty interesting idea that I might pay for if the tank was a 10 or 20 gallon!

Also, how do you play with a fish? I've never had a betta like I said, so do they need on e of those betta mirrors or something?

 

The little rounded part on the lid pulls up and drains ~25% of the water off. Then you can take the blue, back part off and empty the water you drained. Pretty interesting idea that I might pay for if the tank was a 10 or 20 gallon!

Oh. My. lol you're sure you can't convince them to get at least a five? and as far as playing....get him some mini moss balls and he will happily push them around, at least all of mine have, talk to him and yes.... I DO MEAN talk lol they will respond...if you look down from the top of the tank he will come up to say hello and also rubbing [ dont tap the tank AT ALL it will scare him] so gently moving your finger up and down for him to follow a few times or simply waving at him so he knows you're looking at him

 

Ok, so here are the photos.

I do have 2 live plants from my guppy tank. They are pogostemin stollatus octopus, which is obviously too large eventually, but should at least help.

Maybe he’s lethargic bc the waters too cold? That would be my best guess a long with the ammonia being high. A bigger tank, heater, and filter will probably help him a lot.

Also, how do you play with a fish? I've never had a betta like I said, so do they need on e of those betta mirrors or something?

You can get him to follow your finger and you can train him to do tricks, but I would first get proper equipment (bigger tank, heater, filter) before trying to “play” with him. If you want to train him, there are fish training kits on Amazon. Just make sure not to over feed him when training.

 

If you’re interested I can recommend a nice rimless 5g that comes with a very nice light and a filter built in... maybe you can convince them to get that? The only additional things they will need to purchase is a heater and decorations. The tank kit is quite cheap but runs very nicely. I have my betta in it and was able to get a full carpet of Monte Carlo with the light it came with.

 

If you’re interested I can recommend a nice rimless 5g that comes with a very nice light and a filter built in... maybe you can convince them to get that? The only additional things they will need to purchase is a heater and decorations. The tank kit is quite cheap but runs very nicely. I have my betta in it and was able to get a full carpet of Monte Carlo with the light it came with.

If it’s about the cost, I would also recommend checking for used tanks on Craigslist, offerup, of FB marketplace. There are lots of cheap tanks there and often people are also giving away heaters, filters, lights, and a gravel.

 

If it’s about the cost, I would also recommend checking for used tanks on Craigslist, offerup, of FB marketplace. There are lots of cheap tanks there and often people are also giving away heaters, filters, lights, and a gravel.

You just have to be careful about quality with that. Cracked tanks, malfunctioning heaters, etc. But it is worth a look.

 

You just have to be careful about quality with that. Cracked tanks, malfunctioning heaters, etc. But it is worth a look.

Agree but I’ve found some great finds. Just make sure you ask if it’s been stored outside, if it’s been leak tested and everything works. I’ve had good luck so far, only bought 2/8 tanks new haha.

 

If you’re interested I can recommend a nice rimless 5g that comes with a very nice light and a filter built in... maybe you can convince them to get that? The only additional things they will need to purchase is a heater and decorations. The tank kit is quite cheap but runs very nicely. I have my betta in it and was able to get a full carpet of Monte Carlo with the light it came with.

Yes please! Still probably cant convince them, but I can try.

If it’s about the cost, I would also recommend checking for used tanks on Craigslist, offerup, of FB marketplace. There are lots of cheap tanks there and often people are also giving away heaters, filters, lights, and a gravel.

It wasnt cost. My parents got what looked nice to my nephew, not the 10g that was like $2 more.

 

Yes please! Still probably cant convince them, but I can try.

It wasnt cost. My parents got what looked nice to my nephew, not the 10g that was like $2 more.

Rimless 5g Aquarium
I’ll include a picture of mine below if it’ll help with convincing at all hilarious

 

Rimless 5g Aquarium
I’ll include a picture of mine below if it’ll help with convincing at all hilarious
View attachment 709146

Wow! That is really neat.

 

The listlessness is probably from no heater, and not cycled. Thanks for doing what you can to help them understand. Keep it up.