Need advice with friends female betta

Ok backstory I bought this “baby girl” betta from petco one of those red and pink fish. Anyway my friend took interest (she’s not a fish keeper) so I gave her a sheet of instructions and videos to watch and this was a year ago I gave the fish to her. Well the fish (petunia) is in a 2.5 gallon UNHEATED tank with the filter that came with the tank (I’m giving her an extra heater tomorrow) the waters 70 f and my friend said petunias looking paler than normal, keep in mind she knows nothing about fish and this fish was loved by her dad who recently passed away so now she feels like she needs to keep petunia alive if that makes sense. Anyways will the heater fix her? Or should I lend her some medication? She said she’ll send me a pic “later“ so I think she’s out of the house. I don’t wanna see her take another loss please help

 

Hi,

So sorry about your friend!!

The heater will help, but I can't say that it will fix everything. The more info we have, the better. The pic(s) will help, too.

Can you get her to answer these questions as thoroughly as possible? Just copy and paste it into a post reply, and fill in the info as much as you can.

Tank
What is the water volume of the tank?
How long has the tank been running?
Does it have a filter?
Does it have a heater?
What is the water temperature?
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.)

Maintenance
How often do you change the water?
How much of the water do you change?
What do you use to treat your water?
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water?

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish?
What do you use to test the water?
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish?
How much do you feed your fish?
What brand of food do you feed your fish?
Do you feed frozen?
Do you feed freeze-dried foods?

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish?
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms?
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms?
Have you started any treatment for the illness?
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase?
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all?

Explain your emergency situation in detail.
(Please give a clear explanation of what is going on, include details from the beginning of the illness leading up to now)

Include pictures

 

A heater will help, but we cant say if it will help everything.
Get an adjustable heater and slowly, over 3 days, raise the temp a little at a time until the temp is stable at 78-82.
Feed 3-5 pellets a day split into 2 servings, consider a variety of meaty foods, try new life spectrum thera plus A, betta bug bites, Ultra fresh betta food, frozen daphnia once or twice a week instead of the pellet food.

 

Hi,

So sorry about your friend!!

The heater will help, but I can't say that it will fix everything. The more info we have, the better. The pic(s) will help, too.

Can you get her to answer these questions as thoroughly as possible? Just copy and paste it into a post reply, and fill in the info as much as you can.

Tank
What is the water volume of the tank?
How long has the tank been running?
Does it have a filter?
Does it have a heater?
What is the water temperature?
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.)

Maintenance
How often do you change the water?
How much of the water do you change?
What do you use to treat your water?
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water?

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish?
What do you use to test the water?
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish?
How much do you feed your fish?
What brand of food do you feed your fish?
Do you feed frozen?
Do you feed freeze-dried foods?

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish?
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms?
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms?
Have you started any treatment for the illness?
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase?
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all?

Explain your emergency situation in detail.
(Please give a clear explanation of what is going on, include details from the beginning of the illness leading up to now)

Include pictures

2.5 gallons
about 4 months
yes a gentle hob
70 f
one adult female betta

once A month (but she’s going to do it at least once a week she says she was just busy with moving etc)
Around 50%
Just change the water

no she doesn’t even know what cycling is
I gave her some test strips I think if not I’ll give her some today
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown

she feeds petunia 3-4 pellets a day
once a day
aqeon pellets
no frozen
no freeze dried

about a year
yesterday
She’s swimming around fine just pale
Omg... she just texted me “once I think about it she’s always pale pink so idk if anything’s wrong with her lol“
So apparently she doesn’t look pale she has shiny stuff under her chin

 

Wow, she looks pretty good!

She's nice and plump, and the shiny stuff is just part of the betta's iridescent coloring, from what I can see.

She would definitely do better with a heater. The temp needs to be raised slowly...too much too quick will stress her.

And she really should do weekly water changes. And if she isn't using something like well water or spring water, it is always best practices to use a dechlorinator/water conditioner, if she isn't already using one.

And please recommend that she soak the betta's pellets in tank water before feeding her betta to avoid digestive issues/bloat. If you can get your friend to vary the betta's diet, that would be helpful, too. Frozen foods are best...brine shrimp and daphnia are good choices.

And you're a good friend!

 

Wow, she looks pretty good!

She's nice and plump, and the shiny stuff is just part of the betta's iridescent coloring, from what I can see.

She would definitely do better with a heater. The temp needs to be raised slowly...too much too quick will stress her.

And she really should do weekly water changes. And if she isn't using something like well water or spring water, it is always best practices to use a dechlorinator/water conditioner, if she isn't already using one.

And please recommend that she soak the betta's pellets in tank water before feeding her betta to avoid digestive issues/bloat. If you can get your friend to vary the betta's diet, that would be helpful, too. Frozen foods are best...brine shrimp and daphnia are good choices.

And you're a good friend!

Ok thank you I’ll pass it on to her!