5 Gallon Tank Please help! Very worried about my Betta

I have my five gallon tank. I got it recently maybe 3 weeks ago and since, I’ve added some ghost shrimp, a pleco and two snails with my little Loki.
I have a heater, a filter, the temperature currently is between 78 and 80, I have one center piece in the middle along with 4 little plants and moss balls.
I’ve changed the water (20%) almost three times this week, the first time (vacuumed) because I was introducing Loki to the shrimps and I thought I should clean it a bit before adding them and the past two times I just did it the past two days because I just don’t know what to do or if the water is ok for him.

Recently he’s just been acting weirdly, he’s been laying on the floor a lot more, just barely eating, every now and then he swims around but I’m very concerned. I think he also messed up a part of his left gill maybe 3 days ago.
I try to feed him at least twice a day, but he rarely wants to eat, I drop in maybe 3 pellets per feeding and some flakes and I’m lucky if he even eats one pellet throughout the whole day.
I have had Loki maybe 3-4 months and he has always done this thing where if I move him into a different tank, he just will not eat for a few days so I thought ok maybe he’s just throwing a little tantrum. But this has gone on for so much longer than a few days
my water is pretty hard, it’s at 300
nitrate level is 0
Nitrite is 0
Cl2 is 0
The alkalinity is 0
The pH is 7.2-7.8
Ammonia is nearly 0

Here are some pictures of him currently

 

No nitrates suggest the tank is probably not cycled. Wondering what a pleco is doing in a 5 gal tank though? For starters, depending on type they get really big and 2, they typically poop a lot and have a rather large bio load for such a small tank.

 

No nitrates suggest the tank is probably not cycled. Wondering what a pleco is doing in a 5 gal tank though? For starters, depending on type they get really big and 2, they typically poop a lot and have a rather large bio load for such a small tank.

Honestly, my Betta was my first fish and I just wanted to have another little buddy in there with him. I'll admit I should have done more research rather than just ask Petsmart on whether they think it would be ok to have him in there. I did notice that the little guy tends to poop a lot, and at this point I'm just not sure what to do, I don't wanna lose my betta..

 

I have my five gallon tank. I got it recently maybe 3 weeks ago and since, I’ve added some ghost shrimp, a pleco and two snails with my little Loki.
I have a heater, a filter, the temperature currently is between 78 and 80, I have one center piece in the middle along with 4 little plants and moss balls.
I’ve changed the water (20%) almost three times this week, the first time (vacuumed) because I was introducing Loki to the shrimps and I thought I should clean it a bit before adding them and the past two times I just did it the past two days because I just don’t know what to do or if the water is ok for him.

Recently he’s just been acting weirdly, he’s been laying on the floor a lot more, just barely eating, every now and then he swims around but I’m very concerned. I think he also messed up a part of his left gill maybe 3 days ago.
I try to feed him at least twice a day, but he rarely wants to eat, I drop in maybe 3 pellets per feeding and some flakes and I’m lucky if he even eats one pellet throughout the whole day.
I have had Loki maybe 3-4 months and he has always done this thing where if I move him into a different tank, he just will not eat for a few days so I thought ok maybe he’s just throwing a little tantrum. But this has gone on for so much longer than a few days
my water is pretty hard, it’s at 300
nitrate level is 0
Nitrite is 0
Cl2 is 0
The alkalinity is 0
The pH is 7.2-7.8
Ammonia is nearly 0

He looks to be stressed. Could something have happened between him and the pleco? I suggest you rehome the pleco as they have no place in a 5g, especially if it is a common pleco which can reach sizes of 24 inches.

 

A betta can’t have tankmates in a 5 gal beside snail or shrimp

 

Honestly, my Betta was my first fish and I just wanted to have another little buddy in there with him. I'll admit I should have done more research rather than just ask Petsmart on whether they think it would be ok to have him in there. I did notice that the little guy tends to poop a lot, and at this point I'm just not sure what to do, I don't wanna lose my betta..

Don't worry, far from the first-or last-an employee led someone astray when it comes to fish! Like Noah said, shrimp or snails are the tank mates for a betta in a 5 gal. Doesn't mean the betta won't go after them or have a quick snack...

 

He looks to be stressed. Could something have happened between him and the pleco? I suggest you rehome the pleco as they have no place in a 5g, especially if it is a common pleco which can reach sizes of 24 inches.

I don't think anything happened between them, when I first introduced them they seemed alright with each other. The most my Betta did was stare at him in the beginning and be on his way, unless something happened in the night then I'm not sure, but they don't seem injured other than Loki and I think that happened because he got stuck on a bamboo leaf. Any ideas on how I can rehome the little Pleco?? I'm not able to get another tank because my household just simply wont allow it...

 

LokiBetta can we see a pic of this pleco for ID? You will not believe the amount of misidentified fish I see on here so I just want to make sure. There was a thread where a severum was IDed by a LFS employee as a honey gourami. Luckily, that person came to fishlore and got the right answer.

 

A betta can’t have tankmates in a 5 gal beside snail or shrimp

I realize that now, I'm just trying to figure out how to make my little guy feel all better

 

I don't think anything happened between them, when I first introduced them they seemed alright with each other. The most my Betta did was stare at him in the beginning and be on his way, unless something happened in the night then I'm not sure, but they don't seem injured other than Loki and I think that happened because he got stuck on a bamboo leaf. Any ideas on how I can rehome the little Pleco?? I'm not able to get another tank because my household just simply wont allow it...

Could maybe try a local fish store

 

I don't think anything happened between them, when I first introduced them they seemed alright with each other. The most my Betta did was stare at him in the beginning and be on his way, unless something happened in the night then I'm not sure, but they don't seem injured other than Loki and I think that happened because he got stuck on a bamboo leaf. Any ideas on how I can rehome the little Pleco?? I'm not able to get another tank because my household just simply wont allow it...

Craigslist maybe?

 

LokiBetta can we see a pic of this pleco for ID? You will not believe the amount of misidentified fish I see on here so I just want to make sure. There was a thread where a severum was IDed by a LFS employee as a honey gourami. Luckily, that person came to fishlore and got the right answer.

Yes, of course!

 

Yes, of course!

Looks like common pleco. Can get up to 24" and is an absolute poop machine! Please rehome. They are insanely bad for a tank under 5g. All of this is coming from an absolute pleco lover!

Sorry if this message sounds mean, it's hard to convey emotion through internet messages lol

 

Looks like common pleco. Can get up to 24" and is an absolute poop machine! Please rehome. They are insanely bad for a tank under 5g. All of this is coming from an absolute pleco lover!

Sorry if this message sounds mean, it's hard to convey emotion through internet messages lol

Don't be sorry! I'm the dummy that put a Pleco in a 5 gallon tank lol I do plan on rehoming the little guy, hopefully Loki and Salmone (Pleco) will feel much more comfortable afterwards!

 

Don't be sorry! I'm the dummy that put a Pleco in a 5 gallon tank lol I do plan on rehoming the little guy, hopefully Loki and Salmone (Pleco) will feel much more comfortable afterwards!

It's ok. We all make mistakes! It's about how we deal with them that defines us. Lol very cliche. It's good that your doing the right thing and rehoming. Depending on where you live, you may be able to find a member on this forum to take Salmone off your hands.

 

It's ok. We all make mistakes! It's about how we deal with them that defines us. Lol very cliche. It's good that your doing the right thing and rehoming. Depending on where you live, you may be able to find a member on this forum to take Salmone off your hands.

I did not even think of using this forum, but I will take the idea, I really appreciate all the help with my babies!

 

I realize that now, I'm just trying to figure out how to make my little guy feel all better

Continue doing WCs multiple times per week, even up to 50-60%. The best thing you can do to help him feel better is to keep the water pristine with big WCs until you can rehome the pleco. I suspect it's a combination of stress from being in a new environment with tankmates and water quality.

 

Continue doing WCs multiple times per week, even up to 50-60%. The best thing you can do to help him feel better is to keep the water pristine with big WCs until you can rehome the pleco. I suspect it's a combination of stress from being in a new environment with tankmates and water quality.

Oh, I plan on doing water changes daily, I was doing maybe 20-25% but now I will be doing the 50-60% water change, my cousin didn't mention until now that she was able to smell ammonia. I should invest in better testing kits, especially since it looks like the ones that I had were obviously incorrect. I will be doing my best from here on to make them as comfortable as possible!

 

Oh, I plan on doing water changes daily, I was doing maybe 20-25% but now I will be doing the 50-60% water change, my cousin didn't mention until now that she was able to smell ammonia. I should invest in better testing kits, especially since it looks like the ones that I had were obviously incorrect. I will be doing my best from here on to make them as comfortable as possible!

The API liquid test kit is IMO the best one there is. The API test STRIPS suck and give API tests a bit of a bad name which is unfortunate as their liquid test is very superior. Get the API Freshwater Master Liquid Test Kit!

 

The API liquid test kit is IMO the best one there is. The API test STRIPS suck and give API tests a bit of a bad name which is unfortunate as their liquid test is very superior. Get the API Freshwater Master Liquid Test Kit!

Will do! Thank you!

 

When you do your water changes, try to match the temperature of the new water to the temperature of the tank as best you can. And double-check that you remember to add the dechlorinator. If you're using Prime as a dechlor, go ahead and add an extra 0.5mL to help neutralize the ammonia. For a tank that small, buying some cheap needless syringes off eBay or Amazon is well worth e price of being able to accurately measure liquids instead of trying to pour into a cap only one thread high!

 

Oh, I plan on doing water changes daily, I was doing maybe 20-25% but now I will be doing the 50-60% water change, my cousin didn't mention until now that she was able to smell ammonia. I should invest in better testing kits, especially since it looks like the ones that I had were obviously incorrect. I will be doing my best from here on to make them as comfortable as possible!

That's good, larger WCs will help remove more toxins. If the nitrate reading is correct I assume your tank isn't cycled so you'll have to do a fish-in cycle. These frequent WCs will help with that, ensuring ammonia and nitrites don't reach toxic levels and will still allow BB colonies to establish themselves in your tank.

No worries, it's good you're asking questions and you obviously care about the well-being of your fish.

 

That's good, larger WCs will help remove more toxins. If the nitrate reading is correct I assume your tank isn't cycled so you'll have to do a fish-in cycle. These frequent WCs will help with that, ensuring ammonia and nitrites don't reach toxic levels and will still allow BB colonies to establish themselves in your tank.

No worries, it's good you're asking questions and you obviously care about the well-being of your fish.

Thank you so much, I plan on moving the pleco to a separate tank that I have that way I don't have to vacuum the tank with my betta and I can get the parameters better sooner rather than later. I also just set up a listing on eBay to see if someone will hopefully take him soon so it's not so bad for my little Pleco

 

Thank you so much, I plan on moving the pleco to a separate tank that I have that way I don't have to vacuum the tank with my betta and I can get the parameters better sooner rather than later. I also just set up a listing on eBay to see if someone will hopefully take him soon so it's not so bad for my little Pleco

Sounds like a plan, but you'll still need to vacuum the tank the betta is in to remove waste from gravel/substrate as part of routine maintenance. Spot on about the parameters, they will stabilize quicker without the extra bio-load.

Fingers crossed! At least you're doing what you can, that's admirable.

 

Sounds like a plan, but you'll still need to vacuum the tank the betta is in to remove waste from gravel/substrate as part of routine maintenance. Spot on about the parameters, they will stabilize quicker without the extra bio-load.

Fingers crossed! At least you're doing what you can, that's admirable.

Mhm! And my bad lol I meant not have to vacuum the once a day compared to the plecos little place where I can just scoop up the waste