5 Gallon Tank Rescued a Betta, need some input

I recently got a betta from a regional market that really does not take good care of them. I normally do not support these establishments but this guy was rough. I emailed corporate to insure they knew of my disapproval. I found one basically at deaths door and got a 5 gal, filter, heater, media, and a few fake plant decor (I assumed treatments that could kill plants might be necessary).

So far I ran him through beta fix which seemed to bring a bit of life back into him. I've also been monitoring his water daily as the nitrogen cycle can't take hold fully with cajeput oil treatments. I am not building the cycle with some media and activated carbon now.

He is doing a bit better it seems as he is now eating but he is still sluggish, often at the bottom or resting behind the filter (got him a Betta leaf, he prefers to wedge himself behind the filter). He also still has some fin discoloration/perhaps infection? Picture below:

It has been 2 weeks and he still has these remaining issues of sluggishness and fin (something?) I want to make sure I'm doing this little guy right and I don't end up prolonging his eventual death (if it's serious) or worse killing him due to my ignorance.

 

Hello,
Good luck poetzmij and welcome to fishlore.

As the fish is in an uncycled tank it would be best to monitor ammonia daily.
Do you have a test kit for ammonia?
Do you have another tank with fish that would have bacteria in it?

 

Hello,
Good luck poetzmij and welcome to fishlore.

As the fish is in an uncycled tank it would be best to monitor ammonia daily.
Do you have a test kit for ammonia?
Do you have another tank with fish that would have bacteria in it?

I have another tank with shrimps and snails, it should be well cycled. I thought about pulling some media from that but I had some instant bacteria as well that I had added to the Betta tank. The nitrates and nitrites seem to be fine right now.

I do have a test for ammonia but I'm wondering about it's accuracy. I just went with the best value but Im reading here in the forums that might not be the best approach as some are actually not very accurate. For what it's worth, these tests find no ammonia.

Also correction to my original post (can't seem to edit at this point). I said I am not building the cycle, I meant to say I am now building the cycle.

 

Continue frequent water changes, the fish is breathing out ammonia with every breath 24/7 as well as it’s pee and poop there is always a little uneaten food in the filters etc.

One fish in a five gallon MAY need a 45% water change every 48 hours to be on the safe side in an uncycled tank . As mentioned ammonia is always arriving so there is no need to worry about removing it and starving the bacteria. Keeping the fish alive is the most important consideration the bacteria will find food ( ammonia) .

 

Honestly most of the "instant cycle" products aren't as good as using old media. I'd take some media out of your other tank and try to jumpstart the cycle.

It sometimes takes a while for them to bounce back I don't see anything visibly I'd treat him for yet. Sometimes the treatments are really hard on fish. I'd do daily small water only changes the fresh water will help the fish endure the cycle but also help encourage any healing (fin regrowth, etc)

 

Thank you all! I will continue with water changes and feeding. I will throw a bit of media in from the other tank as well. If problems continue for a month, or seem to get worse I will update this thread.

 

Welcome to Fishlore!

Lovely betta boy!!!

His fins should heal with the frequent water changes. It just looks like he has some tears here and there. His body shape looks fine, from what I can see. Give him some time to settle in. Bettas love squeezing into places...their nosy, and the tight places can make them feel safe.

I would stop using the bettafix. It's not that great for bettas, actually. It's an herbal thing that contains tea tree oil, and that can negatively affect the betta's labyrinth organ, which allows them to breate air from the top of the tank. I have used it before, but all it ever really did was smell up the water.

Clean water, a warm tank, and good protein rich food will go a long way to getting him really well and thriving. What temp do you have the heater set at?

I am very partial to yellow bettas, lol!

 

Welcome to Fishlore!

Lovely betta boy!!!

His fins should heal with the frequent water changes. It just looks like he has some tears here and there. His body shape looks fine, from what I can see. Give him some time to settle in. Bettas love squeezing into places...their nosy, and the tight places can make them feel safe.

I would stop using the bettafix. It's not that great for bettas, actually. It's an herbal thing that contains tea tree oil, and that can negatively affect the betta's labyrinth organ, which allows them to breate air from the top of the tank. I have used it before, but all it ever really did was smell up the water.

Clean water, a warm tank, and good protein rich food will go a long way to getting him really well and thriving. What temp do you have the heater set at?

I am very partial to yellow bettas, lol!

It's a preset. According to the thermometer it hovers around 76-78F.

Also, regarding food, he will ONLY eat bug bites from fluval. Can't seem to get him on anything else. Luckily, according to my limited research, it should be a solid staple food.

 

Temp is good at 76 - 78.

Bettas can be picky about their food, that is for sure!

Have you tried something frozen, like brine shrimp or daphnia?

Bug bites are good, but I find that some of the pieces can be very hard, so I always soak hard foods before feeding to soften it up a bit. Soaking will prevent any scratching or injuring the inside of his throat.

 

Temp is good at 76 - 78.

Bettas can be picky about their food, that is for sure!

Have you tried something frozen, like brine shrimp or daphnia?

Bug bites are good, but I find that some of the pieces can be very hard, so I always soak hard foods before feeding to soften it up a bit. Soaking will prevent any scratching or injuring the inside of his throat.

Glad to hear the temp should be good. I did try freeze dried shrimps but he did not want them. After I go through the bug bites I'll try frozen. Thanks!

Welcome to Fishlore!

Lovely betta boy!!!

His fins should heal with the frequent water changes. It just looks like he has some tears here and there. His body shape looks fine, from what I can see. Give him some time to settle in. Bettas love squeezing into places...their nosy, and the tight places can make them feel safe.

I would stop using the bettafix. It's not that great for bettas, actually. It's an herbal thing that contains tea tree oil, and that can negatively affect the betta's labyrinth organ, which allows them to breate air from the top of the tank. I have used it before, but all it ever really did was smell up the water.

Clean water, a warm tank, and good protein rich food will go a long way to getting him really well and thriving. What temp do you have the heater set at?

I am very partial to yellow bettas, lol!

Got some other ammonia tests today and yea, the poor boy must be feeling it. Doing a large water change now (how large can I go on a 5gsl)? I'll continue to monitor ammonia and nitrate/nitrite. Are there any passive remedies to ammonia?