5 Gallon Tank Sick betta. Low energy/appetite, faded coloring, torn fins

Tank

• What is the water volume of the tank? 5 gallons
• How long has the tank been running? About 3 or 4 months now.
• Does it have a filter? Yes.
• Does it have a heater? Yes.
• What is the water temperature? 81
• What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.) 1 betta fish

Maintenance

• How often do you change the water? Lately, I’ve been doing water changes every couple days but usually I’ll do them every week.
• How much of the water do you change? About 20-25%
• What do you use to treat your water? Seachem prime water conditioner.
• Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water? Just the water but I rinse the substrate.

*Parameters - Very Important

• Did you cycle your tank before adding fish? No.
• What do you use to test the water? API test kit.
• What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.

Ammonia: unsure
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
pH: 7.0

Feeding

• How often do you feed your fish? 2-3 times per day.
• How much do you feed your fish? 6 pellets and a few bloodworm/daphnia
• What brand of food do you feed your fish? Top fin color enhancing betta bits and the bloodworms/daphnia/mysis are zoo med.
• Do you feed frozen or freeze-dried foods? I have frozen brine shrimp, but he won’t eat them.

Illness & Symptoms

• How long have you had this fish? Almost 2 years.
• How long ago did you first notice these symptoms? 2-3 months ago
• In a few words, can you explain the symptoms? Decreased energy/appetite, faded coloring, torn fins
• Have you started any treatment for the illness? I started using aquarium salt and IAL and saw no difference so i used Furan-2 and that didnt work either.
• Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase? No
• How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? He used to be a bit more active, he has messed up fins, and his color recently went away as well.

Explain your emergency situation in detail.

This started about 2-3 months ago. I noticed that his fins started looking torn so I assumed he had fin rot. I immediately got him a new tank and heater and aquarium salt. After that I didn’t see much of an improvement so I got IALs as well, yet again, I didn’t see an improvement. I started doing more occasional water changes. As the weeks progressed, he just got worse and worse. His color is now very faded and his fins look shredded. He also just sits around his tank all day and sleeps and doesn’t go up for food when I give it to him. I’ve had him for almost two years and I think he was about a year old when I got him so i’m not sure if this is just old age or not. His symptoms are very very similar to symptoms of old age in bettas, however I don’t want to just pass it off as old age if it’s fin rot. I feel like I’ve tried everything and he hasn’t gotten better. I’ll add a couple pictures in order of him when i first got him (2), him when the symptoms first started (2) , and now (2). Please let me know what you think and what you think I should do. And if you have any questions please ask.

 

Hi there! Unfortunately, your tank is uncycled. I'm assuming you're using the test strips? If so, I'd get rid of them and get the API Freshwater Master Test Kit. It's a lot more reliable than the strips, tests for ammonia, and is worth your money. You will want to be doing 30% water changes every day, and test for everything. After the water changes, dose with Prime, because that detoxifies ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates for 24 hours, so it will make your fish immune to it for that amount of time. You are looking for ammonia: 0, nitrite: 0, and nitrate: 5 and up, but no higher than 40. Could you be more specific about how you rinse the substrate? With soap, or just with water? Is the water old tank water or new tap water? I don't know anything about using aquarium salt, but other people will be able to help you. For now, do the water changes and dose with Prime, and keep using the IAL. Bettas like them and it will reduce their stress. Also, post your readings here tomorrow. Good luck!

Btw, if anyone sees something I posted that is incorrect, please correct me.

 

Hi there! Unfortunately, your tank is uncycled. I'm assuming you're using the test strips? If so, I'd get rid of them and get the API Freshwater Master Test Kit. It's a lot more reliable than the strips, tests for ammonia, and is worth your money. You will want to be doing 30% water changes every day, and test for everything. After the water changes, dose with Prime, because that detoxifies ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates for 24 hours, so it will make your fish immune to it for that amount of time. You are looking for ammonia: 0, nitrite: 0, and nitrate: 5 and up, but no higher than 40. Could you be more specific about how you rinse the substrate? With soap, or just with water? Is the water old tank water or new tap water? I don't know anything about using aquarium salt, but other people will be able to help you. For now, do the water changes and dose with Prime, and keep using the IAL. Bettas like them and it will reduce their stress. Also, post your readings here tomorrow. Good luck!

Btw, if anyone sees something I posted that is incorrect, please correct me.

I actually just got quick start (i think that’s the name) for my other betta’s new tank and that worked really well to cycle the aquarium. Do you think putting some of that into this aquarium would help cycle it? Also I usually rinse my substrate with water or old tank water. I’ll try and reply to this again once I test my water tomorrow! Oh and I forgot to mention but I am dosing with prime already!

 

I actually just got quick start (i think that’s the name) for my other betta’s new tank and that worked really well to cycle the aquarium. Do you think putting some of that into this aquarium would help cycle it? Also I usually rinse my substrate with water or old tank water. I’ll try and reply to this again once I test my water tomorrow! Oh and I forgot to mention but I am dosing with prime already!

You could try! If that doesn't work, you could try Tetra SafeStart or Seachem Stability. To make your life easier when it comes to substrate, I recommend getting a syphon to get all of the gunk out of there. But don't rinse it with regular tap water that hasn't been dechlorinated, as it contains toxic chlorines and chloramines that will damage the colony of beneficial bacteria that you are trying to grow. Just rinse with old tank water or with a syphon. And good, keep up with the Prime. Best of luck to you!

 

Tank

• What is the water volume of the tank? 5 gallons
• How long has the tank been running? About 3 or 4 months now.
• Does it have a filter? Yes.
• Does it have a heater? Yes.
• What is the water temperature? 81
• What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.) 1 betta fish

Maintenance

• How often do you change the water? Lately, I’ve been doing water changes every couple days but usually I’ll do them every week.
• How much of the water do you change? About 20-25%
• What do you use to treat your water? Seachem prime water conditioner.
• Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water? Just the water but I rinse the substrate.

*Parameters - Very Important

• Did you cycle your tank before adding fish? No.
• What do you use to test the water? API test kit.
• What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.

Ammonia: unsure
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
pH: 7.0

Feeding

• How often do you feed your fish? 2-3 times per day.
• How much do you feed your fish? 6 pellets and a few bloodworm/daphnia
• What brand of food do you feed your fish? Top fin color enhancing betta bits and the bloodworms/daphnia/mysis are zoo med.
• Do you feed frozen or freeze-dried foods? I have frozen brine shrimp, but he won’t eat them.

Illness & Symptoms

• How long have you had this fish? Almost 2 years.
• How long ago did you first notice these symptoms? 2-3 months ago
• In a few words, can you explain the symptoms? Decreased energy/appetite, faded coloring, torn fins
• Have you started any treatment for the illness? I started using aquarium salt and IAL and saw no difference so i used Furan-2 and that didnt work either.
• Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase? No
• How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? He used to be a bit more active, he has messed up fins, and his color recently went away as well.

Explain your emergency situation in detail.

This started about 2-3 months ago. I noticed that his fins started looking torn so I assumed he had fin rot. I immediately got him a new tank and heater and aquarium salt. After that I didn’t see much of an improvement so I got IALs as well, yet again, I didn’t see an improvement. I started doing more occasional water changes. As the weeks progressed, he just got worse and worse. His color is now very faded and his fins look shredded. He also just sits around his tank all day and sleeps and doesn’t go up for food when I give it to him. I’ve had him for almost two years and I think he was about a year old when I got him so i’m not sure if this is just old age or not. His symptoms are very very similar to symptoms of old age in bettas, however I don’t want to just pass it off as old age if it’s fin rot. I feel like I’ve tried everything and he hasn’t gotten better. I’ll add a couple pictures in order of him when i first got him (2), him when the symptoms first started (2) , and now (2). Please let me know what you think and what you think I should do. And if you have any questions please ask.

How much salt are you using and did you put it in your tank?

 

How much salt are you using and did you put it in your tank?

I’m currently using a tablespoon for the entire 5 gallon tank and yes i’m putting it into the tank.

 

I’m currently using a tablespoon for the entire 5 gallon tank and yes i’m putting it into the tank.

Ok, just remember that salt doesn't evaporate. So you only need to add it one time. Unless you're removing water. Then only add it back to the amount of water you've replaced it with.