Sick Betta Please Help!

[Tdizzy187]

Hey I just moved my Betta to a clean sick bowl. His tank was dirty about a month ago and I changed it but shortly after that his spine fins and tail all started to disappear or I bought that bettafix and about a week later but I don’t feel that it did anything. About 2 days ago he started to lay on his belly and breathing heavy. Any help would be great he looks really bad.... and I don’t wanna lose him.

 

[Giul]

It looks like he has fin rot- what size tank do you keep him in? Usually doing daily water changes to heal his fins will help

 

[Tdizzy187]

I have him in a 3.5 gallon tank, filtration system. Will the water changes daily also help his illness like I said he’s laying on his belly not moving..

 

[Mysteriou$]

Try to find parasite treatment solution and see if it works because since there are no symptoms outside the body it could be parasites inside. Also check the water's PH level.

 

[Tdizzy187]

Try to find parasite treatment solution and see if it works because since there are no symptoms outside the body it could be parasites inside. Also check the water's PH level.

I will try this thank you!

 

[Mysteriou$]

I will try this thank you!

You're welcome

 

[Repolie]

There's definitely some wrong information here. Iverg1 Rtessy CanadianFishFan Can one of you guys help him? I don't have time to type.

 

[JupiterBeauty]

Hi! Although I am still a new member, I have been doing betta rescue for a couple years now. He definitely has a bacterial contition called fin rot . It looks pretty moderate to severe, especially if he doesn't have energy and he is lying on the ground constantly as you mentioned. As I have found out with bettas, never use a heavy medication (antibiotic, antI fungal, antiparasitic, etc) unless YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE you need to. Hard medications often can promote adverse effects. Instead, I like to use clean, warm water, combined with aquarium salt and Indian Almond Leaf if I can. Sometimes I add in Betta Revive as well, as it's a medication that is not too strong but does help with cases like this. I would do all of these things with your betta.
P.S. Betta fix (and usually anything with 'fix' at the end, is just tea tree oil extract. Although there have been accounts of it helping fish, with bettas it can coat their labyrinth organ, making hard to breath.
Betta Revive:
Indian almond leaf (I always have this, and I use it for all my bettas):
Aquarium salt:

Sidnote: I know you will do everything to prevent this, but if he does die, don't beat yourself up. It's hard, I've lost way more than I like to think about. But these creatures can be fragile and sometimes even though we do our best they still go.

I will try this thank you!

I'm sorry, please do not do this. There are no indicators of parasites and treating for it may do more harm than good

 

[Iverg1]

Hello! First please put him back him the water. Second for fin rot daily 25% water changes work pretty good. There is absouluty no indication of parasites. Please do not use bettafix as it is a controversial medicine that contains tree oil that could coat your bettas labyrinth organ and could kill your betta

 

[Tdizzy187]

Hi! Although I am still a new member, I have been doing betta rescue for a couple years now. He definitely has a bacterial contition called fin rot . It looks pretty moderate to severe, especially if he doesn't have energy and he is lying on the ground constantly as you mentioned. As I have found out with bettas, never use a heavy medication (antibiotic, antI fungal, antiparasitic, etc) unless YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE you need to. Hard medications often can promote adverse effects. Instead, I like to use clean, warm water, combined with aquarium salt and Indian Almond Leaf if I can. Sometimes I add in Betta Revive as well, as it's a medication that is not too strong but does help with cases like this. I would do all of these things with your betta.
P.S. Betta fix (and usually anything with 'fix' at the end, is just tea tree oil extract. Although there have been accounts of it helping fish, with bettas it can coat their labyrinth organ, making hard to breath.
Betta Revive:
Indian almond leaf (I always have this, and I use it for all my bettas):
Aquarium salt:

Sidnote: I know you will do everything to prevent this, but if he does die, don't beat yourself up. It's hard, I've lost way more than I like to think about. But these creatures can be fragile and sometimes even though we do our best they still go.



I'm sorry, please do not do this. There are no indicators of parasites and treating for it may do more harm than good

Okay so I didn’t know that about the bettafix I think that’s what did it. I was trying to treat the fin rot at first. After I used the bettafix he then started to lay on his belly what can I do to save him and then worry about the fin rot?

Hello! First please put him back him the water. Second for fin rot daily 25% water changes work pretty good. There is absouluty no indication of parasites. Please do not use bettafix as it is a controversial medicine that contains tree oil that could coat your bettas labyrinth organ and could kill your betta

I used the bettafix in that water I don’t wanna put him back in it.

 

[JupiterBeauty]

Okay so I didn’t know that about the bettafix I think that’s what did it. I was trying to treat the fin rot at first. After I used the bettafix he then started to lay on his belly what can I do to save him and then worry about the fin rot?

Is he in the same water with the betta fix now?

 

[Tdizzy187]

Is he in the same water with the betta fix now?

No I removed him

 

[JupiterBeauty]

No I removed him

Okay. Well since hes out of the betta fix, just keep the water clean and warm ( l like 78 to 80 degrees) and reduce stress by covering half the tank with a dark material or leaving lights off. Then you can treat for fin rot

 

[Tdizzy187]

Okay. Well since hes out of the betta fix, just keep the water clean and warm ( l like 78 to 80 degrees) and reduce stress by covering half the tank with a dark material or leaving lights off. Then you can treat for fin rot

Okay no problem I can do that. He looks as if he’s breathing heavy is there anything I can do to help his respiratory system?

 

[JupiterBeauty]

Okay no problem I can do that. He looks as if he’s breathing heavy is there anything I can do to help his respiratory system?

If you can, add things that he can rest on towards the surface or lower your water level, or both. Make it easier for him to get to the surface to prevent drowning. You can add a small airstone as well to give him more dissolved oxygen in the water

 

[Tdizzy187]

If you can, add things that he can rest on towards the surface or lower your water level, or both. Make it easier for him to get to the surface to prevent drowning. You can add a small airstone as well to give him more dissolved oxygen in the water

Awesome thank you so much for your help! I’m going to go to the pet store today get all of those things. I have him in 1/2 gallon of water right now in a small bowl with the proper amount of conditioner. Should I reduce the amount of water to 4 cups and add the air stone?

 

[CanadianFishFan]

Fin rot is best treated with clean water and daily water changes as well as indian almond leaf to stop infections.

 

[JupiterBeauty]

Awesome thank you so much for your help! I’m going to go to the pet store today get all of those things. I have him in 1/2 gallon of water right now in a small bowl with the proper amount of conditioner. Should I reduce the amount of water to 4 cups and add the air stone?

You're most welcome! I'm happy to help, and it's nice to see that you're doing everything you can to help your fish.
I would actually get him in a larger body of water if you can. You can treat him in his home tank if you want (this may kill your beneficial bacteria though) or get him a two gallon container and put a filter on it, or if you can't put a filter on that then keep his water clean ( 50% water change every other day)
Oh, and if you go to wal mart or something you can get a large container that is lower rather than higher for pretty cheap! That way you won't have to reduce the water amount, it'll already be low

 

[Rtessy]

If bettafix is overdosed, it can actually kill bettas. It contains tea tree oil which coats their labyrinth organ and suffocates them.
One question I didn't see asked: what are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels? How large is the tank?

 

[Iverg1]

So is he sitting on a counter right now? I would do a 50% water change to remove the bettafix

 

[Tdizzy187]

If bettafix is overdosed, it can actually kill bettas. It contains tea tree oil which coats their labyrinth organ and suffocates them.
One question I didn't see asked: what are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels? How large is the tank?

I’m getting all of that info shortly it’s a 3.5 gallon tank.

 

[Tdizzy187]

You're most welcome! I'm happy to help, and it's nice to see that you're doing everything you can to help your fish.
I would actually get him in a larger body of water if you can. You can treat him in his home tank if you want (this may kill your beneficial bacteria though) or get him a two gallon container and put a filter on it, or if you can't put a filter on that then keep his water clean ( 50% water change every other day)
Oh, and if you go to wal mart or something you can get a large container that is lower rather than higher for pretty cheap! That way you won't have to reduce the water amount, it'll already be low

Okay so I picked up a couple of things from the pet store. Air stones, and pump. PH test kit, a Betta heater, and better sick bowl for him. Right now I have the air stone running just in the bowl I’m going to clean out the old tank very thoroughly, condition the water and test the pH, ammonia, and nitrate levels. Would you happen to know the proper levels?

 

[Rtessy]

Ammonia needs to be 0, nitrite needs to be 0, nitrate should be between 0-40ppm.

 

[Tdizzy187]

Ammonia needs to be 0, nitrite needs to be 0, nitrate should be between 0-40ppm.

My pH level is between 7.2-7.6
ammonia is a 1.0,
nitrite is 0
Nitrate is 0

 

[JupiterBeauty]

Okay so I picked up a couple of things from the pet store. Air stones, and pump. PH test kit, a Betta heater, and better sick bowl for him. Right now I have the air stone running just in the bowl I’m going to clean out the old tank very thoroughly, condition the water and test the pH, ammonia, and nitrate levels. Would you happen to know the proper levels?

Wonderful! The proper levels were stated by Rtessy below

 

[Rtessy]

Wonderful! The proper levels were stated by Rtessy below

Ammonia is 1 :/
Do a 50% water change everyday for four days. You are at the beginning of the nitrogen cycle, which takes about 4 weeks to complete

 

[Tdizzy187]

Just to let you guys know I added the air stone about an hour ago he swam right under it and is now staying there.

Ammonia is 1 :/
Do a 50% water change everyday for four days. You are at the beginning of the nitrogen cycle, which takes about 4 weeks to complete

I’m going to change the water now I have to get rid of that Betta fix from the water. I put 7ml in every day for 7 days like the bottle stated. That’s a total of 49ml I took out 1/2 gallon of water and replaced it. I feel I didn’t do anything.

I’m going to change the water now I have to get rid of that Betta fix from the water. I put 7ml in every day for 7 days like the bottle stated. That’s a total of 49ml I took out 1/2 gallon of water and replaced it. I feel I didn’t do anything.

Or would you guys advise against a complete water change?

Ammonia is 1 :/
Do a 50% water change everyday for four days. You are at the beginning of the nitrogen cycle, which takes about 4 weeks to complete

I’m sorry I’m a bit of a noob when it comes to this what is a nitrogen cycle?

 

[Rtessy]

Or would you guys advise against a complete water change?

Its probably better to start with a 50-75%. Generally 100% are advised against, as you would have to reacclimate the fish. And unfortunately, betta fix does seem to be some toxic snake oil more than anything else

 

[Tdizzy187]

Its probably better to start with a 50-75%. Generally 100% are advised against, as you would have to reacclimate the fish. And unfortunately, betta fix does seem to be some toxic snake oil more than anything else

Yea I noticed a big change in behavior after the seventh day I feel horrible I basically choked the life out of him. I mean I know he’s just a fish but he was the last gift I got from my ex as gay as it sounds I really love this guy and don’t wanna do more harm to him. If I leave him in the sick bowl for now and just clean the tank and do a 50% water change everyday for the next 4 days, should it be alright to put him back in?

 

[JupiterBeauty]

Yea I noticed a big change in behavior after the seventh day I feel horrible I basically choked the life out of him. I mean I know he’s just a fish but he was the last gift I got from my ex as gay as it sounds I really love this guy and don’t wanna do more harm to him. If I leave him in the sick bowl for now and just clean the tank and do a 50% water change everyday for the next 4 days, should it be alright to put him back in?

A fish is still a life, you're allowed to feel sad for them. This is the place to express that
When he improves yes you can add him back

 

[Rtessy]

The nitrogen cycle is a vital part of any aquarium. You have to remeber that it is a closed system, so anything that goes in stays in until a water change is done. So a fish eats food and produces waste. The waste is broken down and releases ammonia. Ammonia is toxic to fish, it burns their fins, gills, and just about everything. Very bad. So after about a week or more, other bacteria build up and convert it to nitrite. Nitrite is even worse. It also causes burns, but causes brown blood disease as it blocks the hemaglobin in the blood, making it so the fish can't get any oxygen. After another week, nitrite is turned into nitrate, which isn't toxic to fish until it is over 40ppm, but is toxic to invertebrates and more sensitive fish earlier, generally 20ppm, some times even less. After the cycle is complete, we do water changes to get rid of extra nitrate. Now, where is this bacteria? Housed 90% in the filter, the rest is in the substrate and on decorations. Cleaning decorations is fine, but if you rinse the filter media in tap water or replace it, you've thrown out the cycle. Untreated tap water will kill the benefical bacteria (BB) that convert ammonia to nitrite to nitrate