Vita chem and bettas

I bought some vita chem to use with RJ a while ago. I want to put some in, but my water parameter still aren't where they need to be with cycling. I had to do a small water change before I released RJ to get the Ammonia back to zero and get the nitrites down to 0 and nitrates down a little. I know that Rose uses this, but since she is still recovering is there anyone else on here that uses it with their Bettas? If so, do you think it would be safe to add it to his water with the parameter's the way they are? Natalie

 

HI Natalie....I bought some of that vita Chem for Neptune on Rose's advice, and then my tanks didn't cycle and fin rot came.........hate to say it, I haven't used it yet either because of that. So I will follow this closely to know what to do. Val

 

I don't think vitamins will hurt his water parameters. I'm not familiar with the product though. Does it say anything about reducing ammonia or anything or is it just vitamins?  I'd go ahead and use it if it's just vitamins. The only things that will change your parameters are water conditioning products that reduce ammonia and nitrites.
I can't find that product here so I use the "Vitamin and Mineral Pyramid" by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.  I added one to Lava's tank a week ago to help him get better. He seems to have perked up and has more energy. I think it may have a little to do with the extra vitamins. Vitamins are always a good thing to give to a sick or stressed fish or one that is new and adjusting to a new place.

 

yeah that's why I want to add it.  I'll read the bottle again, but It's pretty much just straight vitamins. I want to make sure RJ is healthy and stays that way for awhile. natalie

 

I added some of the vitamin to his water. Hopefully it'll help with his health and he won't get fin rot from his travel here. It helps with fin rot and helps to regenerate their fins because it makes their immune system stronger. The stronger their immune the better chances they have of not getting sick or getting conditions like fin rot. Natalie

 

That's a good idea. I am going to get some vitamins for my bettas when I go to the pet store on Wednesday. I don't think vitamins can do any harm, and they most likely will do some good.

CherryRose

 

They will definitely do some good. You will have much healthier bettas if they are porvided with vitamins. I've had a tough go of it with Bettas so far and so that's why I'm making sure this one lives for awhile w/o getting sick so much. Natalie

 

Try soaking your betta's food in a few drops the of the vita chem instead of adding it to the water.

 

I actually was going to do both. I was going to add drops to the water once a week and then a couple drops to the food everyday once a day. Natalie

 

Good news to know!

Rose posted that she uses this on her fish and from the photos they sure look beautiful & healthy. Directions say 2 drops per gallon once a week - would you use that dose when medicating/uncylced tank. ( with TrI Sulfa )??

 

Yeah, I think Rose gives her a lttle bit more then that when they are sick. It won't effect the cycling of the tank. Natalie

 

I actually was going to do both. I was going to add drops to the water once a week and then a couple drops to the food everyday once a day. Natalie

We're going to have to order some of that.. Do you have the Betta pellets with vitamins? Soak those in the vitachem and give him even more vitamins. Our bettas (other than finicky Sora) love them.

 

Good Morning! I decided to follow suit, and though I didn't put drops in the tank yet, I did soak Neptune's bloodworms in the Vita Chem. He pulled those things off the forcep so fast and swallowed, I doubt if he even knows I am fooling him!! Yummy!!! Val

 

Good I'm glad you decided to use it. If you soak his food in it I think it say's to do it 5 times a week and then put drops in 1 time a week. You might even see an improvement with his finrot because like I said before it helps with that and helps regenerate their fins. Natalie

 

Hi, I just wanted to caution both feeding it and putting it in his water. I'm no expert when it comes to bettas and vitamins, but I know that people can over do vitamin. Just because some is good, it doesn't mean that more is better. They have the dosing on their for a reason, and I'd be reluctant to go against it! I don't mean to be a downer or anything, I was just worried a little bit.

 

No, I know. It say's on the bottle that you put 2 drops per gallon of water once a week and then soak it in their food 5 times a week. I think that part is optional though. You can if you want to. Natalie

 

Hey guys....I am trying to be brave and realize these little guys sometimes need help - it is hard to get used to medicating a little fish - I am so used to cats - everything seems ok to me for them.

So I was brave and soaked Neptune's food in the Vita Chem and he loved it. I will hold off adding to the water right now only because I am medicating again. ( TriSulfa - which he also eats the suspended little pieces when I pour it into the tank ! ) what a glutton! If I get him on the road to fin rot cure, I think I will add it to his tank once a week and soak bloodworms at least a couple times a week.

Everything I read everyday makes me braver - you guys all rock!! 8) Val

 

Is the only way to get Vita Chem online? I checked in my LFS and went to Petsmart and Petco online and couldn't find it. I did find it at drsfosterandsmith, and a few online stores that I never heard of.

Also, both the flake foods and the bloodworms that I have say they already have vitamins added to them. Is it a good idea to give them more? The vitamins in their food may be of such a small amount that it doesn't help them. Any thoughts?

CherryRose

 

Is the only way to get Vita Chem online? I checked in my LFS and went to Petsmart and Petco online and couldn't find it. I did find it at drsfosterandsmith, and a few online stores that I never heard of.

Also, both the flake foods and the bloodworms that I have say they already have vitamins added to them. Is it a good idea to give them more? The vitamins in their food may be of such a small amount that it doesn't help them. Any thoughts?

CherryRose

I've only seen it online the same as you, but maybe a really well-stocked store would have it.. I'm not sure, but it seems to be one of those items a lot of places ignore as they're ignorant to how crazy we are for our Bettas. :

We have 5 different foods (plus peas) that we feed our Bettas for their PM feeding and while they all have vitamins in them, only the one type of pellets says it has vitamins added to what would already be there from the ingredients although they all do have a list of vitamins naturally in them. So for now, we just feed them the vitamin pellets for the AM feeding and 1 PM feeding each week and don't have any vitamin supplements.. no RDA for Bettas that I know of, unfortunately so I'm not sure how much is too much with vitamins. We were going to get some VitaChem, but now are unsure after reading posts here - we don't want to overdo vitamins, but aren't sure how much IS overdoing it. :-\

 

I don't think it will hurt anything if you soak the food in the vitachem, even if the label says the food already has vitamins in it. Many flake foods made with fishmeal start to lose their vitamins added to the food the second it hits the water, so if the fish don't eat the food immediately, they may not be getting what they need. Plus, as food gets used up, it ages, and some of the nutrition is lost before you feed it all to them.

 

I don't think it will hurt anything if you soak the food in the vitachem, even if the label says the food already has vitamins in it. Many flake foods made with fishmeal start to lose their vitamins added to the food the second it hits the water, so if the fish don't eat the food immediately, they may not be getting what they need. Plus, as food gets used up, it ages, and some of the nutrition is lost before you feed it all to them.

Very good point.. gives us something to think about. We feed small portions so the fish do eat it all right up, but we weren't planning on keeping food too long because we'd heard of it losing it's vitamins as it ages - how long is too long though? 6 months, 1 year?

 

No, I know. It say's on the bottle that you put 2 drops per gallon of water once a week and then  soak it in their food 5 times a week. I think that part is optional though. You can if you want to. Natalie

Oh, okay! Sorry about that, I didn't know it was on the bottle!!!

 

No, I know. It say's on the bottle that you put 2 drops per gallon of water once a week and then soak it in their food 5 times a week. I think that part is optional though. You can if you want to. Natalie

Oh, okay! Sorry about that, I didn't know it was on the bottle!!!

That's okay. You were only trying to be cautious. Natalie

 

I ignore the putting it on the food and just put it in the tank about every other day as they do not eat the food if I soak it in the Vita Chem first ~ the little pansies. Also if I get a food that they will not eat, I pass it along to someone else right away and if they will eat it and they do not finish it in 6 months we open a new can and ditch the old can.

Hope this helps.

Rose

 

Thanks Rose. We'll start putting dates on the containers we put the foods in to remind us when 6 months is up.

 

HI all. About three times a week I have been putting Vita Chem on Neptune's bloodworms before I give them to him. He just snaps that thing right off my finger/forcep. Because it is soft, I think it is easier to eat also. When I did the last 25 % water change, I also put half the advised amount straight into the tank water.

I don't know why the smallest bottles of food you can buy are still so huge. The smallest of my pellets Attisons Betta Pro is 2.65 oz - man that would last one betta five years I am sure. Bllodworms the same way - good thing they don't cost too much!! Vita chem also is in fairly large bottle. Oh well, I suppose it is more convenient for those people with larger/numerous aquariums & /or fish.

Val

 

I've been putting it in the water the days I do a water change and the 3 or 4 days a week I soak it in his food. I really don't think he realizes it or maybe he does and he likes it. Maybe that's why he started eating the pellets. Added more flavor to it. Natalie

 

Hmm.. could be that RJ is a little gourmet and must have a certain amount of flavor to suit his discerning palate. I'm glad the vita-chem is working and we definitely will consider getting some - along with a million other things we want to get as money is available for the fish budget.

 

I ignore the putting it on the food and just put it in the tank about every other day as they do not eat the food if I soak it in the Vita Chem first ~ the little pansies. 

Rose,
I can always count on you to make me smile! ;D