Betta Became Ill Overnight And Is Losing Color

[Mammabe1]

Hi There,

I don't have the time to research this at the moment so I am hoping to take the easy road here and pick some betta loving brains for advice.

I have a red betta in a 10 gallon tank, filtered, heated and lighted... I did a 50% water change, then added 3 dwarf frogs to the tank. Everyone seemed fine for the first week. Last night, everyone was fine, then this morning, my betta was hiding but when I finally found him, I noticed his color on his bottom fin was gone and his fins look like they are splitting - almost like he is a crown betta but he is not. I read that abrupt changes in the water condition (hence the 50% water change) or over feeding even, can cause bacteria blooms. I wish I could put a picture up! I did overfeed the other day by accident, I over poured the freeze dried blood worms, but then I tried to scoop most of them out with a net but still may not got enough out. I realize this could be a combination of things but what I want to know is, has anyone else experienced this? His colour looks like it is fading on his belly and moving up the sides now and as the colour fades, it looks kind of gray on his body but his fins are clear - no colour. I have removed him from the 10 gallon and put him a 5 gallon quarantine tank and I guess just need to know what to do next - what to try medication wise and what your opinion on the matter is.

Thank you!!

 

[alstermania]

The cause could be from the ADFs (they make a lot of waste both eating and their bio-load), your aquarium was not cycled (therefore not being able to rid of ammonia through good bacteria), or you over-fed. It sounds like your betta has a bacterial infection (because he is turning grey) and fin rot (because of ulcers on hif fins).
Read the following, it could help you identify the problem: http/www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm
I have had the same problems in the past with bettas having both fin-rot and a bacterial infection. This is what I would use:
Aquarium salt will help repair your betta's fins
Gram-Negative bacterial medications
Ask your LFS for information on these products. For now do not do any water changes. Let the good bacteria cultivate so that it can rid of any waste and bad bacteria.
What are your parameters? Ammonia_ Nitrite_ Nitrate_ PH_ ??

 

[Mammabe1]

The cause could be from the ADFs (they make a lot of waste both eating and their bio-load), your aquarium was not cycled (therefore not being able to rid of ammonia through good bacteria), or you over-fed. It sounds like your betta has a bacterial infection (because he is turning grey) and fin rot (because of ulcers on hif fins).
Read the following, it could help you identify the problem: http/www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm
I have had the same problems in the past with bettas having both fin-rot and a bacterial infection. This is what I would use:
Aquarium salt will help repair your betta's fins
Gram-Negative bacterial medications
Ask your LFS for information on these products. For now do not do any water changes. Let the good bacteria cultivate so that it can rid of any waste and bad bacteria.
What are your parameters? Ammonia_ Nitrite_ Nitrate_ PH_ ??

Hi,

Thanks for the advice, I agree, I think it is bacteria infection and will get some medication for that. I do have aquarimum salt so I will add it now - wasn't sure if the frogs are ok with the salt but since the betta has been removed, I will add it to the 5 gallon he is in.

I don't have a water test kit - only for ammonia and the reading was less than .025ppm which is the first reading on the kit. My PH level is high, like 8. Other than that, I don't have a test for nitrate/nitrite.

I'm pretty sure my tank was cycled, I've had the betta in there by himself for a few months and used a filter system that was already being used in another aquarium for over a year when I set up this 10 gallon, then added the 1 betta. I always tested for ammonia but there was never any present.... I checked out that website, it was very helpful. Well, I am headed to the LFS but before I do, I am going to add salt. Thanks!

B

 

[alstermania]

Glad I could help

 

[Amanita.m]

Well if your tank was already cycled, but u are now showing ammonia, u may have had a mini crash due to increasing the bioload.
I would get a complete test kit if I were u, to check nitrites/nitrates as well, and be prepared to do water changes till your bacteria catch up.
Keeping the water clean will also help your Betta heal. If u are going to use medication, it is best to do that without the frogs.
Since your 5 gallon is prolly not cycled u will need to keep up on water testing in the 5 gallon too. You certainly don't want to let ammonia go above .25ppm.