Bettas Eating Their Own Tail
- Thread starter Ray17
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Ray17
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Whisky Tank
PH: I really don't know
Temperature: 26 C
Water is dechlorinated and with some itching medicine (2 drops in a 3 L tank)
I'm working all morning and afternoon and I have college at night too so I moved his tank to my bathroom where there are more indirecting light. I used to turn his filter on but was stressing him so now it is used as a bed. I took the little stones of his tank away, and he ate a good part of his tail.
Poseidon Tank
PH: I really don't know
Temperature: 26 C
Water is dechlorinated and with some itching medicine (2 drops in a 3 L tank)
As the same reason from above, I put him in the living room where there are movement and the TV is always on, with a bit more of indirecting light too. He is happy as I can see and ate only the superior part. But I'm still worried about him.
They can't see each other.
It's to heavy for me.The flow may be too fast for him if he's hiding from it. These tanks really are too small for any fish. You could probably get a 5 gallon and divide it so that the are in the same tank but can't get to each other. Then if you wanted you could use these tanks as cherry shrimp tanks.
Cheers,
Paradise<3!
Cheers,
Paradise<3!
Water parameters are ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings too.. do you know those? If not, see if your LFS will test them for you.
You are not supposed to pick up tanks for cleaning.. how exactly have you been cleaning?
Why are you using ich medication? Have the fish got ich?
Something you can do immediately to help the fish feel secure is add some live plants to the tanks.
You are not supposed to pick up tanks for cleaning.. how exactly have you been cleaning?
Why are you using ich medication? Have the fish got ich?
Something you can do immediately to help the fish feel secure is add some live plants to the tanks.
OP
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Ray17
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I have no idea about it.
I'll go to a huge pet shop tonight and buy 2 filters for them and some live plants. I guess the filter flow isn't right and there just one flow.
I do the cleaning in almost 15 days, because only Whisky has a filter so I clean the two tanks in the same day. There is a bad smell, I guess the ammonia level is too high.
The pet shop where I bought Poseidon said to prevent iching problem, I told him about it and he recommended me that.
I'll go to a huge pet shop tonight and buy 2 filters for them and some live plants. I guess the filter flow isn't right and there just one flow.
I do the cleaning in almost 15 days, because only Whisky has a filter so I clean the two tanks in the same day. There is a bad smell, I guess the ammonia level is too high.
The pet shop where I bought Poseidon said to prevent iching problem, I told him about it and he recommended me that.
Aethanyc
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They might be stressed out as a result of the size of your tanks...3L does seem way, way too small! My Betta is in a 25L tank with a few mollies and it's slightly overcrowded...I would seriously recommend getting a bigger tank for them!
Best of luck, they're lovely little guys!
Best of luck, they're lovely little guys!
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Ray17
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I went to the pet shop and the girl said that my filter has a compressor and isn't needed for a 3L tank, only for 2 gallons or more.
One other think I was doing wrong was changing all the water, so I was killing the bacterias that decomposed ammonia and was stressing them. I'll start changing only half of it. And paying more attention for not letting food in tank ground.
For everyone who posted here and tried to help, I really want to thank you all. You guys rock.
One other think I was doing wrong was changing all the water, so I was killing the bacterias that decomposed ammonia and was stressing them. I'll start changing only half of it. And paying more attention for not letting food in tank ground.
For everyone who posted here and tried to help, I really want to thank you all. You guys rock.
..there won't be anywhere for bacteria to live in enough numbers without a filter.
Seriously, your fish are probably swimming in a toxic soup of ammonia and nitrite now.. and you still haven't found out if there is enough of either to cause them permanent harm?
Aethanyc
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^ I agree...I really think you need to test your water and make sure your fish are healthy! And I still stand by my belief that you are keeping them in tanks that are far, far too small.
You can get decent used tanks on eBay and similar sites, which will have filter media to help you cycle quickly and get those fish into the right amount of space asap! Little 20L tanks often go for £30 or less, too, so it won't break the bank.
Priority number one is the health of your fish...let us know what your test results are!
well until you can manage to get a larger tank ill give you some constructive information that may be helpful in your current situation.
When you do waterchanges are you using dechlorinator (i dont think you mentioned or not)? It really is essential to dechlorinate the water. Chlorine is no good for the fish. Also, to help with the changes and to do a good cleaning of the substrate with the changes you can purchase a syphon or even just a length of plastic tubing to suck up the crud on the bottom while doing the water changes (a turkey baster is also helpful and work well in small tanks to suck up the bottom "garbage"). Also dont overfeed the fish. They could be put on an every-other day feeding schedule and dont feed too much. In a small volume of water like that the ammonia (which is produced by the fish in their waste, or any decaying material in the tank such as old food) will build up fairly rapidly. Without a filter that has been running with a source of ammonia for a while ( "cycled" filter) that ammonia will build up rather quickly. The only way to remove it without a proper filter is to do water changes. I would recommend a very large one (70-80%) and then partial (30-50%) every other day (maybe the day after they are fed). Live plants will help a little with the ammonia as they use it as a food source. But, without proper lighting in the tank the live plants will eventually die and rot adding to the ammonia problem.
Why are you using the Ich meds? I dont see any signs of ich (although the first guy looks like his fins are clamped which is a symptom of the environment not being very suitable-but likely more frequent waterchanges will sort that out.).
How do you know they are biting their tails? Have you seen it or just noticed large chunks of fin going missing-that can also be from finrot, usually caused by poor water quality.
While all this seems overwhelming right now the best thing to do in all honesty is just keep up with the waterchanges and cut back on food. The fish will not starve so dont worry about that. Keep in mind fish tanks dont absolutely NEED a filter, they just make it easier for the hobbiest so we arent constantly changing the water to get rid of ammonia and other toxins. But without a filter it is most important that you stay on top of the waterchanges!!! A syphon and a bucket will be your best friend until you can get the tanks sorted. But realistically changes on two tanks that size should take about 5 minutes total.
Just my two cents. I realise that you were probably given advice from the store and since they work there you trust what the employees are telling you. You will find as you get more into the hobby and begin understanding fishkeeping that often the advice given is not entirely accurate or correct. Well dont you for coming to the forum for some help and guidance.
Also that by only advising to rush out and get a bigger tank or get filters isnt always possible in every situation-whether it is based on location of the person or their wallet. So for now, until you save up your pennies, just stay on top of the waterchanges (purchase some tubing or a syphon and a bucket-even a large plastic tub to help with the water changes)! You would be amazed at what clean water will do for a fish's health. In the meantime check craigslist (or similar) and garage sales for new tanks. Ive found some amazing deals that way (basically GIVING the stuff away-the owners just wanted them gone really)
all the best! and Good Luck! Your boys are cute
Cheers
When you do waterchanges are you using dechlorinator (i dont think you mentioned or not)? It really is essential to dechlorinate the water. Chlorine is no good for the fish. Also, to help with the changes and to do a good cleaning of the substrate with the changes you can purchase a syphon or even just a length of plastic tubing to suck up the crud on the bottom while doing the water changes (a turkey baster is also helpful and work well in small tanks to suck up the bottom "garbage"). Also dont overfeed the fish. They could be put on an every-other day feeding schedule and dont feed too much. In a small volume of water like that the ammonia (which is produced by the fish in their waste, or any decaying material in the tank such as old food) will build up fairly rapidly. Without a filter that has been running with a source of ammonia for a while ( "cycled" filter) that ammonia will build up rather quickly. The only way to remove it without a proper filter is to do water changes. I would recommend a very large one (70-80%) and then partial (30-50%) every other day (maybe the day after they are fed). Live plants will help a little with the ammonia as they use it as a food source. But, without proper lighting in the tank the live plants will eventually die and rot adding to the ammonia problem.
Why are you using the Ich meds? I dont see any signs of ich (although the first guy looks like his fins are clamped which is a symptom of the environment not being very suitable-but likely more frequent waterchanges will sort that out.).
How do you know they are biting their tails? Have you seen it or just noticed large chunks of fin going missing-that can also be from finrot, usually caused by poor water quality.
While all this seems overwhelming right now the best thing to do in all honesty is just keep up with the waterchanges and cut back on food. The fish will not starve so dont worry about that. Keep in mind fish tanks dont absolutely NEED a filter, they just make it easier for the hobbiest so we arent constantly changing the water to get rid of ammonia and other toxins. But without a filter it is most important that you stay on top of the waterchanges!!! A syphon and a bucket will be your best friend until you can get the tanks sorted. But realistically changes on two tanks that size should take about 5 minutes total.
Just my two cents. I realise that you were probably given advice from the store and since they work there you trust what the employees are telling you. You will find as you get more into the hobby and begin understanding fishkeeping that often the advice given is not entirely accurate or correct. Well dont you for coming to the forum for some help and guidance.
Also that by only advising to rush out and get a bigger tank or get filters isnt always possible in every situation-whether it is based on location of the person or their wallet. So for now, until you save up your pennies, just stay on top of the waterchanges (purchase some tubing or a syphon and a bucket-even a large plastic tub to help with the water changes)! You would be amazed at what clean water will do for a fish's health. In the meantime check craigslist (or similar) and garage sales for new tanks. Ive found some amazing deals that way (basically GIVING the stuff away-the owners just wanted them gone really)
all the best! and Good Luck! Your boys are cute
Cheers
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