Confused : I Bettered My Betta's Condition, He Gets Worst?

[rrrr]

hi!

i posted a while ago here (http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=279601). i decided to check craigslist and went to about every big surface stores that i could think of to look at tanks, and found none suitable. most of them are actually only 2 gallons! i went and bought a kind of big tupperware thing at the dollar store as a temporary home, as honeythorn had suggested. on the first day after transfering my betta, he kept in the corner and seriously would NOT move. i figured this was because the bigger swim space was intimidating at first. i waited a few days, and then moe, but nothing improved. he would keep laying on the bottom, not moving. he came to the surface to eat only. i noticed a little clear brown/red border to his tail then, but i think that might have always been there, and thought no more of it. i got worried about his behavior and decided to switch him back to the smaller bowl he used to be in. he instantly revived and started to swim very energetically again. he flares at my finger sometimes, and i've even taught him how to jump. or taught him that jumping a little = food afterwards. anywaaay. point is: he is happier in the small bowl. is this normal? did i not give enough time to adjust? he even built a bubble nest!!! i was estatic when i saw it. how cool!

from the day i noticed the brown/reddish outline to the tail to now, i think it has gotten worst. i only perviously had crappy blackberry-quality photos of the fish and today i took some with a proper camera. i think it is fin rot. this is strange, because i DO change the water every theree/four days and it's never even dirty at this four day interval. i even bought water conditionner before i switched him to the bigger tank. i think he may have initially had the tail rot when i bought him. i thought it was just the end of the tail thinning towards the end of it, kind of like hair does?

here's the best photo i could get. you can see it on all of the three larger pieces of his tail, fins, whatevers. what do you think? advice? what should i do?

 

[bronzecat]

I gotta be honest and say i cant see any signs of fin rot from the photo.

Regarding using plastic tubs, make sure they are "food safe". They will have some kind of symbol or a tag to say they are. If not, toxins can leech from the plastic into the water.

 

[rrrr]

oh! i didn't look for this when i bought it, but i have just checked now and it was. maybe i'll give it another go in three or four days. could it be that the water temperature was lower in a bigger container, versus the small favourite?

 

[bronzecat]

You need to match the water temperature when moving a fish into a new home What temp is his water?

 

[rrrr]

it's at room temperature.. i keep my room around 21C . there is a lamp on one side of his bowl, where he built the bubble nest. maybe he built it there because the water is warmer? i want to invest in a heater or reptile mat soon enough, once i find a suitable new tank.

 

[bronzecat]

If the room is around 21, then the water is going to be 21 or lower. Now bear in mind that 21 degrees is too low for most tropicals, let alone a betta who really should be kept in no less than 26 degrees. So a heater is vital.

 

[Honeythorn]

21 degrees C is FAR too cold for a betta. They need to be at around 27 degrees as they are from a very warm climate. Get a 25 watt heater from Ebay.

Also, the larger sized tub will freak him out at first because it is a big change to a big space . Kind of like an agrophobic trying to go down the shops for the first time in years .

Did you get plenty of silk plants for him to hide in? A large bare space is bound to alarm him after the small familiar bowl. You need to heavily plant the tub, gentle filtration, and maybe get a coconut cave or smooth hollow ornament for him to hide in if he feels the need.

To make acclimation easier, Put the glass bowl ( containing the betta ) inside the tub amongst the plants . Fill the tub with water of the same temp so the bowl is submerged. Switch on the heater in the tub so all the water comes up to temperature.

Then he can come out on his own terms, and retreat to his bowl if he feels scared. Once he gets used to coming out into the bigger space, remove the bowl.

 

[rrrr]

i did get a few more plants and can go buy a cave before trying the bigger tub again.

that's a great idea, thanks! i'll fill it up tonight and make the more adjusted move tomorrow.

and do you think there is any sign of tail rot? i hope bronzecat was right!

 

[Honeythorn]

I can't see any sign of fin rot from that picture. Fin rot usually shows as black edging and torn tattiness to the fins, sometimes with red or bloody streaks. He looks perfectly fine to me.