Help Fonzie

[dixiedawn]

I don't know what's going on. He's got me worried. A couple of days ago he was swimming happily, making bubble nests and such. Last night while sitting on the sofa i watched him for a bit, and he seemed to have stayed in his castle all night long, only coming out to go to the surface every now and again. Today was 'clean tank day' So i set about the usual chores of putting him in his little bowl and carry on, but while he was in the bowl, he didn't look so good. Like his fins that are normally a bright crimson red with flecks of blue are starting to look washed out and pale.

I don't run a filter with him, as i do 1-2 part water changes a week and once monthly whole tank clean if i think it needs it. Today i thought he needed it as i saw some weird 'fluff' hanging about on the thermometer as well as some uneaten food from early day feeding stuck in the plants.
He gets once weekly pea and twice weekly brine shrimp.

I've taken out his castle so i can watch him more carefully.

As soon as my camera charges a bit i'll tape a vid of him and some pics so ya'll can see for yourself. He almost appears to be having some difficulty coming to the top, like he doesn't want to but knows he has to, then he slowly drifts down to the bottom, help my baby please

 

[dixiedawn]

short vid http/s3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/Dixie...nt=8b040865.flv

 

[Lynda B]

If you run no filter, in my opinion, you should be doing 100% water changes at least once weekly. Partial water changes will still leave too much ammonia in the tank.

How old is he?

 

[dixiedawn]

im guessing he's about a year old.

I usually do about half water, somtimes a little less when i change his water.

 

[leec]

Hi DixieDawn

Your Betta looks very lethargic and not good, like you said. I would normally do a 100% change immediately, to remove any possible build-up of ammonia, copper from taps etc, that would slowly accumulate from partial changes. You have done that so, I would add an airstone (if you dont have one in already) - if hes being that lethargic he shouldnt have to breathe at the surface as often as he is in the video, its like there is a lack of O2 in the water. Another possibility is that he has an internal infection or parasites, possibly in his gills, reducing his ability to take in O2. I have seen my fish gasping at surface before as if in bad water quality, but actually be in good water with gill parasites/infection. Might be worth your while treating him with something mild and general like Bettafix. If he starts to really struggle up and down to surface I would stick him in a floating isolation tank to reduce his journey per breath.

Best of luck
Lee

 

[Lynda B]

That's not nearly enough. Ammonia is toxic to fish. If you're not going to filter your water, you must remove the ammonia manually.

 

[dixiedawn]

Lynda, noted, and if he pulls thru then he shall recieve!

Yeah i did 100% waterchange, put all the gravel in a bowl n ran warm water thru it and kneeded it to get all the floaty bits out.

germ in other post suggested putting his castle back in as sort of a retreat for him.

I'm going first thing in the morning to the lfs to pick up the bettafix more stresscoat/water dechlorifier

I don't have an airstone or a air pump...would it be ok to just reduce his water level so not so far for him to come up to breathe?

 

[Lynda B]

Yes, you can reduce the water level. And keep him in a dim room, in other words, no lights right around his tank. That reduces stress for him. Try to feed him live foods, like bloodworms or brine shrimp, if possible. I've found that has helped any ill fish of mine recover.

 

[dixiedawn]

Thanks lynda, somehow i knew you'd come to my rescue again lol

 

[Lynda B]

Always happy to help.....