Help Please. Sick Betta

[nickbrad]

Hello.

I have a 30litre community tank with 5 tetra and a betta.

The betta, I think, has a swim bladder disorder (and now, this morning I've noticed fin rot!). He can't swim about and is stuck lying on the ground. I've tried to feed him a cooked frozen pea in tiny pieces but he won't eat. And have also done a water change last night after discovering all levels are very high!

I don't think I've been cleaning my tank properly - I have a gravel filter and do water changes every week, but there's still a lot of detritus that floats about if the gravel is disturbed. Also I've never cleaned my filter. I have it about a year - it's an Aquael fan mini.

I know it's a lot to ask, and obviously I've not been doing the right stuff to keep the tank healthy, but can anyone help me with my problems please?


Thanks

 

[Better is Betta]

Hiya Hope I can help....Can you isolate your fish, put him in a tank on his own? 3 steps Change your water....add salt (epsom salt) 1 teasp to 5 gallons.....raise the temperature 26-28c. He's probably bloated from over eating so don't worry about feeding him let him fast for 3 days. How long has your betta been in the tank with the tetras? They could be the cause for the fin rot as they could be nipping at his fins. Someone else on this forum may have another solution but that is the 3 steps I take when an illness is detected but instead of epsom salt which helps in bloat I use aquarium salt for starters. Good luck

 

[lilfishie]

if your levels are all high (could you post us the numbers?) it got me thinking your not cycled, but you've had the tank for a year?

 

[nickbrad]

Hiya Hope I can help....Can you isolate your fish, put him in a tank on his own? 3 steps Change your water....add salt (epsom salt) 1 teasp to 5 gallons.....raise the temperature 26-28c. He's probably bloated from over eating so don't worry about feeding him let him fast for 3 days. How long has your betta been in the tank with the tetras? They could be the cause for the fin rot as they could be nipping at his fins. Someone else on this forum may have another solution but that is the 3 steps I take when an illness is detected but instead of epsom salt which helps in bloat I use aquarium salt for starters. Good luck

The temperature is about 27-28c already.

There is a divide in the tank already. And I don't have a separate tank/ filter to add salt to the water. Do you think I should get one and put salt in the water?

 

[Better is Betta]

Hiya Hope I can help....Can you isolate your fish, put him in a tank on his own? 3 steps Change your water....add salt (epsom salt) 1 teasp to 5 gallons.....raise the temperature 26-28c. He's probably bloated from over eating so don't worry about feeding him let him fast for 3 days. How long has your betta been in the tank with the tetras? They could be the cause for the fin rot as they could be nipping at his fins. Someone else on this forum may have another solution but that is the 3 steps I take when an illness is detected but instead of epsom salt which helps in bloat I use aquarium salt for starters. Good luck

The temperature is about 27-28c already.

There is a divide in the tank already. And I don't have a separate tank/ filter to add salt to the water. Do you think I should get one and put salt in the water?

I would because I don't know what it would do to your tetras I know nothing about them. Even if you put him in a 10 ltr bucket for a little while just to treat him with the salt and regular water changes. They can live in a bowl without a filter for a long time with regular water changes so a short stay in a bucket shouldn't be a problem. Can you get a spare heater or borrow one?

 

[nickbrad]

Thanks for your help guys. Unfortunately he didn't make it through.