I Had A Betta For 2 Days Now

[mommyof2bettas]

for a month? isn't that to long?

nope, it's how much it takes to cycle a tank... properly.

and would i not get my money back?

maybe, but if you really want the store to take the fish back, they proably won't give you a refund.

and also can i not just re-cyle the tank, then put the fish in after a few hours or so cos what if the shop doesn't accept the fish back?

a cycle is avaragely 1 month long, and you would need cycled water to keep the ish in while you wait-which you don't have apparantley.

 

[catherine896]

The tank takes a long time to cycle, weeks. You should get your money back if you explain the situation.

The tank will not cycle in a few hours. Do you know anyone with an already established tank that can home them for you?

 

[Ukfan]

well i'm not sure, i mean i would do it for the fish to be healthy but they seem fine to me, like activ swimming etc, but i'll go to the pet shop round my corner tomorroe after my college and tell them about the whole thing and buy some stuff!

Thanks for the advice guys (only wish someone told me ealier!!!)

 

[catherine896]

Ask if they will take them back. How long have you had them? I wouldnt of thought it would be a problem.

They may seem fine but there will be a huge build up of ammonia and that alone will be burning them and causing them to suffer.

 

[Ukfan]

i only had the betta for 2 days i got the betta and the 7 molly like fish at the same time from the same fish shop and they seem all fine but the betta seems a little un-easy. Maybe it has a cold??

 

[catherine896]

If its only been 2 days then there should hopefully be no problem in taking them back.
Either way, they all have to go as they are suffering and will almost certainly die or be left with permanent damage.

 

[zoekin8yg]

Although much better not to use fish, only a few years ago it was always done with fish so if you really cant take them back get something that detoxifies the ammonia such as ammo lock, if you use this and lots of water changes it may be ok, however saying that your mix of fish isnt great as already stated. Sadly the fish shops dont always know what they are talking about.

 

[Ukfan]

thats true, ut the shop keeper had 1 betta in each tank with different fish like mollies and angel fish so I dont see why it should be a problem after tellignme its fine with mollies

 

[stang1]

When the fish are in the shop, they are generally only kept there for a short time. That's why you never see many problems. Many people have, however, had to rescue Bettas that have been kept in unsuitable tanks with unsuitable tankmates. I rescued one of mine from a tank full of Zebra Danios, poor little thing had his tail ripped to shreds. Luckily, it's healed now but it's left him incredibly timid.
Some staff at shops don't particularly care what fish you keep, they are only after making a sale.

 

[Ukfan]

so what do you give them to heal?? and where can you buy them?

My betta today was swimming unside down and when if didn't swim it landed really hard on the gravel so I think its on its last legs now, the poor guy will prb be dead tomorrow but i'm going pet shop today so i'll ask them

 

[catherine896]

There isnt anything you can get to make the fish heal, but you can get drops that you add to the water to start the cycle and get it cycled quicker. If the betta isnt going to make it I highly doubt the others will either, bettas are very hardy fish and if its the water killing the betta then it wont be long before the others are dying too. I would say best to take them back to the shop ASAP, buy the stuff to start a cycle and cycle your tank. Then when a cycle is up you can slowly add fish.

How are the other fish doing?

 

[Ukfan]

the other fish are fine seriosuly, they are eating okay, pooing okay, swiming around okay, they all are active, its just the betta, i dunno whats up with it. So i'm going now to the pet shop to buy some healing stuff , the water is clean to as i have a filter, the water is not smokey or anything, i just think the betta must have had a cold!

its not dead yet cos its liying down behind the wood, and when fish die they float to the top so i think its trying to heel but it wont be long till it passes away unless i dont get the stuff!

can someone plz quickly give me a list of what I should buy?

 

[knt5005]

"During the cycling process, ammonia levels will go up and then suddenly plummet as the nitrite-forming bacteria take hold. Because nitrate-forming bacteria don't even begin to appear until nitrite is present in significant quantities, nitrite levels skyrocket (as the built-up ammonia is converted), continuing to rise as the continually-produced ammonia is converted to nitrite. Once the nitrate-forming bacteria take hold, nitrite levels fall, nitrate levels rise, and the tank is fully cycled."

From this site: http/fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin-cycling.html

That explains it the best, I think.

 

[Ukfan]

right, just came from pet shop and he tested the water level with that ph thingy and he said the ph was very low he said it need to be 7 when its 2 so I have brought some but dont know if i should enter the entire packet or half of it, it says for every 10 galoon of water (37.8 L) and my fish tank is 3 foot

and do i take the fish out?

 

[Ukfan]

I'm afraid its dead now, thanks for all your help guys, i pro wont get another one now, i'm just keeping the fish I have, and if they die which I hope not then i'l recyle the tank but if they are fine then i might buy one like next week or so.

They cost soo much! and thats why i dont feel like giving them a rehome cos i feel so attached to them

anyways, i'm sad its dead but it happens.