I Think My Fish Is Sick!

[Rubbly]

I got a male betta fish a few months ago and he is my first fish. Originally he was in a small bowl so I temp moved him to a larger bowl about a 1foot tall and 1foot wide. I noticed that his front fins were starting to clump in a few areas so I went out and got him a talk with pebbles, filter, light, heater, thermometer. I got the talk to about 79 degrees F and also bought a live plant from the pet store for him. I put the plant in his bowl before I moved him over and he seemed to love it. He was making bubble nests next to it. I moved him to his tank and a few days later hes clumping his fins together in front and a little on the back fin. He also has a white belly (non fuzzy) and has one white spot on the top where his tail meets his body. He seems to HATE the filter system! He kept sleeping on the top of the plant. When I filled the tank I had cleaned all the parts first and let the water condition over time. I then added him in with the water from his bowl, which made up about half the tank.

Today I moved him back out into his old bowl and into completely new conditioned water. I did a PH level test from his tank and it came up fine. When I moved him back he unclumped his fins and started to swim around again. (what a little #19###! that tank was expensive! haha)

So my questions are:
-Is it possible he has a fungal infection from the plant?
-Where can I buy GOOD medication for it in Australia? (brand name list of suggestions would help, I read some arent very good)
-Should I leave the heater in the tank and remove the backing/filter so it looks like his bowl? (clear all the way around)
-Should I rid of the plant or leave it? I have no idea what to do! for now he is just back in his other bowl!
-I have salt for fresh water tanks as well as geo liquid mineral magic. Can I use this in a betta tank?

I dont want to mess with his cycle too much but im sure something is wrong here and I think he needs a change.

sorry for the huge post, im just worried about my fish! =( I feel like I got carried away in wanting him to have a better living area and now hes unhappy! The tank is only 12L but I live in an apartment and dont have the money yet for a larger tank.

 

[Bettasforever!]

This is exactly what I went through, when you put him in that big tank and his fins were clumped, that means he is very comfortable and not intimidated, if his fins open up, that means they're flared and he's mad at something or a colorful decoration or item in or out of the tank, if he made a bubblenest it means he's healthy, I recommend putting him back in the big tank. If he's mad at the filter that means the current is too strong and he's afraid or getting caught in it, if you're afraid too, put a net around it, I'm not sure if it's sold in australia but Betta fix works perfectly for me, if it isn't in your area, I think you could order it online. If he made a bubblenest around the Plant, that means he thinks of it as safety and you should put it in the big tank along with other long spiny Plants, I meant they should look like long shoots of sticks and it should be plastic, don't worry it won't damage your betta's fins,

HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS:
1) How many gallons are your big tank and how many gallons is your small tank
2) if your Betta hasn't made a nest in the small tank for a month, he's unhappy, and if he's in the big tank, and he doesn't make a nest, just keep him in there, he'll be happier and he'll do more things in the big tank, bettas have alot of personality when you get to know them, they're pretty smart!
3) I hope your Betta becomes happy!

 

[Bettasforever!]

I understand what your going through, I know that sometimes I feel like I can't get it right and like if I'm doing everything wrong, but it becomes easier overtime, and make sure you enjoy your pet Betta while he or she's here, if you don't , you'll regret it later on when he's gone, it's so fun when your Betta greets you when you feed him.

Add me as a friend if you want

 

[Rubbly]

I bought bettafix today right away when i thought something might be wrong. I tried to read up as much as possible on different sites to get a few opinions. I have him in a measuring cup floating in the main tank at the moment while i treat the water. he can swim out if he wants. he seems to be just resting in the cup and not swimming out but hes not laying sideways and is already looking a bit better. I keep checking up on him every hour. Thanks for the replies and I hope he gets better! I got him from my wedding and my husband just went away for work for a few weeks. I dont want to already kill our fish and my little buddy in the first 2 days my husband is gone! The plant I bought was dwarf grass

1) How many gallons are your big tank and how many gallons is your small tank
Theyre both pretty small. The regular tank is 12L, a little more than 3 gallons. The bowl is maybe 1.5 gallons? But he loves it because it was clear all the way around. For now I removed the black backing and the filter, leaving in the heater. This made the bowl gain more light and he can see all the way around. Ill have to figure something out

2) if your Betta hasn't made a nest in the small tank for a month, he's unhappy, and if he's in the big tank, and he doesn't make a nest, just keep him in there, he'll be happier and he'll do more things in the big tank, bettas have alot of personality when you get to know them, they're pretty smart!
Hes always been pretty active, even in the small bowl we got from our wedding. Hes made bubble nests in everything we have put him in. when I was setting up the tank I put the plant in the 1.5L bowl and he just made a TON of bubbles around it

 

[alstermania]

Actually betta's fins will clump due to poor water quality, disease, or stress. A healthy betta has fins slightly spread and swims lively. Check to see if your betta had any of the following: http/www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm
Hope your betta heals

 

[OldMan47]

A fin will return to its full look on almost any excuse if the water conditions are right. I am struck by the lack of discussion you have provided in terms of tank/filter cycling. Are you aware that the requirements for care of any fish, including a betta, requires that it be given a properly cycled tank or that you change at least 50% of the water every day, without exception? Things like betta-fix are less than useless if you do not have a properly cycled tank/filter combination. Your willingness to simply move fish between tanks indicates to me that you do not truly understand what is going on. Please have a read through of our topic of fish-in cycling and return here if you have any questions about it. I have a link in my signature area that will take you to the fish-in cycle topic and I would love to help you get your tank and fish on track to proper care and the resulting health of your fish.

 

[Rubbly]

Well just to update. What I did worked really well! Hes now swimming around the tank more and his fins in front are no longer clumping. I know a little about fish tanks, just been a loooong time since I had one. I have read on a ton of sites about tanks and betta fish to get different opinions and different information. I know he needs a filter but for now I am going to leave it out and add it back in a few days. I do change his water and watch him very closely. Im REALLY happy I took him out of the other tank until I got some meds. He was only in there until I got the medicine and then i put him in a little floating see through cup in the main tank near his favorite plant. He wasnt very mobile and was sinking so he didnt want to leave the cup (even though he was able to). This morning I checked on him and he was moving more so I forced him to leave the cup and hes swimming all over now! I may not have the scientific method to fish care but its working and I will do anything to make him healthy and happy! =D Thanks guys for the replies, made me feel a lot better and hopefully that he was going to recover.

 

[OldMan47]

What is the chemical condition of your tank rubbly? I am not really a betta specialist as such but I am well versed in tank cycling problems. I am a bit concerned that you are ignoring the need to properly cycle a new tank, at least as I read it. I really don't care how many sites support your views. How is the fish doing and what are the water parameters that you believe he should be able to deal with? That is really what we are all waiting to see you post here.