Laurence Is Crook Again :(

[Jozlyn]

I noticed today that Lawrence appears to be ill again. He's lethargic, hanging around the bottom and not eating.

He'd only eaten one of his Betta Bits, I fished out the other four this afternoon along with a dead fly!

I did a 50% water change yesterday, normally I'd do 100% but we had visitors so I was trying to get him finished quickly.

After I fished out the left over food and fly this afternoon, I did a full 100% water change, cleaned everything and he perked up for a few minutes and swam around. Then went back to moping around at the bottom of his tank. I put his mirror up for him and he had absolutely no interest in flaring at his reflection, which he normally loves to do.

What's the matter with my boy now? I was hoping he was over all his problems.

Here's my original thread with Lawrence's health issues - http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=186514&hl=
which he seemed to get over.

 

[Jozlyn]

Damn, I've been cooking him probably for a week

I just decided to check his water temperature, that was the only thing left to check, it was over 28C nearly 29C. His normal tank temp' is 26.5C whilst I realise that 1.5C is not much, it's the only thing I can find that might be causing a problem, I must've accidently moved the heater dial last week when I cleaned him out

I know for sure that it didn't happen today, or yesterday, I'm normally so damned careful about the heater, I don't know what could've happened.

Jeeze I hope he recovers now that I've turned it down.

 

[willtang3000]

is he in any direct sunlight? as they don't tend to like that for long periods and try adding melafix and indian almonds leaves to blackwater extract

 

[Jaded12]

How long have you had him? Since you got him from a garden center, there's no telling how old he is, and he very well may just be suffering from old age. Does he have any outward signs of illness? Fuzz? red streaking? clamped/curled fins? etc. What I would do is keep his water crystal at a bit of aquarium salt (1/2 tsp/gallon) put him somewhere sunny, bettas do well with sunlight as they require a certain amount of vitamins provided by the sunlight. Add a bit of bettafix to the water and some IAL extract if you can get ahold of it, or at least betta spa.

 

[Jozlyn]

is he in any direct sunlight? as they don't tend to like that for long periods
No, he's near a window but it receives no direct sunlight only indirect

try adding melafix
I can get some of this but not till Saturday, but I'm worried by then it'll be too late.

blackwater extract
What is this?

Does he have any outward signs of illness? Fuzz? red streaking? clamped/curled fins? etc.
No, he's just hovering over the bottom of his tank and not eating

put him somewhere sunny, bettas do well with sunlight as they require a certain amount of vitamins provided by the sunlight
Ummm that's in direct conflict with what willtang3000 said, so which one is right?

IAL extract if you can get ahold of it, or at least betta spa
I can't get hold of either of these products locally or easily, however I do know someone in Queensland who can post me some as soon as my finances improve

add a bit of aquarium salt (1/2 tsp/gallon)
I've done this, at half the "tonic" dose, ie. 1/2 teaspoon to 10lt's water, have been for a couple of weeks now

Perhaps he really is just old

Any other thoughts?

 

[Jozlyn]

well Laurance is better!

Strange, I didn't actually do anything, he just got better on his own!

He's started eating again and flaring at himself in the mirror again (gave it to him this arvo for a while).

Very odd, I did nothing to his tank didn't add or subtract anything, he's just started eating again. Weird stuff!

 

[faithless1294]

one of my bettas did exactley that for a few weeks, hardly eating hardly swimming just laying on floor or floating in corner of tank, as soon as i moved him to a new tank that was filtered and had alot of water movement he has perked loads its as if he's back to normal(eating alot more than the rest as he his very skinny)!!!