Lethargic Betta Laying On Gravel

[victorybear]

Sorry for the repeat posting. (I put up a thread in the emergencies section as well.) I'm just really worried and wanted to get as many eyes on this as possible.

I have found so much conflicting information on Bettas while doing research on care. I read/was told by my LFS that it was ok to introduce a Betta into an uncycled tank as long as the water was regularly tested and I added some SafeStart as well. I thought I did everything right. I dechlorinated the water, waited 24 hours, floated the fish bag, added SafeStart, and then added the Betta. The temp of the water's about 80 degrees, and I tested the water and everything seemed ok. The ammonia seemed a little high, but when I tested the strips in a glass of tap water I got the same results. (???) Nonetheless, I added a couple drops of Amquel+ to the tank with hopes that the Betta would be less stressed. Right now he's laying on the gravel. Every so often he moves to a different location, and very rarely swims to the surface for air. Is he just resting? I am so worried.

 

[KittyKat]

If you want to keep a Betta in an uncycled tank, you need to do daily waterchanges to make sure there is never ANY ammonia, not even a little bit.

Bettas are not suitable for fish-in cycling.

Yes, tap water does contain ammonia. You should use a dechlorinator which removes chlorine, chloramine and ammonia. API StressCoat will do that, so will many other dechlorinators.

Also test strips are not accurate enough for this, you need liquid tests for at least ammonia and nitrite.

Adding some plants will help.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Do a large water change immediately and add de-chlorinator

 

[victorybear]

Thanks for your input, Kitty Kat and dipsydoodlenoodle!

He seems to be doing a lot better this morning, but he's still a little shy. I will definitely follow your guys' advice though regardless.

Kitty Kat, I assume you're referring to live plants, right? I've heard getting live plants can bring all sorts of crazy diseases to your tank. Are getting bulbs better? What do you recommend?

 

[KittyKat]

I wouldn't worry about bringing in disease as long as you do the standard thing and check the health of all fish in the tank first. If you're really worried about it, some people do dip the plants in all sorts of stuff before adding to the tank (I've heard of everything from fish medication to salt to bleach being used). The only thing they might bring in are live snails, which IMO won't be a problem for you as you should be counting out individual pellets for feeding to your Betta.

I recommend the following as "people proof" plants: Java fern, Java moss and Anubias spp. You could also try Hornwort, Cabomba and Amazon Swords.

 

[victorybear]

I wouldn't worry about bringing in disease as long as you do the standard thing and check the health of all fish in the tank first. If you're really worried about it, some people do dip the plants in all sorts of stuff before adding to the tank (I've heard of everything from fish medication to salt to bleach being used). The only thing they might bring in are live snails, which IMO won't be a problem for you as you should be counting out individual pellets for feeding to your Betta.

I recommend the following as "people proof" plants: Java fern, Java moss and Anubias spp. You could also try Hornwort, Cabomba and Amazon Swords.

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll see what I can do.

 

[ArnieStinger]

as long as you keep testing the water, twice a day, make sure the water has zero ammonia and keep the water temps up.

put some hiding places in the tank for the betta, make sure theres no current.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Live plants will be fine to add to your tank; give them a quick wash befor you add them (check the leaves for snails or snail eggs) and put it in your tank. You might still get the odd snail in there, but you can either leave them or manually remove them when you see them.

 

[victorybear]

Thanks guys!

@dipsydoodlenoodle -- Right now I have this fake driftwood cave thing that he seems to really like. I also have some temporary plastic plants in there which I'm told are not good. After doing research and looking in local pet stores for silk plants, it really seems like live is best. Petco had some really nice looking live plants in their own containers which they guaranteed would be snail-free. The only thing I'm worried about is the possible transferring of diseases like ich, which Kitty Kat tells me shouldn't be too much of a problem. Any input?

@ArnieStinger -- Yeah, I've been checking about twice a day like you suggested. I'm told the water strips are garbage though, so I'll be getting the full water kit tomorrow after work.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Ive not heard of diseases being transferred in via live plants.

I'm relatively new to live plants but I've had no problems with them (you might want to look on e-bay for some good deals).

The key with live plants is research; choose some simple beginner ones.

I've used Java fern (both in warm and cold water; both are thriving). Anubias bar v nana in warm and coldwater tanks (although I think it's doing better in the colder water). I also have amazon sword (in warm and cold water - again doing better in the cold water - but it is a high light plant). I buy it for the coldwater fish to eat as it is so cheap from a local shop. I have pygmy chain swords in warm water - they are doing ok, but they take an age to adjust to being aquatic. I did have java moss which I actually managed to kill; although I do have a tiny bit in a warm tank and it's doing ok; the rest of what I salvaged is sitting in a dish in my room and it's doing fine. Elodea is very fast growing (although I do like it and it was ideal the leaves kept falling off and getting EVERYWHERE).

All my tanks are very low light

 

[JBetta]

Hello, i just purchased a fish this week, all I have been using is aqua safe and aquarium salt. Will that get rid of the ammonia? It only says on the aqua safe bottle that it neutralizes chlorine,chloramine and heavy metals harmful to fish. My Betta has definitely not show any signs of having ammonia poisoning but I just got him so I am not sure.

 

[KittyKat]

Hello, i just purchased a fish this week, all I have been using is aqua safe and aquarium salt. Will that get rid of the ammonia? It only says on the aqua safe bottle that it neutralizes chlorine,chloramine and heavy metals harmful to fish. My Betta has definitely not show any signs of having ammonia poisoning but I just got him so I am not sure.

No, it will not remove ammonia. I assume you are new to fishkeeping and did not cycle? You'll be needing to get a liquid test kit, at least for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, if you can, also for pH and hardness. You will have to do a fish-in cycle, which is a lot of work and will require almost daily water changes. I suggest that you read up about fish-in cycling and start a new thread where people can help you.

 

[JBetta]

Hello, i just purchased a fish this week, all I have been using is aqua safe and aquarium salt. Will that get rid of the ammonia? It only says on the aqua safe bottle that it neutralizes chlorine,chloramine and heavy metals harmful to fish. My Betta has definitely not show any signs of having ammonia poisoning but I just got him so I am not sure.

No, it will not remove ammonia. I assume you are new to fishkeeping and did not cycle? You'll be needing to get a liquid test kit, at least for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, if you can, also for pH and hardness. You will have to do a fish-in cycle, which is a lot of work and will require almost daily water changes. I suggest that you read up about fish-in cycling and start a new thread where people can help you.

Okay thanks for the help. I do have a test kit but I am not sure if it test ammonia.