New Tank And Betta Fin Rot

[Smilesformiles]

Hello out there...I just have one male betta that I rescued from my daughter over a year ago...he's been doing great in his close to 2gal bowl with no heater or anything...regular weekly water changes...also during this time the place I was living in was constantly very warm even in the winter....Now a few months ago I have moved into a ground level apartment that is very cool all the time...I have to keep the heat on all the time and had to use extra heaters for a while too...so the point to all my rambling is...he developed some fin rot very quickly last week....and I'm wondering if it's from the up and down temp's in here. I've got a big tank for him with a gentle filter and heater and it's been filled for a week..I haven't put him in there yet as he is still on antibiotics...do I need to do a water change if there is no fish in the tank I have read about how to introduce him to the tank in a bag first so he doesn't get temp. shock. Any comments would be appreciated! Thanks for listening

 

[loraxchick]

Waterchange waterchange waterchange! He'd be better off in the big heated filtered tank with daily partial waterchanges until he shows improvement. 90% of finrot cases heal with clean water and protein foods without the need for meds. The lower temp likely lowered immune system making him susceptible to fin rot or other conditions. I advise moving him.
cheers

 

[Smilesformiles]

Waterchange waterchange waterchange! He'd be better off in the big heated filtered tank with daily partial waterchanges until he shows improvement. 90% of finrot cases heal with clean water and protein foods without the need for meds. The lower temp likely lowered immune system making him susceptible to fin rot or other conditions. I advise moving him.
cheers

Thanks loraxchick! That had crossed my mind that the new filtered and heated tank might help the healing. I was just worried about stressing him out while he wasn't looking so good. He is doing really well though, more active, his color looks great again and he actually ate a blood worm today and blew some bubbles. Thanks for your advise!

 

[Louiseness]

If your betta is in an unfiltered tank/bowl, water changes realy need to be once a DAY not once a week.

I'm sure he will do much better in the new tank but please make sure you're very careful if you're trying to cycle the tank with him in it, any poor water conditions will probably kick-start his fin rot again.

 

[loraxchick]

No problem! If he's only got a day or 2 left on meds id finish the round and get him straight into the larger tank. Whether or not its cycled yet doesn't matter. Its heated which will keep temp stable and the larger volume of water will dilute the ammonia( which also could be a cause to the finrot). Do not overfeed while cycling the tank which could lead to ammonia spikes, once a day or every other day is sufficient. How big is the new tank? Could give you better waterchanging guidelines until its cycled. Also are there any other fish in the big tank?
glad he is seeming to get better!
Cheers.

 

[Smilesformiles]

If your betta is in an unfiltered tank/bowl, water changes realy need to be once a DAY not once a week.

I'm sure he will do much better in the new tank but please make sure you're very careful if you're trying to cycle the tank with him in it, any poor water conditions will probably kick-start his fin rot again.

Thanks for your advise Louiseness!

 

[Smilesformiles]

No problem! If he's only got a day or 2 left on meds id finish the round and get him straight into the larger tank. Whether or not its cycled yet doesn't matter. Its heated which will keep temp stable and the larger volume of water will dilute the ammonia( which also could be a cause to the finrot). Do not overfeed while cycling the tank which could lead to ammonia spikes, once a day or every other day is sufficient. How big is the new tank? Could give you better waterchanging guidelines until its cycled. Also are there any other fish in the big tank?
glad he is seeming to get better!
Cheers.

Hi Loraxchic,
Yes he'll be finished the meds tomorrow evening so will put him in the new tank Sunday morning. I have set the new tank up a week ago so it's heated properly and has been filtering with no fish in it all this time, I'm thinking that makes it cycled for him?? The test strips read the same with the new tank as with his bowl water. Although, the ph is only 6 and I thought it should be more around 7, but from what I've read online it says 6 is fine. The tank is 16gallons, a little over kill but it was on sale for a great price and he's big boy and I think he will enjoy the space to swim around. It has a quiet flow filter that airates then flows down into the tank like a little waterfall right at water level so I think he'll be ok with the water movement. Oh, and he was playful as ever still last night! In fact, call me crazy, but I think he was disappointed he wasn't going in the new tank after his water change. His bowl sits on a table right in front of the big tank and he was all excited and staring at it when I placed his bowl back. Usually he does that at me. Funny guy..ha ha Thanks again!!

 

[Louiseness]

I have set the new tank up a week ago so it's heated properly and has been filtering with no fish in it all this time, I'm thinking that makes it cycled for him??

No, that doesn't make it cycled at all. There is a lot of info for beginners about cycling in the sticky topics at the top of this section of the forums which would be really useful as you'll be doing a 'fish-in cycle' if you put him in there.

You didn't say what your actual readings were but they need to be ammonia 0, nitrite 0. test strips aren't generally as realiable as the liquid lkits so it'd be easier to get one of those.

 

[Smilesformiles]

I have set the new tank up a week ago so it's heated properly and has been filtering with no fish in it all this time, I'm thinking that makes it cycled for him??

No, that doesn't make it cycled at all. There is a lot of info for beginners about cycling in the sticky topics at the top of this section of the forums which would be really useful as you'll be doing a 'fish-in cycle' if you put him in there.

You didn't say what your actual readings were but they need to be ammonia 0, nitrite 0. test strips aren't generally as realiable as the liquid lkits so it'd be easier to get one of those.

Hi there, yes those two were 0. I'm new on here so I will check out the info at the top. Thanks

 

[Louiseness]

Hi there, yes those two were 0. I'm new on here so I will check out the info at the top. Thanks

Good luck!