Sick Betta Eek

[MaryLyn]

My male betta is about a year old, and was very healthy until late December. Tank size about 1 1/2 gallons which I fill to about 1 gallon. My water balance has been checked a few times by the pet store and was a-okay. I think temperature is the problem. When it got colder this winter, I moved him from a spot with good natural light but some drafts, to a place near a lamp. He ate okay, but the algae was disgusting. So, when the weather got milder I moved him back to the original spot, then it got colder. He got lethargic and started spitting up the pellets, so four days ago I got a thermometer and a 25 watt heater. The water temp was 68 F before heating, and now it's 75-78. At first he seemed a lot peppier, interested in the pellets, ate them, then still spit them up. Now he wont' touch them. I got some briny shrimp, and he lethargically gets one or two a couple times a day, but still won't touch the pellets. I replace half of the water weekly. His plants have been plastic at the advice of the store when I got him last year, but now someone else there said real was better, so I added a small Anubias Coffeefolia and plan to take out the plastic, but haven't yet.

I had my first betta for 3 years until he got Popeye and didn't make it through the antibiotic phase. What can I do to save this one?

 

[Castellop123]

One gallon sounds very small to me... I would buy an aquarium ( atleast 25cm long ) which includes heater, small filter and sheltered areas in which your Betta can retreat to, if stressed... This website ( practicle fishkeeping ) shall expain everything about starting a new tank and much more...

 

[black angel]

Also, the up and down of temperatures can make bettas sick. Hopefully with the steady temperature he will be ok. Try him on some bloodworm, but only a little to get his appetite back.

 

[nynex]

Sorry this is so long..but MaryLyn you need a quick education in
proper fish care..I would also recommend reading this and other
websites and getting some books for reference.

Your temp was 68 degrees??? !!! Thats way too cold for this fish!!!
Your betta probably got ICH or Flukes from the temp being so cold...
I would highly recommend using Melefix and Pimafix (antibacterial and antifungal)..
You can get both of these at Petsmart. Dont worrie these are both all natural
and you cant overdose on them. I melefix my fish once every other day.
or you could use Methylene Blue which helps with both and helps in getting
rid of ICH (Parasites/White Spot). Does he have white spots on him
or white spots by his gills? If so..he has either Ich or gill flukes.
They are tiny parasites. You need to get rid of these.

If there is no ich or flukes, he might just be very very stressed from being so cold.
Plus being that cold he most likely has fungus on him too. Please Imagine
yourself being locked in a freezing cold drafty room for 2 months, How
would you feel? I bet.. pretty stressed out. It may be too late for him.
Lets hope not. I would do a 50% water change and start using the melefix
and pimafix together.

Bettas are from tropical rivers and rice pattys in Thailand. They need a temp
between 78 and 80 degrees. Also never ever keep fish near a window or near
a place with a draft. Water temp and chemistry is extreamly important with
any fish. My betta started out in a 10 gallon, now hes in a 20 gallon long
community tank. Hes much happier with tank mates. I monitor the water
chemistry and do a 3 gallon water change every week. You also need to
add more Oxygen to the water...either with live plants or an
airstone.

Plus you dont use a lamp for light!! You get a hood with a built in floresent
light. You shouldnt leave your tank uncovered....with an uncovered bowl
or small tank...Dust, cleaners you use, anything else in the air can get into
your water and pollute it...which could also make your betta sick.

Once your betta is better...your need to relize your tank is too small. With no
filter and such a small tank you have no beneficial bacteria build up with helps
greatly in keeping good water chemistry.

You can go to petsmart and get a 10 gallon kit for $39 which includes a power
filter (these fish like all others need filtration), Lighted Hood, 10 gallon tank,
and you already have a heater. Also you should get a small pump and an
airstone to add oxygen into the water. I would also recommend HIKARI
betta Pellets. Plus I also feed mine bloodworms. He loves those. Plus with
a ten gallon you can get your betta some non aggresive tankmates. Yes
bettas can be with other fish..as long as its not another betta or a fish that
looks like it. Also do not get tetras, despite what the LFS says. Tetras are
fin nippers..I would also add a few live plants or an airstone for Oxygen.

Good luck..

 

[MaryLyn]

Thanks all, for the tips on my sick betta. I was on my way out this morning for some bloodworms and a water check, when I saw that in addition to everything else, his stomach was bloated. So, I packed him up too, and was fortunate to run into his breeeder. He said no ick, no fluke, water again good, but some bacterial thing. So they're keeping and treating him for a few days, and we'll see. In the meantime, I got some new tank supplies, and am much better prepared thanks to all your good advice.

 

[Amunet]

I wouldn't recommend using Melafix on a betta.... from what I understand, and what people have experienced with it.. it can do some serious harm to bettas and other fish that have the Labyrinth organ.

AS for the temp.. bettas like warm water... keeping the temp at a steady 75-80 degrees F would be best for the lil fella.

 

[MaryLyn]

Thanks again. He's improving -- 5th day today on antibiotics for some kind of bacterial infection. Maybe his resistance was down from the cold? Maybe something got into the open-topped bowl? I have no idea how a betta could get a bacterial infection, and would certainly like to avoid it. To that end, I got the heater, and some fresh plants that provide some cover through the top opening. Anyway, I'm hopeful that I'll be able to bring him back home in 4-5 days.

 

[MaryLyn]

Yaay -- my betta's been home from the "hospital" for four days now, and doing okay after a regimen of antibiotics. At first, he seemed wary of all the new bowl stuff (heater and two live plants) and went to eat the food pellets but spit them up everytime he tried them, for three days. Then today I tried some freeze-dried bloodworms and he loved them, and perked right up. I fee really fortunate. Thanks again for all the help.