Sick Betta

[Lynnd73]

I'm worried something is wrong with my Betta. He went from being active & eating & flaring to hanging out at the bottom or on top of his plant right near the surface motionless. He has not eaten in 3 days. He's not responding to my fingers moving. He doesn't have velvet or dropsy I'm sure of that. Ick maybe but not sure. His fins are clumped & he doesnt flare up anymore. I'm so worried. I've had him for almost 3 months now & 3 days ago this behavior started. Im worried & hope someone can help me figure whats wrong with him.

 

[Asteria]

a picture would help loads, and water parameters

 

[Lynnd73]

I'm on mobile right now can't share a pic & I have not tested my water. Going to pet store tomorrow to get testing products. I have no filter & no heater either.

 

[Lynnd73]

http/img.ly/bwq1 http/img.ly/bwq5 These are pics of my fish & his home.

a picture would help loads, and water parameters

 

[sausagewinkle]

Try giving him a water change, he is certainly all clamped up.
I would also suggest getting a filter and a heater for his tank.

how often do you give him water changes??
How do you know the water in his tank is kept at a stable temperature??

 

[Liquid skills]

Try giving him a water change, he is certainly all clamped up.
I would also suggest getting a filter and a heater for his tank.

how often do you give him water changes??
How do you know the water in his tank is kept at a stable temperature??

and one more thing some more silk plant bettas like sleep and rest in them make him feel comfertble if he cant recover (not saying he wont)
but incase he is too ill silk plant to make him happy whether he servives or not

 

[Lynnd73]

Try giving him a water change, he is certainly all clamped up.
I would also suggest getting a filter and a heater for his tank.

how often do you give him water changes??
How do you know the water in his tank is kept at a stable temperature??

Ok it's a small tank & I can't attach a filter to it. A heater would be to hot for the amount of water in there too. So I have no idea what temp it's at. I did a water change 2 days ago removed the rocks so I could see if he pooped, he has not in 3-4 days for sure & not eaten in 3 days. I'm going to give him a salt water soak like I've read from other posts. This may help also going to pet store as soon as it opens to get water testing kit. Right now it's sad to say I can't spend alot of $ on this. It's Christmas time got bills & hrs have gone down at work. I'm quite broke. This sucks cause I really want to do EVERYTHING I can do to try to save him.

 

[Lynnd73]

I never thought having a Betta was this difficult. I wish I would of been better prepared. He was fine for 3 months up until 4 days ago. I'm clueless & feel terrible. I'm also a newbie so please don't hate me for not having a bigger tank and no filter or heater. I thought the set up I had would be fine.

Try giving him a water change, he is certainly all clamped up.
I would also suggest getting a filter and a heater for his tank.

how often do you give him water changes??
How do you know the water in his tank is kept at a stable temperature??

and one more thing some more silk plant bettas like sleep and rest in them make him feel comfertble if he cant recover (not saying he wont)
but incase he is too ill silk plant to make him happy whether he servives or not

He has been sitting on the 2 plants I do have. I have to move the plant with my fingers to get him swimming. Poor thing he lookes dead but he isn't.

 

[Liquid skills]

hi dont feel that bad we all make mistcks

heres a good set up for your betta assuming he servives

0: at least a 5 gallon (uk) tank

1: filter appropriate for the tank

2: heater

3: substrate (although not neccesery if you dont like it)

4:silk plants or live plants (as it is softer then plastic plants)

5:light

6:themometer

this is a good start for a siamese fighter

if you would like i can give you a pic of a form of silk plant they love in my exp to sleep in?

 

[sausagewinkle]

I never thought having a Betta was this difficult. I wish I would of been better prepared. He was fine for 3 months up until 4 days ago. I'm clueless & feel terrible. I'm also a newbie so please don't hate me for not having a bigger tank and no filter or heater. I thought the set up I had would be fine.

Try giving him a water change, he is certainly all clamped up.
I would also suggest getting a filter and a heater for his tank.

how often do you give him water changes??
How do you know the water in his tank is kept at a stable temperature??

and one more thing some more silk plant bettas like sleep and rest in them make him feel comfertble if he cant recover (not saying he wont)
but incase he is too ill silk plant to make him happy whether he servives or not

He has been sitting on the 2 plants I do have. I have to move the plant with my fingers to get him swimming. Poor thing he lookes dead but he isn't.

dont worry Lynned73

First things first you should change his water, give him a 70-80% water change, make sure the new dechlorinated water is the same temperature as the water he is in now so you don't shock him too much, and add it to the tank slowly. Chances are the nitrite and ammonia in the water will be high with you having no filter.

In regards to a heater, what country do you live in??

A filter isnt essential aslong as your willing to do lots of regular water changes

I understand that its near to xmas and money is tight (I know who you feel), but you can pick up a thermometer for coppers at your local fish store. This way you will no what the temp is in the tank, drastic fluctuation in temperature isnt good for him

With him not eating and not pooping id feed him part of a mushed up cooked deshelled pea. This can help with any blockages he may have.

Salt is good as a general tonic but only if it is aquarium salt, not salt you would use at home.

 

[Lynnd73]

I'm in Canada so it gets cold here lol. The pet store told me room temp water is fine. Also the ph is normal. I was changing his water every week. Ive added Epsom salt to his water right now, got that info from past posts on this forum.

 

[sausagewinkle]

You need to do a water change now, regardless whether you done a one 2 days ago. As soon as a fish looks sick the first thing to do is a water change.

If its cold in Canada then you do need a heater. No tank is too small for a heater. I have a betta in a temporary 5.5Litre tank with a heater as he needs the water to stay the same temperature.

Room temperature may be fine, but no ones room stays a constant temp. He needs to be in temperatures of around 24-26

 

[Liquid skills]

You need to do a water change now, regardless whether you done a one 2 days ago. As soon as a fish looks sick the first thing to do is a water change.

If its cold in Canada then you do need a heater. No tank is too small for a heater. I have a betta in a temporary 5.5Litre tank with a heater as he needs the water to stay the same temperature.

Room temperature may be fine, but no ones room stays a constant temp. He needs to be in temperatures of around 24-26

yeh well my bettas that im conditioning are both in 3l tanks for the next week and they have a form of heater

oh yeh i agree with the sorting out his health first and the filter thing but now we no it gets cold where you are a heater would do nicely lol


the set up is in future refrence aswell

 

[Lynnd73]

If he survives I'm gonna do my best to get a better tank with filter & heater.
He was quite active after adding salt to his water the most swimming I've seen in days but his fins r still clumpy & he still pretty motionless now that he's calmed down from water change. He's still not eating but I think he may have pooped a bit, not sure.
I feel bad but there is not much more I can do but wait & see.
Thank u all so very much for ur advice & understanding. I'm so glad I found this forum.

 

[Lynnd73]

This is what he looks like right now.
http/twitter.com/maryjanedoe73/status/147398099034308608/photo/1/large