Sick Girls...

[Mariah]

I have four females in my tank and two are showing signs of being sick. They are laying at the bottom with clamped fins and not really eating. They usually swim all over the place! My question is how do I treat this and the two that are still healthy will the medication affect them in anyway?

Thanks!

 

[karneval]

I can't really help you, but I can go ahead and ask what other people will:

What are your water stats? Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, etc. Temp?
Any other symptoms? Signs of fungus, fin rot, Ich?
Have they been bullied at all recently?

That's all I know to ask. Hopefully someone can help you. Good luck, I hope they get better!

 

[tibby25731]

yeah you really need to add more info and quick. Water stats is the most important, it might be something as simple as a big water change will sort this. if they are spot on then you need to sit and look at the bettas very carefully and add any symptoms you see, whether you think it is daft or not. This will enable some of the experienced betta keepers to point you in the right direction.
Also, have a think - has anyone been cleaning in the room? painting? anything with fumes that might have seeped into the tank?
Added anything new to the tank?

 

[Phoenixbaby]

how big is ur tank?
is it filtered?
is it heated?

anything obvious other than clamped fins?

 

[Mariah]

Ok I dont have any water stats as my sticks expired so I threw them out... Havent been to the store to pick up some more. I do have the ammonia stat though - its 0.25ppm... Is that bad? I know its suposted to be at 0ppm...

The tank is a 3 gallon (yes I know it should be bigger) and there are acouple of bite marks but nothing crazy. The tank is filtered and heated. The temp is 79 degrees.

I had said there was 2 girls that were sick, but I think I over reacted. Its just the one girl who has abit of clamped fins and not eating. What can I add to help her?

Thanks so far...

 

[Phoenixbaby]

3 gallons is WAY TOO SMALL for 4 females

u shud get a bigger tank, considering the size of ur tank, yes that ammonia is a problem

do a water change asap, also i suggest getting a bigger tank, i have 4gallon tanks per 1 male, and thats a good size, i can only imagine how cramped ur fish are

 

[ibbledibble]

part of the problem may be due to aggression/bullying in a tank that small they don't really have anywhere to get away to if they are being chased.

i have a 4ft long 37gal tank with 14 girls in it, plus lots of planting (there are also 7 khuli loaches and a bristlenose, but they add no problems to the aggression and not much to the bioload) i occasionally see one chase and nip another, but the one being chased can swim away and hide without any problems

also bear in mind that recommended minimum tank size for small fish is 1 inch of fish per gal, which would indicate you need an absolute minimum of 4 gal, and due to the aggression issues, i would personally go for much bigger.

as pheonix has said, your ammonia indicates a problem too. do an immediate 50% water change on the tank as this will be causing serious stress to your fish. this level of ammonia on a filtered tank is most likely due to overstocking or not cycling properly before adding fish. (add some duckweed to the top of the tank as a temporary measure, this will suck up the ammonia as food)

 

[Mariah]

My girl who was sick, was the leader, hense SHE was the one doing all the bullying. She dosent have a mark on her... Ive taken her out because I think if shes going to make it she should be in a tank by herself to relax. Is there any meds I can give her?

Ive done the 50% water change. My remaining girls are fine.

part of the problem may be due to aggression/bullying in a tank that small they don't really have anywhere to get away to if they are being chased.

i have a 4ft long 37gal tank with 14 girls in it, plus lots of planting (there are also 7 khuli loaches and a bristlenose, but they add no problems to the aggression and not much to the bioload) i occasionally see one chase and nip another, but the one being chased can swim away and hide without any problems

also bear in mind that recommended minimum tank size for small fish is 1 inch of fish per gal, which would indicate you need an absolute minimum of 4 gal, and due to the aggression issues, i would personally go for much bigger.

as pheonix has said, your ammonia indicates a problem too. do an immediate 50% water change on the tank as this will be causing serious stress to your fish. this level of ammonia on a filtered tank is most likely due to overstocking or not cycling properly before adding fish. (add some duckweed to the top of the tank as a temporary measure, this will suck up the ammonia as food)

 

[Phoenixbaby]

maybe try an anti internal bac, but also important that u either get them a bigger tank or rehome them

 

[Mariah]

maybe try an anti internal bac, but also important that u either get them a bigger tank or rehome them

Ok thank you. Shes still with is. Hopefully she makes a recovery.