sick or lazy?

[xbanditsx]

When doing my weekly water change, I forgot to put dechlorinator in the new water. I didn't realize this until a few hours after and once I did I put it in right away. However, one of my bettas is definatley acting sluggish and he wouldn't come up off the bottom of the tank to eat tonight. Would a few hours in a tank with 20% non-dechlorinated water make him sick or was he just being lazy?

 

[evilbunny]

mine was like that before he died, only mine was chased by my rainbow shark and he got stressed and then he got stuck in a rock and then he died (i found in the morning, very distressing)

but i wouldn't have thought 20% of normal tap water would affect a fish that much, maybe u can change the water again ? and then 20% would be even less (i'm guessing, some one will come along and correct me )

 

[ECH2005]

I believe chlorine has less affect on the fish than it does on the bacteria built up in the filter. I think that is the major reason why it's important to dechlorinate water, but don't quote me on that...