Sudden Colour Change & Lethargic

[ThePiggy]

My HM male has a steel coloured body and white fins and tail. Within the past 2 days, his fins have turned a pink-ish colour and he is lethargic. His tank stats have been normal across the board since I've had him. He eats well and I do 40-50% water changes three times a week. He's in a 2 gallon square tank, I know this is small, but that's why I do water changes so often. He will be going into a 10 gallon as soon as its current resident is moved to a bigger tank. But what could be wrong with him and what can I do to cure him?

 

[newfishy]

check the temp and make sure both the thermomiter and the heater are working. if so can you post a pic of him for us to see exactly what he looks like. also can you test your test kit....make sure the chemicals havent gone expired or anything. it could be an internal bacterial thing, but also it wont hurt to give your water company a call and make sure they have not had any problems lately if you have city water.

if all else turns out fine how old is he?

 

[ThePiggy]

I bought him on ebay 3-4 weeks ago. I always use bottled spring water that is treated with Aqua Plus for water changes, never tap water. The heater seems to be working correctly, I just checked the temp with a different thermometer and it's 77F. I use the test strips, how do I know if they are still good? I can't post any pics though I don't have a camera.

Where his fins were white/clear, they now have a pink-ish tinge all throughout. When I show a mirror to him, he looks at it, but he doesn't flare like he usually does. He looks like he's trying not to move. Generally sitting still except when he wants to go up for some air.

 

[newfishy]

the test strips are notoriously inaccurate, they also can expire. I would take a water sample into a good lfs and ask them to test it for you, many good shops will do it for free. I might invest in a good quality liquid test kit, which though is more expensive then a small bottle of strips a much better bargain because you can do hundreds of tests with them. red or pink streaks threw the fins or body could possible be septicemia.

heres a link to some fish illnesses, I would look threw and see if anything rings a bell.

http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

 

[ThePiggy]

Thanks, Newfishy. My betta does fit the description for septicemia. I thought that doing my water changes 3 times a week was good enough. I will take a water sample into the LFS tomorrow and see if my strips were wrong.

For now, I have moved him into a hospital tank with 100% fresh water. Is there anything I should do for him tonight? I have aquarium salt and quick cure.

 

[Netty]

I'm Netty....that was Newfishy

I would just keep him somewhere dark and undisturbed. If he looks like he's struggling to get air then lower the water level for him.

Keep us updated and hope he will be ok.

 

[ThePiggy]

OOps!!

shhhhhhh... it never happened.

And, thanks for that advice, Netty. I'll be sure to keep things quiet around him.

 

[Netty]

My lips are sealed

Good luck with him. They don't half make us worry at times!!!!

 

[newfishy]

the fresh water, kept to under 6 inches if he is having trouble swimming, and a pinch of salt will help him for now, as will keeping it dark and quite like netty said.

if it is septicemia he is going to need a good antibiotic to get better.


also if you had bought him off ebay the stress of long shipping and whatever life he had before you could still have affected him.

 

[ThePiggy]

Thanks a ton to both of you. At least now I have a direction to be going in. I was baffled before. Thanks again!

 

[ThePiggy]

Well, he's still alive! I got his temperature from 77 up to 80F. I've done two 10% water changes today. His energy seems to be coming back, gradually. Also, he isn't as bright a pink as he was yesterday. I hope all of this is good. He's still eating. I was called into work early, so I wasn't able to take a water sample into the LFS.

 

[Netty]

That's great news Hope he continues to make a good recovery!!!

 

[Goodygumdrops]

Just a quickie,I noticed that you are using bottled spring water.I'd watch this are some are hard,found this after having to use bottled water for boiling in my kettle,it furred the element in just a few days,whereas we have no problems at all with this with our tap water.
I know,maybe your tap water may not be great either,but just be aware that there are elements present in bottled water that you may not expect to be there.I for one did not expect mineral deposits in my spring water.

 

[ThePiggy]

I use Aqua Plus to treat the water with every water change. Wouldn't this fix anything that was out of whack with the water? It says that it neutralizes heavy metals.

Also, he's looking brighter today! I think the daily water changes are doing the trick.

 

[ThePiggy]

Here are some pics of him.