Unhappy / Ill Betta

[Livewire88]

I recently changed the gravel in my Betta Bowl to sand, (Argos Play Sand) also put some new silk plants in, (whilst I did the change I put the betta in a clean tupperware container with tank water in, and used a cup to transfer him) Since the change my Betta has been very inactive and most of the time he is sitting at the bottom of the tank.
He used to swim out to meet me every time I went near the tank but now he stays at the bottom and does not move round much at all.

As the old decor and gravel was removed I have checked the water levels daily to make sure Ammonia is not rising, Ammonia and Nitrite levels are at zero.
Also his face has turned quite pale and fins have become a little tatty, His belly was looking rather bloated a couple of days ago so I have not feed him for a day just incase he is bloated but no change in behaviour.

I am going to do a 50% water change tomorrow but a little worried about the poor fish, he was so happy before the change it seems he may not have taken to the sand well, I hope he is ok.

 

[Fatknee]

Aww poor thing is it ok to use play sand rather than aquarium sand?Hope he gets better soon

 

[KittyKat]

Did you do a larger than usual water change when you swapped the substrate? Were the sand and silk plants new? Have the water hardness and pH changed since before the change and now? Did you let the filter media dry out during the change?

 

[Livewire88]

Did you do a larger than usual water change when you swapped the substrate? Were the sand and silk plants new? Have the water hardness and pH changed since before the change and now? Did you let the filter media dry out during the change?

Hi,

I did around a 75% water change during the switch,
Both Sand and Silk plants were new, I washed the sand thoroughly intill the water was clear, also washed the silk plants thoroughly and left to soak in water for a day before adding to the tank.

Water parameters are exactly the same as before, PH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate, and the filter media was left in tank water whilst doing the change.

I did remove a live plant that had been in the tank for 2 weeks before as it was dieing due to lack of light and ferts, I have checked levels daily to make sure the filter was coping now that the live plant was removed, and all seems fine. I have been feeding him Hikari Betta Bio-Gold for the last 2 weeks, could he be bloated?

 

[KittyKat]

Do you usually do 75% water changes or was this unusually large?

Have you fed *only* the new food for the last two weeks? What did you feed before? Do you usually not feed on 1-3 days per week?

At the moment, it sounds like constipation.

 

[Livewire88]

Do you usually do 75% water changes or was this unusually large?

Have you fed *only* the new food for the last two weeks? What did you feed before? Do you usually not feed on 1-3 days per week?

At the moment, it sounds like constipation.

I usually do around a 30-40% change per week (probably more than needed)

Usually feed him 6 days a week, and swap between Tetra Betta flakes (brine shrimp, krill) Hikari Betta Bio-Gold, and mini bloodworm 1 day per week.
I did do something silly the other day, I feed him 2 Hikari Betta Bio-Gold pellets and he spat the second one out then swallowed it again, so I soaked 2 more in some tank water and gave them to him about half an hour later, I am guessing this could have caused an issue?
His belly was looking rather full the day after.

Should I just feed him half a squashed pea tonight or leave it a day or two then feed him half a pea?

 

[Livewire88]

O dear, i just got home from work and his tail is getting bad. It has a split in and his tail seems all stiff not flowing as it usually is!! I am about to do a 50% water change as I dont know what else to do!

 

[shi24137]

I've been reading a lot on here that Argos play sand is not good for fish and not to use it in a tank, might be something in the sand that irritates them, I'm not sure, but I think there was a post about it, might be what's going on with his tail, I would go back to the gravel until you find some sand that is more natural

 

[Livewire88]

My gut feeling is that the play sand is the issue!

I will swap back to gravel tomorrow.

 

[shi24137]

Please keep us updated on how he is doing!

 

[KittyKat]

It is also quite likely to be something in the tap water, as it is to be the sand, I think.

I've been reading a lot on here that Argos play sand is not good for fish and not to use it in a tank, might be something in the sand that irritates them, I'm not sure, but I think there was a post about it, might be what's going on with his tail, I would go back to the gravel until you find some sand that is more natural

Link? Last time I heard one of these rumours it was actually that they can't promise that they will never start adding anything to the sand, but at the time (around 3-4 months ago, I think), Argos claimed that there was nothing at all added to it.

 

[Livewire88]

Update, after doing the 50% water change i left it a few hours but no change in the bettas behaviour.

I couldnt wait till tomorrow so i have just emptied the whole tank and got rid of the sand, gave everything a good clean and put the gravel back in. Filled the tank with clean temp matched water and as I didnt want to get any of the old water back in I just put the betta straight back in to the fresh water (i would never useually do this) and guess what the betta now seems happy as larry!! Swimming round and it even seems like he is swimming up to the glass to thank me!!

I dont know this for sure but I honestly think it was all down to the sand! I have added some melafix which will hopefully soften his fins back up. Im never going to use playsand in a fish tank again.

 

[shi24137]

I'm glad he is doing better! I wouldn't trust what a manufacturer has said about their own product, they're always going to say there is nothing in it, they have to boost their product.

 

[KittyKat]

I wouldn't trust what a manufacturer has said about their own product, they're always going to say there is nothing in it, they have to boost their product.

Well, if they didn't say the truth, in UK that would be considered false advertising, which can make them liable to quite large fines, so it really isn't worth the risk for them.

 

[bettanoob]

The aquarium sand is just as cheep and can get any colour don't give up on it!