Hi, I need help with my betta fish 😔
The first photo shows how he normally was (active, vibrant color, and open fins). In the last few days, he's gotten much worse and now he looks like the second photo: retracted and frayed fins, dull color, and he spends a lot of time at the bottom of the aquarium.
Aquarium details:
• No filter
• Until now, no heater (I just got one)
• Water changes: I used to do complete changes because he doesn't have a filter
• Dechlorinated water
• Doesn't live with other fish
Current symptoms:
• Very inactive
• Stays at the bottom
• Fins held close to his body
• Doesn't swim like before
Today I put in a heater (raising the temperature gradually) and I'm only doing partial water changes. I thought about giving him a small amount of mosquito larvae to see if he'll eat them.
Do you think it could be fin rot, shock from water/temperature changes, an internal infection, or something else?
Any advice is welcome; I want to try to save him 🙏
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1r032at
Posted by Angelaandnyx
5 Comments
rot!! His fins are Gone:0
You could start with gradual epsom salt baths in a separate container, I hope he gets
Better
How often are you doing water changes and how big is the tank? And how are you doing the water changes?? Having a tank with no filter is a bad idea. Was it cycled at all?
You definitely need to get him a bigger tank with a heater and filter. Set that up and let the water cycle for a few weeks. I hope you have a water testing kit? Not just strips either because they don’t work correctly. Test the water daily and learn about cycling water while he is recovering in his current tank. Treat him with a little bit of epsom salt /aquarium salt. (Read up on amounts recommended.) Get a bottle of stuff to treat fin rot and also I really recommend a bottle of betta fin fix! It’s Malleluca oil and it has absolutely helped two bettas I’ve had that got sick like this.
Also, NEVER a full water change!! He needs to build up healthy bacteria and not keep having the parameters have a dramatic change. Get some start up tank liquid from the store. Not just the treated water but the bottle they will give you to establish some bacteria in his water. Please please please never give him a water change with water that doesn’t have fish declorinator and slime coat in it. Please never get plastic plants for a tank either. Bettas destroy their fins on them and they leach toxic chemicals into the water. If you can get some plants for the new cycling tank while you treat him in the other, it will speed up/ help the cycling process and his future health immensely! I would add a snail too.
Bettas are gorgeous and hearty but basically need a lot of care in their set up. It’s an investment for now but you won’t have to buy all of this in the future! Basically you eventually will end up getting into the hobby and creating a mini natural eco system. His health will improve and you will be a wise aquarist because of this!:)
Your tank is entirely too small. 5 gallons is the absolute minimum but 10 is best. You can find cheap 10 gallons on Facebook marketplace regularly. There’s currently some in my area for $10-$25 with the lid, light, filter, etc. Research the nitrogen cycle. You NEED beneficial bacteria in your tank to keep parameters stable and doing complete water changes kills everything good that’s trying to grow. Get a water test kit (not test strips) and test your water. Update post with parameters afterwards and people can help you better. If you’re not able to spend the money to get him a proper setup there is absolutely no shame in giving him up to someone that can afford it. He is beautiful! Good luck!
filter and almond leaves