last month i got a new tank because mine had a leak, just a 5.5 gallon replacing my previous 5.5 gallon tank. it has the same decor, same plants, same heater. the only thing i changed was the filter because they no longer sold filter replacements at my local store for my previous one. i let the water filter for 30 days before putting him in since ive read things about that in the past. i noticed a few days ago that a bit of his tail is missing, and he flares his gills at me anytime i step in front of the tank. he has never done that before. i’m scared that i did something wrong, i just want him to be happy and healthy.
tldr: replaced tank, let water cycle for 30 days, last week betta was placed in the tank and is now missing a piece of tail fin. only changes were the filter
did i do something wrong in switching him over? you can be brutally honest, i have the money to switch things up and would like to if i need to do so
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1rm2h8z
Posted by Happy_Artichoke_5622
2 Comments
he is just stressed about his new home. flaring is normal too. my male betta flares at me, but still chases my finger for food. your betta just needs time to adjust.
Unfortunately yes, the most important thing to transfer over to the new tank would have been your filter.
To better understand the concept of cycling, I suggest doing some research on what’s called the “nitrogen cycle”. There are many guides and videos out there — it involves much more than just letting your tank sit or letting the filter run for a while.
To break it down simply — when your fish produces waste, it begins to build up ammonia in the water. This is toxic, and eventually will kill your fish if there’s no way for it to be processed out. Your tank needs to establish colonies of beneficial bacteria which convert the ammonia into less toxic compounds. That’s what makes your “cycle”.
Beneficial bacteria live on all surfaces in your tank, but namely they live on your filter. This is why you should never fully change out a filter cartridge in your aquarium. You’ve now reset your cycle, and you will want to start doing some research on how to safely perform what’s called a “fish-in cycle”.
Essentially it will just take some time and vigilance for your tank to return to a healthy and self sustaining state. Make sure you’re doing partial (20/25%) water changes every couple of days at least. It’s hard to tell how your fish may of gotten injured. It could be ammonia burns, fin nipping from stress, or it got snagged on something in your tank. If you have any sharp/jagged or plastic decor, it would be best to remove those asap.
If you haven’t already, you should look into getting a test kit as soon as you can, so that you can keep an eye on your water parameters. The API master liquid test kit is what’s generally recommended.
Good luck and I hope this could be of some help!