So it has been incredibly challenging trying to keep my dude’s fins healthy. I started out as a very uninformed fish mom, had him in a sad little fish bowl with no heater or filter but surprisingly he was healthy and alert and lived in there for probably 6 months.
Then I invested in a 3gal w heat and filter and he thrived even more and his fins did get longer and healthier and he was beautiful. And then I found this sub, felt bad and got him his very own 10gal thinking he would love his new little kingdom. He lived in there for another 6 months but his fins took a serious hit. I could not figure out how to get the parameters in a sweet spot where he could actually thrive. After months of trying to no avail I give up. So finally I’ve downsized him back into his 3gal and I kid you not within 2 days his fins are already healing. He looks a little rough still in this pic but trust he is healing and made a bubble nest for the first time since he was last in this little tank.
I’m really not sure why he seems so much healthier in here, the parameters in the 10gal are more ideal. The nitrates in this tank are a bit high as is the pH. But whatever works I guess?
What are y’all’s 2cents on this?
**included photo of his healthy fins, photo was taken more than 6 months ago and he was a bit skinny and young, he’s at a healthy weight now but fins are kinda trash
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1s1sztf
Posted by EnvironmentDue8188
4 Comments
Did you test all of the parameters for the ten gallon in comparison to the 3 gallon? Were you adding conditioner to the ten gallons water? How often are you doing water changes?
Are those plants in the fist picture pothos or some other species of terrestrial vine plants?
It might be unpopular, but I think a well maintained 3 gallon can work perfectly fine for a long fin betta. While it’s not the most ideal home, I find some bettas prefer the smaller space. Not only that, but sometimes, that smaller tank is way easier for them to get around with that weight on them. (Especially as they get older)
I’m went through a very similar situation a couple months ago, same story as you. I have a long fin betta, Aster, and he was a quick rescue that got put in a 3 gallon. Once he healed (his fins looked amazing), I tried out a bigger tank. He **hated** it, even with plenty of places to go and rest/hide. His fins also weren’t as bright and nice, so I moved him back to the 3. He’s been thriving, and I haven’t thought twice about keeping him in there.
2-3 weeks is pretty long to go between water changes especially in newer tanks. Were you testing your water each time you did a water change? I do water changes in my tank once a week, even in my heavily planted ones.
For your 3 gallon, water evaporates, everything else (like nitrates) does not. That’s why your nitrates are higher. If you only top it off, then you aren’t removing any of the nitrates.
As for your betta not thriving in the larger tank with stable parameters, what was the set up like? Did you have hides? Was it very bright most of the day? Was the temperature stable? Was the flow high? Did he have resting spots near the surface? Anything that can stress him out can lead to fin rot. It’s not always water quality related, that’s just the usual suspect.