I got a betta a couple weeks ago. It was a purchase on a whim, I saw her looking sad in her cup and wanted to rescue her. I brought her home and she started perking up! The next day, I got her a full betta tank setup, one of those kits that are specifically for betta. I let that circulate for a couple of days and finally put her in. She seemed to love her new tank, however yesterday, she started acting weird. Laying at the bottom of the tank, breathing heavily. I’ve been looking up ways to help her, tested for an ammonia spike and there was a slight one, so I started cycling the water out and treating it with prime and stability. I did that yesterday and today. I’ve been testing for ammonia and it says there is none in the tank. I’m so worried about her, she seems to be struggling so bad and I just want to help her feel better 🙁 she’s usually full of energy and very curious. Now she’s not eating and just struggling to stay alive. I don’t know what to do! This is a couple videos of her right now.
https://v.redd.it/m94gsceh8irg1
Posted by T-Rex-Badminton
7 Comments
She’s like the flow from your filter might be too much for the lil one. He’s exhausted.
Sorry to see your sick fishy. 🙁 Is that bumblebee jasper in your tank? Looks a lot like it. If so, you should definitely remove immediately as it contains arsenic and sulphur.
its struggling with that flow for sure. they usually prefer very low flow, almost stagnant water.
You can see the betta getting overtaken by the flow and searching for a place to remain stationary. It’s probably tired, especially since you said they’re breathing heavily.
What kind of filter is it? If it has an adjustable outflow, try pointing it towards the closest wall. For example, if it’s in the back right corner, have the outflow facing the back right corner.
Also, your tank probably isn’t cycled since its only been up for a few days and you’ved tested positive for ammonia.
For your cycling, you should see if you purchase a new sponge filter from your local store ( not a Petco or corporate) ask if they will swap with one from their tank. Explain the issue with your fish. A local private owned store is more likely to help you. This way you can get a sponge that is already colonized and it will help ( not fix) get colony established in your tank. Do not remove current filter. Run both because your current filter is probably partially colonized. See if you can at least either baffle the flow lower or redirect as others have suggested. You may want to look up fish in cycle on YouTube for examples on how to exactly dose prime so you can fully detoxify ammonia and nitrites.
After a few weeks to maybe 6 you can remove original filter and just use sponge based on testing water
Good luck on your journey. Beautiful fish by the way!!!
No your current seems way to strong please block your filter out out with a sponge and a rubber band and see if this helps . Ur betta looks exhausted thats why she hurried up and got to the box where she couldn’t get pushed away. Also try this boil catapults for 10 mins in 5 to 6 cups of water . Add aquarium salt 0.5 teaspoons per gallon of tank mix it in until fully dissolved bump heat up in tank to 80-81 degrees Fahrenheit. Add a small amount of api stress coat plus then after cooling the pot to room temperature dump the entire contents of pot into the tank and allowing it to sit for 10 days at the10 day mark switch out Catappa leafs with new boiled ones and then add prime and api stress coat to the pot just this time no salt. Then start doing small water changes daily to weed out the salt content
In addition to the valid comments about the filter being too strong, and the tank not being nitrogen cycled (the 4-6 week process of growing the good bacteria needed to support water quality), are you testing for anything other than ammonia? Nitrites, nitrates pH etc?
These are essential to monitor too and seriously affect fish health.