Hi everyone! I’m in a bit of a pickle and could really use some help with my betta fish. So, here’s some context: I got this betta yesterday, and he was doing great. I let the tank cycle for a few days, conditioned the water, and acclimated him, and he was still fine. Today, I got home from school and noticed that he was just resting on a plant. I had recently gotten new silk plants and a heater for his tank, which I had ordered from Amazon. I put them in, and after that, he seemed a bit off. He started lying on the ground and wouldn’t swim. Now, he’s breathing heavily. I checked to make sure he had enough air and that the filter was working properly and producing enough oxygen. I even adjusted the filter settings slightly higher, but he’s still lying on the ground and breathing very fast. I’m completely clueless about what this means or what to do. I’m still new to fishkeeping, and I’m hoping for some genuine advice. (By the way, his current tank is also temporary, and I’m waiting for the 10-gallon tank to arrive.)
I genuinely just want to make him happy and comfortable, any advice is greatly appreciated.
https://v.redd.it/kzbrhjquudzg1
Posted by whos_han
10 Comments
Do water change asap
I second the water change and also have you tested the water? If you could check your parameters that would be helpful! If you don’t have a test kit you should get the API liquid test kit, it’s great!
Btw a tank can’t cycle in a few days, it usually takes 2+ months! Def do a water change and test it before anything else. Also research fish in cycles
It’s because u did not complete cycling the tank. The water is killing him. It’s not done after “a few days”
If you didn’t have tests how did you know the tank was cycled. It takes weeks for tanks to cycle so he’s probably sitting in ammonia and he’s not feeling great
test your water, are his gills red
Hopefully this will be a lesson to never only cycle a tank a few days Takes 4-8 weeks to do it properly
Remove a third of the water and replace with New water asap.
https://preview.redd.it/zrct770y3ezg1.jpeg?width=1260&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d1b1593d382b3b869185afec3094c15e6caa01a6
Some tips.
Ok so your tank isn’t cycled it’s impossible to do this without the proper things like a used filter/ filter media with a bunch of beneficial bacteria on them in a couple days . So what your doing is a fish n cycle which take patience and time . Everyday you need to be doing 30-35 percent water changes and redoing your tank with prime or api aqua essentials > reason for either one of those products is they bind ammonia and nitrites and nitrates and heavy metals and chlorine and chloramine VERY IMPORTANT! Also you need stability to give your tank beneficial bacteria > reason for this is this is what’s needed to naturally break down those chemicals. So I’m going to make this really really simple and tell you to PLEASE WATCH YOUTUBE search kaveman aquatics fish n cycle with prime and stability . Like right now . And right after do what he tells you to do . If you don’t have those products right now do a 40 percent water change add your conditioner and then run out and buy them .