Betta Getting Sick?

[grownocean]

About two weeks ago I checked my tank after coming home from school and I saw that my betta had completely torn his fins on small pieces of plastic plants I had in his tank. During the next water change (this past Sunday) I removed the plastic plants entirely. I also bought a better heater, as the one I had before was unstable and would rise to 84+ F. The one I currently have keeps the temperature around a stable 76F. The tank is a filtered, 1.5 gallon and I do weekly water changes. I haven't gotten my water tested in a while and decided that I will after seeing my betta today. I've been keeping fish for years and I can tell when they're acting unusual. First off, his understand had fallen very white. Secondly, he's keeping his fins clamped a lot more than he ever has. Third, he's swimming.... oddly, like a fish that's getting sick.Forth, he likes to stay around behind the filter and heater. I don't know what to do. I'm going to get my water tested hopefully tomorrow. I'm rather worried, I don't want him to die

also, his fins still remain noticeably torn and I don't know what to do about it. I can't tell if it's turning into fin rot or not. I feel like I've failed.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Bump the heater up, 76F is too cold for him. You want him at 78-82.
 
When you get your water tested, make sure they tell you the exact numbers and not "it's fine", and see if they can test with a liquid kit.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Is it possible to upgrade his tank to at least a 5 gallon?  His water quality would be much better.
 
When I am in doubt about what the problem is, I start frequent water changes (in my opinion one weekly change on such a small tank is not nearly enough).

 

[tunagirll]

It does sound like he's too cold and feeling unhappy

 

[Wildbetta]

76F is too cold which will make him lethargic and healing of his fins will be very slow.  Also you need to be doing a water change at least every other day in a tank of that size even with a cycled filter.  84F if kept consistently would not be an issue for your betta as they do very well with warm water (much better than with cooler water).

 

[grownocean]

Ah okay. Thank you so much. As an immediate solution, I'll put the faulty heater back in. I thought 84 was too hot and felt like he wasn't getting enough oxygen

 

[grownocean]

Also, I have a spare 10 gallon lying around that I can upgrade him to. I just need to set it up and cycle it.... Is there anything I can do to make the cycling go faster? Such as using the gravel from his old tank to help establish bacteria?

 

[Ninjouzata]

You can use the substrate, yes. And can take out some of the filter media from your filter if you have one on this tank?
Am not sure if that'd be a good idea though as imagine taking any bacteria from it would be bad since it's hard to keep a cycle in anything less than 3g.
 
You can also buy Dr. Tims One & Only, have heard great things about that.
 
Good on you for upgrading him. You should definitely see an improvement in his health & behavior.

 

[betta fish]

I hope he recovers for you, do you have a pic?