Bloated Betta

[Sorrell]

Sorry I gotta agree Danios need groups of 6 or more ideally, as does the minnow. Danios require a large surface area for swimming at least 30 inches. Same with cories, that tank is just too small for them.

Sorry that this upsets you, but just remember there's a difference between surviving and thriving

 

[wuvmybetta]

uhhhm...again...I just realized you have 6 fish in a four gallon. That's really,really overstocked  Do you test your water?

I think you should upgrade to 50% wc's at least three times a week until you can get a bigger set up. High nitrates are the main cause of dropsy, and if your tank is fully cycled you are probably getting some really high nitrate readings before it's time for another scheduled water change.

uhhhm..no its not overstocked

Yes its near the max that it can take but its definately not overstocked
Its actually sold as a 5 Gallon tank but ive quoted the amount of water actually in the tank in my sig which is 4.16 US Gallons


I dont mean to sound rude but I hate it when people come on here trying to belittle others saying you need to buy a bigger tank and do you test your water.
There are reasons why people have smaller tanks.

Just to satisfy your curiosity no I dont have high nitrates or any other high readings before doing a water change. Readings are the same now as they were two months agojust after introducing the betta


I know your only trying to help so appologies for having a go at you it just gets on my nerves

I wouldn't consider that 'having a go at me' And I would hardly regard my comment as belittling you.

But , you're the one who has a betta that looks like that What can I say. There's a reason for it and I gave my opinion as to what it was. Sorry it wasn't coated in sugar (actually, it was!)

So,in your opinion you have a perfectly balanced aquaria. Point made and good for you,best of luck with your ill betta Maybe it is just constipation and has nothing to do with 13" of fish in a 4 gallon.

 

[f250fisherman]

Rich, I agree with wuv. I never noticed how many fish you have in your tank. The general rule is 1 inch of fish per gal. You have more than 5 inches of fish. This means you have to do very regular water changes, even on a cycled tank. I still think your betta is overfed, but you need to realise your tank is overstocked and do what is necessary to keep the water quality where it needs to be. I don't agree with fish requiring a certain number of fish. What happens if you are 1 fish shy of the correct number? What actually happens to them? If a fish is colorful, no clamped fins, eats well, and swims around like all the other fish, then I feel it is healthy. If it's requirements were not met, it would be showing signs of stress.... You never did answer 1 of the questions about whether your betta is pooping??

 

[Rich T]

Guys, the minnow is all thats left of a shoal of 6 that I had quite some time ago They were my first fish which I aquired from an uncle as he did not want the tank anymore. I know its a schooling fish but rather than stress it out by moving him to another tank I have left him be. He really is an old age pensioner of a minnow ive had him that long. Im sure hes probably near the end of his natural life, hes roughly 6 years old !

The pearl danio was not an intentional purchase, it snuck into the bag at the lfs when purchasing the cories four months ago. I only realised I had it when I got home. So again rather than stress it out with another journey ive left him in the tank also. Seems happy enough shoaling with the minnow.


Ideally I would move them to another tank with other minnows and danios but I just dont know of anyone else near me to take them hence why they are in my tank.
I fully agree with you all regarding the above but theres not a lot I can do about it short of euthenasia which im not prepared to do to a healthy fish


I only intended for the betta and three cories to be in this tank which in my opinion is perfectly ok for them. Obviously the minnow I already had but did not expect him to live much longer.

Since feeding the betta the pea yes I have seen him poo. I will be cutting the amount of food he is eating to half of what he has been getting and see how he gets on.


Again its all a matter of opinion as to what the maximum amount of fish a tank can hold, f250 says 5" of fish for a five gallon whilst this calculator reckons 10" of fish for my tank CALCULATOR

 

[f250fisherman]

how does that calculator say that? it shows tank dimensions. I'm going by the rule thats been around forever it seems. 1 inch of fish per gal. Even then, I know it can be done. my point was to do it, it takes special care concerning water quality.
Posting on a public site is pretty much an agreement to get all kinds of replys. If you are going to post, realise there will be several things you don't agree with, and be prepared to see their opion about it. You asked what was the matter with your betta, and you got different opions of it. Just take them for what they are worth to you.

 

[Rich T]

how does that calculator say that? it shows tank dimensions.

Fill in the calculator and you wil see

Surface area: 120 Inches2
Volume: 4.16 US gallons
Weight of water: 34.58 lbs
Max. units of fish: 10 Inches
Heating required: 10.39 watts

 

[f250fisherman]

well...if you want to do over 2 inches per gal, then it's your choice. I don't know who made the calculator, but every fish disease and medicine site will disagree with it, including people who have raised fish for many years. When you buy new tanks, the little booklet that comes with telling about keeping fish, will also say 1 inch per gal. Good luck to you Rich. Hope the betta gets better.