Cycling A Tank

[fishtanksmomma]

Thank you. I'll be in touch

Sorry, I don''t have these emoticons quite right yet

Sorry, I don''t have these emoticons quite right yet

 

[fishtanksmomma]

I don't think this fish is going to make it. I came home today and he's really pale, lethargic, and will not eat. He also has a dark horizontal stripe on his body that I never noticed before. I don't know if the daily water changes are too stressfull on him. I'm so upset. I don't know what to do. He's laying at the bottom of the tank.

of course

 

[Amanita.m]

Try every other day with the water changes and just try and be gentle. You could try a broad spectrum anti-biotic, but he might be too far gone.
Sorry your first Betta experience has to be such a difficult one. They actually are wonderful fish with lots of personality. Since u have gone so far to try and learn to care for one, I hope u consider having another if this poor guy doesn't make it. You can cycle the tank and have everything ready ahead of time. Now that u know what goes into their care, u would make a good Betta mom, and u only have to walk into most places that sell Bettas to know we really need those. If they are kept well, Bettas can live for years and they are pretty hardy in general, if they start out healthy.
I know u are really trying to save your fish and I hope it works out for u.

 

[fishtanksmomma]

I woke up this morning and he looks much better. His color is vibrant, he was swimming around when he saw me, he ate all his food, and even blew a little buble nest over night.
Although, I've read that buble nests are simply a natural instinct. The color in parts of his fins seem to reach all the way to the end. So I'm not sure if that is a good thing or if it means his fins are deteriating. I did pick up an antibiotic that is supposed to treat fin rot, and I think I'm going to do water changes every other day. I try to be gentle, but he's wuick and evasive when he sees that cup coming. Thanks again for all the suggestions.

Try every other day with the water changes and just try and be gentle. You could try a broad spectrum anti-biotic, but he might be too far gone.
Sorry your first Betta experience has to be such a difficult one. They actually are wonderful fish with lots of personality. Since u have gone so far to try and learn to care for one, I hope u consider having another if this poor guy doesn't make it. You can cycle the tank and have everything ready ahead of time. Now that u know what goes into their care, u would make a good Betta mom, and u only have to walk into most places that sell Bettas to know we really need those. If they are kept well, Bettas can live for years and they are pretty hardy in general, if they start out healthy.
I know u are really trying to save your fish and I hope it works out for u.

 

[Amanita.m]

Yay! I am so glad for u and him.

 

[OldMan47]

The heck with treatments, do a 95%+ water change with proper dechlorination. My bet is that he will perk right up. I am a very simplistic fish keeper but my methods seem to work. If something is wrong that you can't identify, the first step is always an enormous water change. 90 times out of 100 the fish look better within an hour, not a long time at all. If that fails, go back and look at what symptoms you have that are likely not related to water quality. After all there really are other causes but they are not nearly as common as water quality.

 

[fishtanksmomma]

I've been keeping up with daily water changes. I only keep enough of the old water to put him in his cup. I can't tell if his fins are healing though. They still look a little reddish, blood streaked on one part. And the white on his end seems to be more than before. Although his tail does look longer, so I'm not sure if it is regrowth or something else. Now his top fin seems a little tattered looking.

How long should it take for him to heal. I'm really trying my best to get him healthy.

Thanks for your time & advice.

 

[OldMan47]

A betta in decent enough water conditions will heal completely in just a couple of weeks. If your fish is not recovering quickly, it is time to explore further problems.

 

[fishtanksmomma]

Any suggestions on where to start?

A betta in decent enough water conditions will heal completely in just a couple of weeks. If your fish is not recovering quickly, it is time to explore further problems.