Help! How can I help my Betta

[Reenie]

Are spines bent? They will be with fish TB. I doubt it is. Lots of things cause inactivity. Water quality is top on the list. Do large water change daily for a week along with adding aquarium salt (dissolved) for the fin rot. Salt dosage is 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of tank water the first day after water change. After that do 3/4 tablespoon dissolved aquarium salt after each 70% water change. We STILL need your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings please! We can’t help completely without this info.

Hello I added aquarium salt yesterday so hopefully starts to work can I add that daily?

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

What is the actual stocking in the tank? Yousaid a swordtail, mollies and a pleco, then shared a photo of a platy that also has a corydora and a red tailed shark(!) in it?

 

[FishGuest5123]

Hello I added aquarium salt yesterday so hopefully starts to work can I add that daily?

Please see post #13 for salt info. I can’t help you anymore if you refuse to provide me with your water parameters. I’m so sorry but that’s like asking me to drive with my eyes closed. “ Fine” is not what we need. We need ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate readings plus PH and GH. If you need help with this, we are happy to help you. We just need the proper info to steer in the right direction.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Ok, have had a look at your other threads, (one about cardinal tetra and one about a platy) it looks like you’ve unfortunately have had some issues so far

And sorry to hear of your loss of your betta as well

From what I read from your other threads and this one, back in May you did not cycle the tank when you first got the tank, LFS told you to add fish straightaway, this is very poor advice from the LFS btw.

So therefore at this point I am unsure if the tank is cycled or not even though you got the tank a few months ago.

Have a little read of this to help give you an idea of what we mean by cycled, it’s a bit of reading and quite a bit to try and understand first time round but read it a few times, that should help.

Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!

Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...

www.fishforums.net

So what we do actually know so far-

Your tank is 72 litre.
(which is just under 20 US gals)
But unsure of dimensions/measurements as this can be important to know as certain species of fish requirements differs, some species could either need larger, longer, taller or even smaller tanks, it depends.

You have some platies, mollies and cardinal tetras and possibly a Red Tailed shark but this is not confirmed.

We kind of need to know what livestock you have exactly in your tank currently as it can affect your water quality in your tank for example.

And you said on one post on the other thread that your general hardness was at 120m/gl , this is moderately hard water.

And you have plastic/fake plants, no live plants.

And from your other thread I read that you have a dip strip testing kit, not the best test kit am afraid.

We can recommend a half decent testing kit which API Master Freshwater test kit, a bit more pricey than the stop dip test kit but this recommended kit can help give much more accurate reliable water parameters readings of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, we will then have a much better picture of your tank parameters and whether it’s cycled or not.





So we have some clues but not the whole picture to be honest.

Very hard to know what advice to give without seeing your tank and testing for ourselves so therefore we have to rely on your information that you give us, the more information you can provide, the better.

So do carry on doing the water changes of 70%, and do follow some of the advice already given on previous posts, this will undoubtedly help your livestock and then take it from there when we have more information.

Don’t worry too much, we will help you as much as we can and if you’re unsure or if you get stuck with anything at all, just ask and we will be happy to help where we can

 

[Reenie]

Please see post #13 for salt info. I can’t help you anymore if you refuse to provide me with your water parameters. I’m so sorry but that’s like asking me to drive with my eyes closed. “ Fine” is not what we need. We need ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate readings plus PH and GH. If you need help with this, we are happy to help you. We just need the proper info to steer in the right direction.

I got my test kit in finally and have readings from that now, my stocking in tank is rainbow shark, 2 Cory, 2 snails, 3 mollies, 6 cardinal tetra, 4 adult swordtails and 4 small babies my molly also just had babies I have 8 I will obviously need to get another tank for them. It’s 72 litres - ammonia 0 nitrite 0 and I will include picture of nitrate and ph levels I used the two different options for ph test and I am confused - I do weekly water changes about 75% and clean filter about every 4 weeks I hope u can still help

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

I got my test kit in finally and have readings from that now, my stocking in tank is rainbow shark, 2 Cory, 2 snails, 3 mollies, 6 cardinal tetra, 4 adult swordtails and 4 small babies my molly also just had babies I have 8 I will obviously need to get another tank for them. It’s 72 litres - ammonia 0 nitrite 0 and I will include picture of nitrate and ph levels I used the two different options for ph test and I am confused - I do weekly water changes about 75% and clean filter about every 4 weeks I hope u can still help

You're going to need much larger tanks for all of your fish. Rainbow sharks are very territorial and pretty aggressive, and while they don't get as huge as a bala shark, they still need a large tank (200 plus litres/55 US gallons or larger) to have enough territory so they're less likely to terrorise the other fish. Your pleco and cories are at particular risk from the shark, since they'll be seen as invading his territory, and cories aren't good at recognising territories either.

Your tank is less than 20 gallons of water, with a lot of fish in it that get pretty big and need a lot of swimming room. Mollies and swordtails also get pretty big and are strong swimmers that need a lot of swimming room.

The stocking really is a ticking timebomb, you need to do a lot of research on the tank requirements and compatibility of all the species you currently have, and stop adding more to an already overstocked tank, even if the water parameters are okay right now. A betta and a rainbow shark in the same tank was always going to end badly I'm afraid.

 

[Reenie]

You're going to need much larger tanks for all of your fish. Rainbow sharks are very territorial and pretty aggressive, and while they don't get as huge as a bala shark, they still need a large tank (200 plus litres/55 US gallons or larger) to have enough territory so they're less likely to terrorise the other fish. Your pleco and cories are at particular risk from the shark, since they'll be seen as invading his territory, and cories aren't good at recognising territories either.

Your tank is less than 20 gallons of water, with a lot of fish in it that get pretty big and need a lot of swimming room. Mollies and swordtails also get pretty big and are strong swimmers that need a lot of swimming room.

The stocking really is a ticking timebomb, you need to do a lot of research on the tank requirements and compatibility of all the species you currently have, and stop adding more to an already overstocked tank, even if the water parameters are okay right now. A betta and a rainbow shark in the same tank was always going to end badly I'm afraid.

 

[HoldenOn]

You're going to need much larger tanks for all of your fish. Rainbow sharks are very territorial and pretty aggressive, and while they don't get as huge as a bala shark, they still need a large tank (200 plus litres/55 US gallons or larger) to have enough territory so they're less likely to terrorise the other fish. Your pleco and cories are at particular risk from the shark, since they'll be seen as invading his territory, and cories aren't good at recognising territories either.

Your tank is less than 20 gallons of water, with a lot of fish in it that get pretty big and need a lot of swimming room. Mollies and swordtails also get pretty big and are strong swimmers that need a lot of swimming room.

The stocking really is a ticking timebomb, you need to do a lot of research on the tank requirements and compatibility of all the species you currently have, and stop adding more to an already overstocked tank, even if the water parameters are okay right now. A betta and a rainbow shark in the same tank was always going to end badly I'm afraid.

Agree. That shark is gonna get mad one day. Not good .

 

[Essjay]

Re the pH tester, use just the high range one. If the pH is off the top (or bottom) of the scale is will still show as the highest (or lowest) colour. This is what is happening with the 'standard' pH tester - it can only show the 7.6 colour regardless of how high the pH actually is - and yours is ~8.4

 

[Reenie]

Re the pH tester, use just the high range one. If the pH is off the top (or bottom) of the scale is will still show as the highest (or lowest) colour. This is what is happening with the 'standard' pH tester - it can only show the 7.6 colour regardless of how high the pH actually is - and yours is ~8.4

thank u so what should I do to get the ph lower?

 

[Reenie]

You're going to need much larger tanks for all of your fish. Rainbow sharks are very territorial and pretty aggressive, and while they don't get as huge as a bala shark, they still need a large tank (200 plus litres/55 US gallons or larger) to have enough territory so they're less likely to terrorise the other fish. Your pleco and cories are at particular risk from the shark, since they'll be seen as invading his territory, and cories aren't good at recognising territories either.

Your tank is less than 20 gallons of water, with a lot of fish in it that get pretty big and need a lot of swimming room. Mollies and swordtails also get pretty big and are strong swimmers that need a lot of swimming room.

The stocking really is a ticking timebomb, you need to do a lot of research on the tank requirements and compatibility of all the species you currently have, and stop adding more to an already overstocked tank, even if the water parameters are okay right now. A betta and a rainbow shark in the same tank was always going to end badly I'm afraid.

As I said in previous reply I will be looking to get another tank, I had the shark in a bigger tank but moved house and have had no space but can’t find a home for him sadly so he will need to stay put till I find one

 

[Ch4rlie]

thank u so what should I do to get the ph lower?

Simple answer is, you don’t lower the ph and hardness to suit the fish.

Much better to find fish to suit your water ph and hardness.

Lowering ph and hardness takes considerable research and skill.

As it’s impossible to alter ph without altering the hardness and the kH levels.

The more you lower hardness and pH the more you lower the kH (which acts like a buffer to keep water levels steady) the more unpredictable your water parameters will be.

Those chemicals that lowers ph only lasts for so long and then the ph creeps back up to its natural state, this fluctuation of ph and hardness levels harms the fish considerably.

There are certain natural things you can try to lower ph such as lots of Indian almond leaves and alder comes and certain substrate / rocks / coral etc as well but again, once these wears off, the ph will get back to its level again.

It’s a constant circle doing things this way. Not for a beginner to the hobby to try and attempt this imho.

So perhaps it may be best to consider rehoming some of your livestock again am afraid.

 

[Reenie]

Simple answer is, you don’t lower the ph and hardness to suit the fish.

Much better to find fish to suit your water ph and hardness.

Lowering ph and hardness takes considerable research and skill.

As it’s impossible to alter ph without altering the hardness and the kH levels.

The more you lower hardness and pH the more you lower the kH (which acts like a buffer to keep water levels steady) the more unpredictable your water parameters will be.

Those chemicals that lowers ph only lasts for so long and then the ph creeps back up to its natural state, this fluctuation of ph and hardness levels harms the fish considerably.

There are certain natural things you can try to lower ph such as lots of Indian almond leaves and alder comes and certain substrate / rocks / coral etc as well but again, once these wears off, the ph will get back to its level again.

It’s a constant circle doing things this way. Not for a beginner to the hobby to try and attempt this imho.

So perhaps it may be best to consider rehoming some of your livestock again am afraid.

Hello I can’t actually revoke them I know no one that would take them and everyone near me will all have the same water

what fish would suit my ph levels then I am confused?

 

[Ch4rlie]

Sorry if this is confusing you.

A lot of information going around and all this can be a bit bewildering.

To start with your pH is a little on the high side but your hardness level is more important than the pH. Your hardness level of 120mg/l or ppm (if this is confirmed) is ok, so that’s one concern less to worry about for the moment.

Your mollies, platies and cardinals should be ok in your tank size and water hardness for the time being but they will need a larger tank at some point but the cories are soft water fish, these will need rehoming at some point soon.

However the red tail / rainbow shark, that’s a concerning one, he’ll be fine for now but when he gets bigger there will be problems later on so again this one will need rehoming otherwise between the red tail and the other tankmates problems will start.

Please do not panic, this will get sorted. Just a case of you working out how to do things and knowing what to look for and learning along the way.

These things happen to the best of us so you’re certainly not alone in this.