I need some advice please

[FishEnthusiast]

Hi,

I changed out Bob's water yesterday 100%. I usually do this 2 or 3 times a week. I had the water sitting over night with dechorinator and salt so it would be the same parameters as the water I was taking out.

I scooped Bob into a big vase like I always do and went about vaccumming his tank. I put the new water back in and let it sit for about an hour to let the sand settle. I took off some paper that I was using as backing and siding because he was flaring at himself so much when I got him.

Ever since I put him back in he has been acting really strange. He has been laying in his cave(really a clay pot), which he has never done before. Or he is laying right up against it when he is not inside it. He is not really swimming at all. He is still eating and every so often he goes to the top for a breath of air. He doesn't look stressed, but he doesn't look happy if that makes any sense.

I want to change out his water again, but I ran out of aquarium salt this afternoon changing my other betta's tanks. I don't want to do a major change and have no salt in the water because I think that will stress him out even more. I know we aren't supposed to use table salt in the tank, but would it be ok so I can get him into some cleaner water? I am going to buy aquarium salt tomorrow, so I can do another 100% water change to get the table salt out of the water. I am not sure what is bothering him, but it must have something to do with his water since he was happy until I changed it. Will he be ok in this water tonight? It seems a little cloudy.

I was thinking of taking the sand out of his tank completely, no matter how much I wash it, it seems to kick up so much gunk when I change his water. What should I do??

 

[purple_drazi]

I know we aren't supposed to use table salt in the tank, but would it be ok so I can get him into some cleaner water? I

I wouldn't do it. There's some argument about whether table salt is harmful to fish or not, apparently some believe that the iodine & other additives are in such trace amounts that they make no difference to the fish. But I wouldn't.

Do you have some BettaMax on hand? It's a good pick-me-up for bettas when they just don't look right and there's no obvious problem.

 

[eudielynn]

Blackwater extract seems to make mine feel better if you have any of it available. My betta, Jericho doesn't react well to water changes either. He will lay around for hours afterward and almost acts like he is pouting, especially if I vacuum the gravel and have things stirred up a little. I just turn the light out and let him adjust overnight and then he seems fine.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

Hi,

Well it has been almost two days now and he is still just laying around. I am going to buy some aquarium salt today and some bettamax. Blackwater extract too if I can find it. I am also going to take the substrate out because I don't think it is doing anything other than looking pretty for me. We'll see what happens.

 

[eudielynn]

Is he showing any other signs? Breathing okay?

I just re-read your post, you said you took the backing off his tank because he was flaring too much, could there be something behind the tank that is scaring him that he couldn't see before? Or possibly he doesn't feel as secure now with the backing gone off the tank, and he is hiding because he feels exposed. I'd try putting it, (or something else if you've already disposed of it) back on the tank and see if that helps him perk up.

 

[yvez9]

why do you always use salt with your bettas?

try turning the light off for a day or so and see if he gets more comfortable since you changed his decor. Bettas are real babies when it comes to their environment

I have this betta in a bowl with a huge silk plant. the plant is too big for the bowl and it sticks out. The betta was happy though, blowing bubble nests every week even if the plant takes up most of his space

i bought a smaller plant and he got mad at me. he stopped blowing his nests and stood still in the water. so afetr a week i put back this huge plant and there he was blwoing bubbles again

 

[FishEnthusiast]

Other than the lethargy there is nothing wrong, I thought about the backing. I am considering putting it back on. He is on my desk and there is now a 360 degree view into his tank. The backing actually went around most of the tank. I just used white computer paper. I will put it back on and see what happens. I haven't tried feeding him yet today, but if he stops eating I will let you know.

Thanks

 

[eudielynn]

Just keep us posted and if you notice anything else, let us know. We'll be glad to help if we can.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

why do you always use salt with your bettas?

try turning the light off for a day or so and see if he gets more comfortable since you changed his decor. Bettas are real babies when it comes to their environment

I have this betta in a bowl with a huge silk plant. the plant is too big for the bowl and it sticks out. The betta was happy though, blowing bubble nests every week even if the plant takes up most of his space

i bought a smaller plant and he got mad at me. he stopped blowing his nests and stood still in the water. so afetr a week i put back this huge plant and there he was blwoing bubbles again

To answer the salt question, I noticed his fins were a little raggedy when I got him a couple of weeks ago, so I added some salt to encourage him to grow his pretty tail back. He really liked it, so I kept adding it. I give a little salt to all my bettas, they seem to really perk up with the salt in there.

I don't usually use a light on this tank for any extended period of time. He usually has just natural sunlight. I think the backing had a lot to do with it because it seemed like he was trying to hide. I put it on before I left for school today and I will see how he is when I get home. Darn exams..... I wanted to be with him all day.

I have a feeling he was scared at all the sights that he wasn't used to. He may have thought it was a new tank too because I moved his cave a little bit and took the backing off. If that was the problem my hubby is just going to have to get used to me being the only one who can see him, because of course Bob's health is so much more important to my hubby's enjoyment of him
Thanks guys

 

[FishEnthusiast]

Well, the backing was the problem. I came home today and he was happy as could be, swimming around flaring at his reflection and he even started making a tiny bubblenest, which is something he doesn't really do all that often.

Thanks for all your help

 

[BettasRFriends]

I have a comment on the table salt. I've used NON-iodized salt and it works fine. Maybe that's just me but you could always buy aquarium salt (very very cheap) in those milk cartons.