Need Help? Betta Sick?

[will031]

I have a 10 gallon tank that is about 2 weeks old i've been checking the water daily as well as temperature. I've done a few 10-25% water changes already over the last 2 weeks and have a betta, 2 panda cory's and 7 harlequin rasboras in the tank. In the last week 6 of the harlequins have died. Yesterday i noticed my betta was hiding in an ornament and would only come out to get a breath of air from the surface. When he did he would bolt up and bolt back down to hide. Upon removing the ornament it looks as if he has clamp fin. I don't know if you can see in the picture but it is sort of shiny on parts of him (velvet?). Also with the rasboras i notice their fin would start getting whitish as seen in one of the pictures. I don't know what to do now? I tested the water and ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, nitrate is 5 and pH is about 7.6, also temperature is 78. Last week the water was a bit cloudy, probably due to over feeding due to flakes (i'm gonna use pellets now) but it is better now. Also i added the fluval biological enhancer to speed up the nitrogen cycle which appears to be developed now. If you have any suggestions on what might be going on and solutions please help.

 

[Colin_T]

In a newly set up aquarium (less than 6 weeks old), the most likely cause would be water quality (ammonia or nitrite). Your tests would suggest there is none but it normally takes about 4-5 weeks for the bacteria to develop in filters. If you used some filter media from an established aquarium then that would certainly help speed up the cycling process and this could be something else. However, if the tank and filter materials are new, any you didn't cycle the aquarium before adding fish, then I would say the filter has not finished cycling yet.

Small water changes don't do anything and you are better off doing 75% water changes and gravel cleaning the substrate each week or any time the fish look unwell, the water goes cloudy, or if a fish dies. In newly set up tanks you should do a big water change and gravel clean every day or every couple of days to help keep the ammonia and nitrite levels down.

Clamped fins are normally caused by poor water quality and the quickest way to resolve it is to do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate each day for a week. Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it is added to the tank.

If the fins don't get better after a week of big water changes, then it could be a bacterial or protozoan infection. However, water changes are the first option and should be done to rule out water quality issues.

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How much aeration/ surface turbulence do you have in the tank?

Bettas are surface dwelling fish that like to have some floating plants to hide under. If there are no floating plants to provide cover, he will hide at the bottom around driftwood or rocks. Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides/ cornuta) is the best floating plant for Bettas and grows well in most aquariums. It can also be planted in the gravel where it grows into a nice light green coloured bush.

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If you photograph new fish the day after you get them, you can compare the old pictures to the new ones and it makes spotting issues and changes a bit easier.

Did the male Betta have the white patch just behind his head when you got him?

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To check the fish for velvet (Oodinium), turn the tank lights out and shine a torch on the fish. If they have a gold sheen to their body they have velvet. If there is no gold sheen they do not have velvet.

 

[will031]

In a newly set up aquarium (less than 6 weeks old), the most likely cause would be water quality (ammonia or nitrite). Your tests would suggest there is none but it normally takes about 4-5 weeks for the bacteria to develop in filters. If you used some filter media from an established aquarium then that would certainly help speed up the cycling process and this could be something else. However, if the tank and filter materials are new, any you didn't cycle the aquarium before adding fish, then I would say the filter has not finished cycling yet.

Small water changes don't do anything and you are better off doing 75% water changes and gravel cleaning the substrate each week or any time the fish look unwell, the water goes cloudy, or if a fish dies. In newly set up tanks you should do a big water change and gravel clean every day or every couple of days to help keep the ammonia and nitrite levels down.

Clamped fins are normally caused by poor water quality and the quickest way to resolve it is to do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate each day for a week. Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it is added to the tank.

If the fins don't get better after a week of big water changes, then it could be a bacterial or protozoan infection. However, water changes are the first option and should be done to rule out water quality issues.

------------------------
How much aeration/ surface turbulence do you have in the tank?

Bettas are surface dwelling fish that like to have some floating plants to hide under. If there are no floating plants to provide cover, he will hide at the bottom around driftwood or rocks. Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides/ cornuta) is the best floating plant for Bettas and grows well in most aquariums. It can also be planted in the gravel where it grows into a nice light green coloured bush.

------------------------
If you photograph new fish the day after you get them, you can compare the old pictures to the new ones and it makes spotting issues and changes a bit easier.

Did the male Betta have the white patch just behind his head when you got him?

------------------------
To check the fish for velvet (Oodinium), turn the tank lights out and shine a torch on the fish. If they have a gold sheen to their body they have velvet. If there is no gold sheen they do not have velvet.

Thank you very much for taking the time to do such an in depth response, I really appreciate it.

I went out this evening and bought a gravel vacuum and have since done about a 75% water change with it (Here's hoping that helps).

I have the filter releasing water at the top but that's about it for aeration. I am planning on buying an air pump at some point in the next few weeks.

Yes that white patch was on him originally lol.

Thanks again for your time.

 

[Colin_T]

If you lower the water level down an inch there will be more splashing from the filter outlet and it will help increase oxygen levels.

 

[NickAu]

That tank needs a few live plants including floating ones.

 

[FishGuest5123]

Good advice above. Do those water changes!