New Betta - Health Problems Already?

[emerging]

Hi,

Thanks in advance for anyone who reads this all the way through and can offer any advice!

Six weeks ago, I "rescued" a Betta from my cousin's wedding (he was in a vase as one of many centerpieces). After I got him home and did some reading, I decided he should have a bigger home, so I bought a 2-gallon Eclipse Explorer tank. It comes with a bio-wheel filter, which I am not using because I'd read that Bettas don't need one in such a small tank. I added smooth glass marbles/stones in the bottom, a silk aquarium-safe plant, a 7.5 watt heater and a thermometer.

I was so excited to get him situated in his new home. He'd made a large bubblenest in his vase, and I was looking forward to watching him build more! I even named him Bubbles.

I've been using bottled spring water and have been doing 100% water changes once a week, but now I'm reading that perhaps I'm better off with doing 50% changes twice weekly...

I feed Bubbles Betta Bio-Gold, 2-3 pellets daily. Maybe twice a week I'll give him 2-3 freeze-dried bloodworms instead of the pellets, and I fast him one day a week.

The first "problem" I noticed was that he simply wasn't making bubblenests anymore, but I figured maybe he was just getting used to his new environment. The next thing I noticed was a silvery-gray coating under his mouth and along his gills. It was barely perceptible except when the light was on - then it was quite obvious, and I don't remember seeing it when he first came home. On another forum, it was suggested that perhaps this is part of his coloring, since it does appear to be irridescent, not necessarily cottony.

I treated the tank with 1 teaspoon aquarium salt and 2 drops Aquari-Sol, but there was no change after more than a week - except his fins started to look a little crimped/wavy/ragged along the edges!

I thought maybe this was the beginning of fin rot, so I tried 5 days of Maracyn, but to no avail. I did a 100% water change and watched him for a couple of days. The edges of his fins are now starting to trail, like little threads, so I started him on Bettafix today.

He doesn't act sick. Still does his wiggle dance when I approach the tank and still eats like a little piggie.

I don't want to do anything that will hurt him, as I've become quite attached to the little fella!

I'm hoping someone can help out this first-time Betta mommy! My little guy is so cute and sweet, I just want him to be happy.

Thanks so much!

P.S. The plastic plants you see in the pictures have been removed (and replaced with a silk one), as I thought perhaps he was getting his fins caught on them.

 

[joycould]

When one of my guys get problems with their tails (I have a couple that bite their own tails) I do a lot of small water changes and add aquarium salt 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. During the water changes I make sure I get the gravel or sand really good. any moss or floating plants I take out and rinse as well. I do at least 50% daily but usually more like 80% depending on how many tanks I need to clean. It could be be the quality of your water some city water actually has ammonia in it from the tap. That is really hard on the fins. My water the ph is great 24 hours after it comes from the tap but slowly gets lower because of the buffers the city uses in their water. Now for the color change it could be velvet. The salt will help with velvet but it usually isn't enough. Does he flick (rub up against stuff)? If he does it sounds like velvet.

 

[laurasbetta]

When you mentioned that you are using spring water is it the kind with minerals in it? Some bottled spring water is also chlorinated. You might be better off using distilled water or regular tap water treated with dechlorinator.

When you tried the Maracyn, did you use both Maracyn and Maracyn 2 together? This is a very effective combination against most types of bacteria.

Fin rot is strange. Our Wally has had it 2 times this year. The first time he acted normal while we cleared it up, but this last time he acted like it was going to kill him. He's getting better slowly and we're about to start him on his 2nd round of Maracyn and Maracyn 2 tomorrow.

You might have a fungus problem and/or a bacteria problem at the same time. The 2 Maracyn products work well on this as do a number of stronger antibiotics combined with fungus eliminator.

Bettafix and Melafix are OK as long as the infection isn't one that spreads rapidly. They are also great for helping repair damaged fins after treatment with antibiotics.

 

[Lynda B]

I agree that a dose of maracyn & maracyn 2 would be helpful in this case. I would strongly advise you to use regular tap water instead of bottled water of any kind. Seems the bottled water has either been treated to add something or remove something that doesn't work well with bettas.

Thank you for rescuing him from the wedding. I just hate when people use them for centerpieces and then really have no clue what they're going to do with them afterwards.

 

[emerging]

When you mentioned that you are using spring water is it the kind with minerals in it? Some bottled spring water is also chlorinated. You might be better off using distilled water or regular tap water treated with dechlorinator.

When you tried the Maracyn, did you use both Maracyn and Maracyn 2 together? This is a very effective combination against most types of bacteria.

Fin rot is strange. Our Wally has had it 2 times this year. The first time he acted normal while we cleared it up, but this last time he acted like it was going to kill him. He's getting better slowly and we're about to start him on his 2nd round of Maracyn and Maracyn 2 tomorrow.

You might have a fungus problem and/or a bacteria problem at the same time. The 2 Maracyn products work well on this as do a number of stronger antibiotics combined with fungus eliminator.

Bettafix and Melafix are OK as long as the infection isn't one that spreads rapidly. They are also great for helping repair damaged fins after treatment with antibiotics.

Hi, laurasbetta!

I don't think the bottled water I'm using has added minerals in it... i'm experimenting with aging and treating my tapwater (out of the tap, the specs aren't good at all). Meanwhile, I went to a specialty fish store and they recommended Water Rite. They said they use it in all their aquariums and prefer it over AmQuel. I'll give it a shot and test the water again...

I used the Maracyn alone, but I went out and bought Maracyn 2 because I'd read about your problems with fin rot and it seems you've had success using a combination of both at half-strength. Is this correct?

Thanks!

 

[emerging]

B)-->QUOTE(Lynda B @ Jul 17 2007, 05:44 AM) [snapback]1693786[/snapback]
Thank you for rescuing him from the wedding. I just hate when people use them for centerpieces and then really have no clue what they're going to do with them afterwards. [/quote]

I had no idea what a Betta fan I'd turn into as a result! I don't think I even want to know what happened to the rest of the fish...

 

[llamalord305]

Yes, the normal treatment is too strong for bettas, so just use half.

 

[Lynda B]

Isn't that interesting..... I've always used it full-strength and have only ever used it on bettas.

 

[laurasbetta]

I've been using the full dose of Maracyn and Maracyn 2 with no problem (other than a bit of clouding in the water.) The only things I use half strength (or less) are Bettafix/Melafix and Pimafix since they are oils and at full strength they would make it hard for a betta to breathe.

 

[Lynda B]

With any of these meds, they recommend that you provide additional aeration in the hospital tank. Some of them remove oxygen from the water.

 

[emerging]

B)-->QUOTE(Lynda B @ Jul 18 2007, 06:00 AM) [snapback]1695159[/snapback]
With any of these meds, they recommend that you provide additional aeration in the hospital tank. Some of them remove oxygen from the water.[/quote]

I don't have a hospital tank... I've just been treating him in his own tank.

How can I provide additional aeration?

 

[emerging]

One other question...

I have Bettafix Remedy added to the tank. Do I need to do a 100% water change before starting the Maracyn 1 & 2 meds?

Thanks again.

 

[Lynda B]

I don't know if Bettafix would have a reaction to the meds. If in doubt, change the water. Because you can't change the water during meds, usually, it's always a good idea to start off with fresh water when you begin treatment.

If he's the only one in the tank, it's not as crucial to have a hospital tank.

As for aeration, they advise either having the filter set higher on the tank, so that the water splashes into it, creating additional aeration, or, if your tank is too small and that creates too large of a current, you could put a small bubbler in. Or just an air stone that doesn't need a hose.

 

[emerging]

B)-->QUOTE(Lynda B @ Jul 18 2007, 11:26 AM) [snapback]1695598[/snapback]
I don't know if Bettafix would have a reaction to the meds. If in doubt, change the water. Because you can't change the water during meds, usually, it's always a good idea to start off with fresh water when you begin treatment.

If he's the only one in the tank, it's not as crucial to have a hospital tank.

As for aeration, they advise either having the filter set higher on the tank, so that the water splashes into it, creating additional aeration, or, if your tank is too small and that creates too large of a current, you could put a small bubbler in. Or just an air stone that doesn't need a hose.[/quote]


This afternoon I did a 100% water change and decided to try running the filter (I haven't been using one at all, since it's just a 2-gallon tank) without the carbon. I don't think Bubbles liked it much. Very soon after I put him back in his tank, he developed a pale line along his body and swam about in an odd, disoriented fashion. So I turned the filter off and just the Maracyn and Maracyn 2. I dissolved the packets in 10 tsp. water, then measured out 2 teaspoons for his tank. I hope this works... His dorsal fin is now split and there are longer, whitish "threads" attached to the edges. I'm so worried about my little guy.

 

[emerging]

I started Bubbles on the Maracyn and Maracyn 2 combo last night, and this morning he looks even worse than ever. As if Freddy Krueger visited in the night and shredded his entire tail.

I'm afraid he may not make it through this, and I'm trying to prepare myself. I feel like a bad mom... I thought I was doing something good by rescuing him from his vase at the wedding, but I just wasn't prepared or well-informed enough about the care he would require. Until now, I thought fish were fish. I had a couple of goldfish in college and it was no big deal.

Bubbles is giving me a keen appreciation for these creatures, and a great deal of respect for the humans who care for them.

I'm not giving up on him! I'll keep everyone posted.