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go by indigoj advice. I would advise to test 20 min later to let the parameters settle etc. Sashimis readings are good and sushis will need another change shortly, keep an eye on both. All the best!

p.s. I persoanlly wouldnt worry too much on PH. If you got them locally the PH will be similar also if you have had them a while they would have adapted. (My ph is at 8 same as store bought from just to help ease ;))
 
i see 0 signs of finrot. just keep watch and make sure that the fins arent deteriorating...that curly fin effect is normal...some bettas just grow that way. i have two boys (both from petsmart and not a breeder) whose fins grow curly. and they are both veil tails like the one in the picture. i have a feeling its from bad genetics, but whatever the case it is nothing to worry about.
as for your readings for tank stats
good for you for getting a test kit. but of which type? strips or liquid based? strips are notoriously inaccurate and give false results often.
also more info please
what size tanks/bowl do you have both bettas in
filtered? heated? plants (live or fake?)
based on tank size better guidelines can be given for water changes to get the level of ammonia down...as for the pH, dont mind about that. if you bought the fish locally, the lfs where you got him would have similar water and the fish wont notice..stable pH is better than change the pH.
dont panic. its good to see new betta owners want to do best by their fish.
keep us updated.
 
well good news for you
the live plants actually do help a LOT in keeping ammonia down, so go out and buy a LOAD of fast growing plants such as elodea (also called anacharis), camboba, wisteria, hornwort... plant up both tanks. bettas LOVVVEE plants. the more the better (unless of course he physically cant swim thru the plants)
better news- those filters will eventually be able to rid the ammonia for you. it takes time, testing and water changes. get a liquid test kit that tests for ammonia, nitrIte and nitrAte...API sells a master kit with these included as well as pH. test your water and test it often. keep a log/chart of your readings each test. read up on the nitrogen cycle. there is a good sticky/pinned article in one of the subforums.
to do a fish in cycle is not impossible or (IME ) harmful to your fish. just takes diligent care taking. after the tank cycles you can just do a water chnage/substrate clean once a week or so.
id advise another water change on the tank with readings and an 80% or so water change every day until the filters cycle.
do you know anyone with a fishtank? could help you out BIG TIME while trying to cycle.
all the best
 
i got sashimi to eat some of a pea, but his belly looks even BIGGER!
i think ill not feed him tomorrow, and see what happens?
what do you do if the pea doesnt fix the constipation problem?
exlax? philips? LOL
 
The pea will handle it. You can skip feeding for a day or two and if the stomach does not go down, then feed a pea again.

I would just like to acknowledge you for being such a consciencous betta owner. It's great that you got your themometer, testing kit etc. You'll just have to deal with the extra water changes until the ammonia settles down. Then you will only need to do partial changes once a week.
 
well thanks! any animal that comes into my care has to be taken care of to the best of my ability!
lots of sick and skinny foster kittens have come through me and become chubby happy little things :)
especially when the shelter was ready to put em down im like...give em to meeeee!!
and i like my sashimi :) so i want to take care of him the best i can, and to do that, i need to know as much as i can
about how to care for him
 
wooo!!! he pooped!! he pooooooooooooooooped!!
 
You're doing a great job being a betta owner! :clap: :clap:
My suggestions-
Keep up with the water changes! 2-3 times a day to keep ammonia down. Do you have a gravel vac? It would be good to use that to get all the gunk out of the bottom of the tank. Plants help, yes.
Also, :drool: your betta is so pretty!
 
in leiu of a gravel vac you can use a turkey baster to suck up the muck before you do a water change. and i wouldnt do more than 2 water changes in a day. that stresses the fish out too.
do a 50% in the morning and 50% in the evening (testing before each change). if you change your feeding to every other day, that will cut down on the waste and therefore cut down on the amount of ammonia produced (less water changes for you and your fish). the fish will not suffer for it as they can and do go long periods of time without food.
glad the pea helped. it usually does :hyper: isnt it ridiculous that you can be so excited over you pet's toilet habits. i think so.
if you test the water before each water change and keep a log, you get a better grasp of when you should be doing water changes. instead of doing them "just to do them". that also can help you out a lot while cycling. it also gives you a better understanding of what is going on with your bacteria in the filter and when the filter is nearly/fully cycled.
good luck
 
All the best, you do seem to be ontop of things. LOL glad the little fellow pooped, it is amazing we get excited on these things, it shows we care!
 
just did another water test, this time, sashimi's is still zero, and sushi's is 2 again
should i still change out some of sashimi's water?
 
do a really big waterchange...like 70-80%...and another in a few hours.
have you cleaned sashimi's gravel at all since youv ehad him and been doing stats/water changes?
if not that could be the source of ammonia in that tank. there is no way a betta's producing 2 ppm of ammonia a day. there has to be a source for that. over feeding? dirty substrate? rotting plants?
it is impracticle for you to rinse the whole tank, gravel and all. you should used a turkey baster or go get a small gravel vacuum to clean the substrate. do not over feed your fish right now. all tha will do is produce more ammonia that you need to water change. fish can go a while without food. what type of foods do you feed? if flake, only give a FEW (6-7) of pellets only 2-3 a day (or better everyother day)...once the filter can process ammonia and nitrite, then you up the feedings.
every time you take a reading you should post it. make it a journal type thing. folks here will gladly give friendly advice.
cheers
 
i talked to my friend about it at work today, i work at petsmart btw ;)
my friend works in the fish and small pet part, she told me to buy a siphon thingy
when i told her the ammonia was at 2 she was liek WHAT THE HELL
so she had me buy this thing, and i just used it about an hour ago.
it took out a lot of the water but i moved it around under the gravel so hopefully it picked up some yucky stuff
then i replaced the water
 
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