NEWBIE HELP

[wyndawose]

Hi, I'm a Newbie. Have been checking out your site as a guest and loving it. Have an emergency, my beautiful red Betta (Nemo - how original eh?), is just floating listlessly in his bowl. He's about 3 months old, and is normally very active, flipping around at mealtime etc. Displaying at my finger sometimes.

It's a 2 gal bowl (bigger than the last one he had, and I just changed the water yesterday after about 2 weeks. When I came down this a.m. couldn't even find Nemo at first. Then saw him on the bottom. Got him to swim a little, but he goes back to the bottom, or by his cave.

The water is a little cloudy, but I thought it might be from the gravel (which is new, but I rinsed it thoroughly last night. I treated water with Betta conditioner - 2 gals gets 1/2 teaspoon/gal according to instructions (1 tsp). Don't have stuff to take PH levels yet

He wasn't very happy when I netted him yesterday and kept him in his holding pen so I could clean up.

Doesn't seem to have any lesions, or isn't furry. Just doesn't look well or behave the same.

Should I run out and get some stress coat?

Sorry to meet y'all this way. I really Nemo. Can anyone advise please.

wyndwose in Canada

 

[Lithril]

Fishbowls often cause problems for people. You're going to need to get some test kits and check out your water parameters. I wouldn't worry TOO much about pH at the moment, but you definately need to know Ammonia and Nitrite readings.

Do you have any form of aeration in there??

Did you replace the gravel or just add some more to the tank?

 

[wyndawose]

Lithril, thand you so much for replying!

Answers: No aeroation. Gravel only two weeks old, but since I rinsed it out in tap water, is that the problem? Also, I cured the water (for the first time) in a big Metal pot that would hold 2 gals.

Before I bought this big two gal bowl (I wanted Nemo to stretch his

Legs

, I have him in a 3/4 gal (are you ready for this?) glass salad bowl.

Again, thanks for taking the time. Do you think Stress Coat would help? I don't want to go to the fish store for advice, because they seem to have a bad rep on this site. The local store is a big one, dealing with fish only. It's like a public aquarium.

 

[rsz]

dont know if this has anything to do with your bettas not feeling too good, but i dont think it's a good idea to use metal to hold water etc

 

[Lithril]

It doesn't hurt to see what the LFS has to say just don't take everything as fact - I find its best to get as much information as you can and then decide which route to follow. I'm taking it that the 2 gal bowl is a round one that you can't get a small filter for???

Aeration IMO is always a good idea unless you've got a lot of live plants in there, its only a few pounds for a air pump.

I've not kept bettas before so others will advice you more. If you're changing the water really frequently IE every couple of days you may get away without dechlorinating the water as you never have time to let the ammonia build up, personally I'd always treat it, that way you let the bacteria build up in the gravel (and filter if you have one), this will help the water quality although without a filter you're still going to need to be doing really frequent changes.

Do you have any ideas what the ammonia and nitrite levels are?

Edit: Not sure about stress coat as I've never used, try to keep the chemicals I use to a minimum

 

[wyndawose]

Thanks again,

Round bowl, but I will head over to the Local and check things out, and will definitely get a test kit for levels.

 

[wyndawose]

NEMO'S GONE

You gave me such good advice. I took a water sample to the LFC for analysis. It was a high PH problem. I had noticed before I left that NEMO seemed a little fuzzy. Took down all particulars to show to store staff, and got a real good fish guy.

Bought some stuff for the PH and some sea salt to help Nemo's other problem, but by the time I got home, he was gone I treated the water anyways to see if he would revive, but there's no spark left.

I'm devasted. What should I do? Do you guys practice "burial at sea"?

Don't know whether or not to try again. I think I'll just clean up the bowl etc. and put it away for a while.

I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to help. My kudos for the set up of this site, it works beautifully, and I apologize if I made procedural mistakes in my haste to get to you.

Thanks again

wyndawose in Canada

 

[Lithril]

No problems, if you want my advise its put the bowl away for and emergency such as a hospital tank and get a normal small tank that you can fit a filter heater etc onto and try again, it doesn't sound like pH unless it was very high as most fish can be adaptable to this, sounds more like nitrite poisoning, you said you didn't change the water for 2weeks???

If you need any more help just yell.

Take care and sorry for the loss

Matt

 

[wyndawose]

Thanks Matt,

It was close to two weeks, whereas with the smaller bowl, I would change on a weekly basis.

If I feel like going at this again, I will look into a tank with trimmings. thanks again,

Lynda

 

[Lithril]

No problems I started up the hardway with my 10 gal tank, recently got a 30 gal and started it off by fishless cycling and used all the info I could find on this site and touch wood (my head) its working a treat, don't give up it'll work out for you

 

[FishHeads]

NEMO'S GONE

You gave me such good advice. I took a water sample to the LFC for analysis. It was a high PH problem. I had noticed before I left that NEMO seemed a little fuzzy. Took down all particulars to show to store staff, and got a real good fish guy.

Bought some stuff for the PH and some sea salt to help Nemo's other problem, but by the time I got home, he was gone I treated the water anyways to see if he would revive, but there's no spark left.

I'm devasted. What should I do? Do you guys practice "burial at sea"?

Don't know whether or not to try again. I think I'll just clean up the bowl etc. and put it away for a while.

I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to help. My kudos for the set up of this site, it works beautifully, and I apologize if I made procedural mistakes in my haste to get to you.

Thanks again

wyndawose in Canada

Poor Nemo! It must be aweful. I have a red Beta named Firefly and it would devestate me if I lost him. He's such a dweeb....swimming and flaring at everything, even my finger! My advise, get a rectangular 2.5 or 1.5 gallon tank (normally they come with dividers so you can have up to three Betas in one tank) and use small, dark rocks or marbles (marbles or glass stones preferable because they do not get as dirty and are MUCH easier to maintain.) A rectangular tank will have a much larger surface area for aeriation.

I wish you the best of luck!

Shanno (a.k.a Shannon...Funny story...)

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Wyndawose. I'm so sorry to learn about Nemo.

Those of us who keep fish as pets understand how you must feel. Losing a special fish is not unlike losing a dog or cat.

We feel like we are to blame when things go wrong. Often that's not the case at all. You did the very best you could with the knowledge you had and you gave him much love. No fish would ask for more.

You know more now, thanks to Nemo, but if you give up, all is for naught. Just think of all the lovely bettas, presently living in pet shop jars, who could benefit from your care and love.

I really hope you will reconsider and get yourself another fish. Besides, we will miss you, too, here on the forum!

 

[Lithril]

Well said inchworm, its a fairly demanding hobby but so worth in the long run, stick with us wyndawose and try again, you'll do better next time I can almost guarantee it

Matt

 

[wyndawose]

Merci toute la gang!

You've given me a boost. I will probably shop for my tank next week, and then look for one of those little guys in pet shop bowls. I will read up on PH and Nitrate.

Never thought about using marbles, and somewhere else someone mentioned using tweezers to feed their fish!

I will cruise the site this week to see how you are doing, and will let you know when my gestation period ends (getting new betta)!

See U soon

ww

 

[Inchworm]

I'm so glad to learn you haven't given up. wyndawose.

If there is anything we can do to help you, just ask. Those of us who post on this forum just love to help people who want to learn to keep fish. Ask any question and there is surely someone who has the answer.