I got this fella at Walmart. He was smaller than the others and has never blown a bubble, much less a bubble nest. I thought he was just young. His tail fin started out a bit raggedy, but not too bad. I just figured that he was picked on a bit. I test the water with Quick Dip test strips and everything comes out within the normal/ideal parameters except that we have hard water.
His tail fin looked worse as he lost the tissue between the 'veins' and went from having 1/2 to having 1/3 of his tail left. I started treating with Melafix, salt and changed out the gravel to more rounded pebbles. Over the last couple days, he has been looking lethargic.
Today, he has turned brownish/grey. Tonight I had a night light on and looked thru his dark tank with the nightlight in the background (checking on him). His body seems....translucent except for in the head area and a small spot by the tail. He used to be a solid dark red and I doubt a person could have seen the light thru his body. I think he is on his way out.
Btw, he is in a 1.66 gal. hex tank with a light, hood, rectangular green filter with carbon and a fake plant. He has never been willing to eat blood worms, but does eat the standard betta food in a can. No spots, fungus, etc. No inflamed tail, no rapid breathing, nothing.
I guess I want to know if anyone has a miracle remedy. Also, is the hard water the cause? If he dies, what do I do with my tank to make it ready for whatever may go in there? I don't want to pass anything on to a new fish.
His tail fin looked worse as he lost the tissue between the 'veins' and went from having 1/2 to having 1/3 of his tail left. I started treating with Melafix, salt and changed out the gravel to more rounded pebbles. Over the last couple days, he has been looking lethargic.
Today, he has turned brownish/grey. Tonight I had a night light on and looked thru his dark tank with the nightlight in the background (checking on him). His body seems....translucent except for in the head area and a small spot by the tail. He used to be a solid dark red and I doubt a person could have seen the light thru his body. I think he is on his way out.
Btw, he is in a 1.66 gal. hex tank with a light, hood, rectangular green filter with carbon and a fake plant. He has never been willing to eat blood worms, but does eat the standard betta food in a can. No spots, fungus, etc. No inflamed tail, no rapid breathing, nothing.
I guess I want to know if anyone has a miracle remedy. Also, is the hard water the cause? If he dies, what do I do with my tank to make it ready for whatever may go in there? I don't want to pass anything on to a new fish.
