Verrryyy Frustrated!

[Andreeuh]

I brought home a new betta yesterday. His tank was ready 2 hours before I put him in it. He was acting pretty funny when I put him in.. This morning I woke up and he had clamped fins and is laying on the bottom of the tank. This just happened to my oldest fish Cutical.. He was completely healed from the clamped fins and then I changed his water and found him dead the next day (with clamped fins). Either something is contagious or there's something very wrong with the water.. I'm betting on the water.... I tried changing my other betta's water the same day I changed Cutical and he nearly jumped out of it... I put him in water from my 10g after that. This is very frustrating!!

Is there any other remedies to fix clamped fins other than medicine?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TammyLiz]

Clamped fins is a sign of stress. In your case, it sounds like you've figured out the stress is due to bad water quality. There is no way to medicate to fix your water quality. I mean, that would be like taking a pain killer because your house was full of smoke or something. I dunno. Stupid analogy. Anyways, have you tested your water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? Test for hardness and pH, too. I mean, your tap water. And what are you adding to your tap? Does it detoxify heavy metals? Do you have access to the water quality report for your area? You may be able to call your water company and request that information. It would be a start. In the meantime, I would suggest buying RO water from the store. Walmart in my area sells RO water for 64 cents a gallon. Some Walmarts also have an RO filter in the store and you can take in your own containers to fill them. My Walmart lets me bring in any old gallon jug and they put a sticker on it so the cashier knows I brought it in to get it filled. Its a pain in the butt, but worth it if you're going to be losing fish otherwise. I still add my chlorine remover just in case because I've heard of chlorine making it through one of those machines before (read it in the marine section, the guy ended up losing all his fish), but that would be your call. And in the mean time you can try to figure out whats wrong with your tap water.

Tammy

 

[sukie]

That would frustrate the crap out of me.

Do you have a small container you could put him in??

My suggestion is to run to the store get some spring water, treat it, disinfect the tank, put the treated spring water in and see if his temperment changes.

Hope things work out. Keep me posted!!

Clamped fins is a sign of stress. In your case, it sounds like you've figured out the stress is due to bad water quality. There is no way to medicate to fix your water quality. I mean, that would be like taking a pain killer because your house was full of smoke or something. I dunno. Stupid analogy. Anyways, have you tested your water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? Test for hardness and pH, too. I mean, your tap water. And what are you adding to your tap? Does it detoxify heavy metals? Do you have access to the water quality report for your area? You may be able to call your water company and request that information. It would be a start. In the meantime, I would suggest buying RO water from the store. Walmart in my area sells RO water for 64 cents a gallon. Some Walmarts also have an RO filter in the store and you can take in your own containers to fill them. My Walmart lets me bring in any old gallon jug and they put a sticker on it so the cashier knows I brought it in to get it filled. Its a pain in the butt, but worth it if you're going to be losing fish otherwise. I still add my chlorine remover just in case because I've heard of chlorine making it through one of those machines before (read it in the marine section, the guy ended up losing all his fish), but that would be your call. And in the mean time you can try to figure out whats wrong with your tap water.

Tammy

Hey Tammy,
I could be wrong - (but I hate it when I am ) But RO water doesn't have essentail nutrients in it and it bad for bettas if you're using 100% of it.

You could use RO water 50% and 50% of treated tap.

But if you're bettas have been using 100% RO water and is doing good. . . I'm just posting this for no reason at all.

 

[Andreeuh]

The conditioner I use says it neutralizes chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metals. I put my betta in some water from the 10g. He's not doing very good at all... I don't think he can swim to the top. I'm trying to focus on fixing the clamped fins but I don't know if I can do it fast enough. He's having a very hard time.. His water is at about 74F. I can't really raise it cause I don't have a heater. I'm not sure what else I can do.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Does your conditioner mention the time frame? Some detoxify within only 10-20 min, but others - like Amquel, can take up to 24 hours!

 

[Andreeuh]

It says works in seconds... That's why I got it, soo impatient

 

[TammyLiz]

Sukie, I didn't know RO was bad for bettas. I know it doesn't have the nutrients in it but I thought that was just something the plants needed, not fish. My bettas did fine and blew their happy bubble nests in the RO water while I was using it when I had ammonia in my tap. Maybe in the long term it wouldn't be good? I'm not sure. I do know they are fine with it temporarily.

Andrea, is the water in your 10 gallon high in nitrates? If you haven't been changing the water because of the problems with it, it probably is, and that would be stressful, expecially to an already stressed betta. Do you have a way to test these things? If he's already stressed from something in the tap, it may be worth getting some bottled water.

 

[Andreeuh]

The 10g is filtered. I have no way to test the nitrates or anything.

I have him in a fairly small container. I would get some spring water but I am without transportation. I'll have to go in a few hours. He's not even swimming at all.. just lying on the bottom. He tries to pop up every once in awhile but he never fully gets there. I wish there were a quicker way to treat the clamped fins. It's sad to think that he was happier at the pet store in that little cup.

 

[BWBettas]

Hiya, just maybe lowering the water level, this may help him as he will not have to swim up to get air...

Just an idea

Bret

 

[Andreeuh]

It's too late... I just brought him home and tortured him... very discouraging...

 

[sukie]

Get spring water and treat it like tap. . .

And see if that helps him. . . I really think it's something in the water but eh - I don't know it all

 

[Andreeuh]

RIP

 

[lisie]

Awwww... *big hugs* I understand that you feel bad, but definitely don't feel like it was your fault, because it wasn't. I hope you find the problem, it's rough when fishies die and you don't know why.

 

[Andreeuh]

Thanks a bunch I only had him over the night.. He was sooo cute. He's the second one I've lost to this. I'm definitely going to start using spring water.. I don't want to lose another one. I can't imagine why the water is so bad... I should sue the city for the loss of my two fishies!

RIP Cutical and Pinky
<3<3<3


Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[sukie]

That super sucks!!!!

I lost (2) betta to water troubles . . . (awhile ago) and it's nothing you did - so don't beat yourself up so bad.