Very Sick Betta

[valshingle]

I am new to this forum and apologize in advance if this topic has been covered previously. We've had our betta, Xavier, for almost a year in a small betta tank. With the falling temperatures I noticed that he was becoming less active. A stick-on thermometer indicated that his water was at 68 degrees. We bought him a one gallon tank with new gravel and a heater and slowly raised the water to 74. Within three days, our betta had swim bladder disease, but he was eating and fairly vigorous. After reading some of the threads, I determined that he must be constipated. I tried the pea remedy, but I never saw him eat it. I didn't offer him any other food (I use the preferred type - no blood worms). I also added Bettafix to the tank one time. After several days he was swimming fine, but within 24 hours his fins have now collapsed to points - all of his fins. He is having trouble swimming and it is an effort for him to get to the surface. We did a complete water change and added 1/2 teaspoon aquarium salt. He won't eat. I just moved him to a small cup so he can easily get to the surface for air. I'm concerned because I can't put a heater in such a small container. Is there anything we can do for him? Xavier is a great fish and always seems happy to interact with us.

 

[valshingle]

Update: I lowered the water in his tank and moved him back in, so he has a heater. I just added some Bettafix. I think I should increase the temp of his water, but don't want to add stress to him.

 

[Loops]

I am sure someone will be along shortly to give some advise. It's upsetting seeing our fish poorly.

My Betta had popeye and was really ill, didn't think he was going to make it.

I changed over half his water every day at first and then treated the water, then just waited and he got better.

You probably won't see results over night.

It probably didn't help him having no heater in his tank

I really hope he gets better for you. Do you have a photo of him?

 

[WILDER]

Bless Him.
Unstablde temp can cause swim bladder.
In cold weather if temp dropping by more than two degree's you need to turn heater up to compensate for the drop.

All you can do now is try a bacterial med.
I would add him back to his bowl but lower water level.
You will need to increase aeration with the med.

 

[valshingle]

What med do you recommend? And how should I add aeration - buy a filter or bubble wand? Sorry, this is my first betta since I was a kid. The tank is currently at 74 - should I slowly raise it to 80? At what rate? Sorry for all the questions, but I don't want to make any more mistakes.

No photos of him, I'll try later today.

 

[WILDER]

It's when the heating goes off in the home that the temp will start to drop in the cold weather.
How far does the temp drop when the heating off.

Need location for a med.
If you have a filter that should be ok. Just drop the water level so the filter hits with water harder for more aeration.

 

[valshingle]

I'm in Texas, USA. The house temp goes down to 58F at night. The house tends to be cold, not well insulated. Not much I can do about that.

I don't have a filter. He's in a 1 gallon tank with a heater, light, and gravel. I've lowered the water to about 1/3 of a gallon so he can reach the surface easier. The tank is set to 74, but I've noticed it goes down to 72 at night.

 

[WILDER]

Turn the heater up two degree's then.

You need a filter.
The best tank size for a betta is 3 to 5 gal.
You can't add the med as you need aeration as meds reduce 02 in the water.

I would go out an buy airstone with a filter sponge for the bowl.
I would get a med like maracyn plus, or maracyn one and two.
The med will knock water stats.

 

[WILDER]

This is the temp for betta.
Temperature: 75-86 F (24-30 C)

What are your water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

Swim bladder can be caused by bad water quality, unstable temp, poor diet, to many dried foods, injury, birth defect, internal parasites, bacterial infection of the swim bladder.

 

[valshingle]

How about if I go out and get him a 3-5 gallon tank, filter, med, etc? I don't mind. What recommendations do you have for filter, gravel, etc. Might as well do it right this time. Will also get a water test kit, does it matter what type? Really a newbie here. I had a ten gallon tank about 20 years ago, so am really rusty.

I just raised the temp, but will get a better heater. One that I can select the temp I want, instead of this one which I really have to monitor when changing the temp. I'll be able to set up a new tank tonight. I'm guessing I should get it set up and move him in the next morning, so new tank has a chance to settle. I'm guessing I'll still need to keep the water level low.

Xavier is hanging in there. Able to swim to surface easier, although no change in appearance of fins. What is wrong with them? All the tips are collapsed to points - like each fin ends in one long point.

Just tried to feed him, Hikari Betta Gold baby pellets, he grabbed the food and then spit it out. He nosed it a bit, but didn't try to eat it again.

 

[WILDER]

Post in the betta section about setting his new tank up.
Will get alot of good advice over there.
Never kept betta fish, so don't know a great deal about them.

Is it possilbe to load a pic up of him.
Do his fins look clumped together, or slimey.

 

[lilacamy931]

Hello
The condition of the betta may have been brought on by the cold water temps, they are better when they are heated around 25-28C 27/28 being optimum. Stable the heating conditions for him, slowly raise the temperature so not too much of a shock. Are you able to test the water, without a filter toxins in the water are likely to rise quicker than without a cycled filter and perhaps there is something in the water that is not helping?

I would suggest:
3-5g tank (plastic is good!)
Small 25w heater
Filter (mini elite is good)
Gravel or sand
Live plants/Silk plants (plastic can tear their fins)

Try this, the bigger tank dimensions will also help to ease some of the toxins (the larger the water space, the better the parameters and time to catch any problems).

how is he doing now, is he eating? new bettas can tend to sulk, try live bloodworm and also soaking his food in garlic juice, this is meant to tempt them. have you any pics at all?
Hope this helps!

 

[valshingle]

Xavier is still slowly improving. No photos yet as the computer seems to have gotten 'sick' at the same time. Based on the photos on this forum's other threads, I think his fins are clamped, not fin rot. Temp is currently at 25C/77F - I'm going up about a degree a day. I'm still adding aquarium salt as this seemed to help. I did almost complete water change tonight. I'm new at water testing; here are the results - pH 8.3, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Ammonia 1.0 .

Xavier is eating now and I see some improvement in is pectoral fins.

 

[lilacamy931]

Glad he is improving, with your water tests you are aiming at Ammonia and NirtrItes being 0 and Nitrates being low 5 - 20 . When there are ammonia and nitrites in the water it has a ill effect on the fish and ammonia especially can burn and damage their gills and insides. I would work and test constantly to get this ammonia down to 0 as 1.0 is pretty strong and most defiantely being the cause.