Very Sick Betta Fish

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Very Sick Betta Fish

by Ann

May 18, 2007

/blockquote>

I will try to make this story as short as I possibly can.
We got a Red male betta, we call him Sparky, in February.
He was in a tiny tank and so we opted to purchase a 5
gallon for him a month ago to keep him happy. We did not
know about the nitrogen cycle at the time. He seemed sick
after the 1st week or 2 so in the 5 gallon tank, so I took
him out and put him in his tiny tank, cleaned out the 5
gallon tank and then put him back in the 5 gallon tank with
conditioners, stress coat, stress zyme, aquarium salt, and
fed him 2-3 x's a day, blood worms, and flakes.

After another week or 2 he began staying at the bottom of
the tank and rushing up for air. I bought water testing
kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph. The ammonia was
high, so I used ammolock and the ammonia level tested even
higher, the nitrite levels were in the .50-1.0 range. I
took Sparky to a local pet shop. The woman could not
understand ...See More

Comment

(4)

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Ms Kapper /blockquote>

On 5/18/07, Ann wrote:
> I will try to make this story as short as I possibly can.
> We got a Red male betta, we call him Sparky, in February.
> He was in a tiny tank and so we opted to purchase a 5
> gallon for him a month ago to keep him happy. We did not
> know about the nitrogen cycle at t...See More

May 19, 2007

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AIMEE /blockquote>

Hi Ann,

It stresses them when they move into a new tank or bowl. You'd think they'd
love all the space (and they will), but meanwhile, the moves are hard on them.
They're not the heartiest of fish. A larger 5 gallon tank is a little more difficult
to get started (once ammonia levels rise, esp.). I recom...See More

May 23, 2007

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Miss_Ellie /blockquote>

i would have to say that if there no improvement in the
betta's health with the current medication, clean out the
tank, give him fresh water and a little salt... but leave it
at that. two days later if tehre isn't much improvement try
the other meds... just remember, sometimes fisg get sick and
in an att...See More

Feb 25, 2008

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doreen Hope betta is still alive. You are feeding your fish too often! A betta should eat about 4-5 pellets a day ONCE a day. Your ammonia levels are too high because of excess food and fish waste. Try scaling back on the food and you'll be fine.

On 2/25/08, Miss_Ellie wrote: > i would have to say that if there no improvement in the > bett...See MoreHope betta is still alive. You are feeding your fish too often! A betta should eat about 4-5 pellets a day ONCE a day. Your ammonia levels are too high because of excess food and fish waste. Try scaling back on the food and you'll be fine.

On 2/25/08, Miss_Ellie wrote: > i would have to say that if there no improvement in the > betta's health with the current medication, clean out the > tank, give him fresh water and a little salt... but leave it > at that. two days later if tehre isn't much improvement try > the other meds... just remember, sometimes fisg get sick and > in an attempt to help them, their owners tend > to "overmedicate" them and then they get even more sick and > sometimes they get depressed. slow down on the water changes > as this may overstress the poor guy and give him time to heal. > just don't overmedicate your fish... sometimes all they really > need are stress free time in a clean bowl with some salt. I > hope that your fish ends up ok. > > > > > > > > > > > > On 5/19/07, Ms Kapper wrote: >> On 5/18/07, Ann wrote: >>> I will try to make this story as short as I possibly can. >>> We got a Red male betta, we call him Sparky, in February. >>> He was in a tiny tank and so we opted to purchase a 5 >>> gallon for him a month ago to keep him happy. We did not >>> know about the nitrogen cycle at the time. He seemed sick >>> after the 1st week or 2 so in the 5 gallon tank, so I took >>> him out and put him in his tiny tank, cleaned out the 5 >>> gallon tank and then put him back in the 5 gallon tank with >>> conditioners, stress coat, stress zyme, aquarium salt, and >>> fed him 2-3 x's a day, blood worms, and flakes. >>> >>> After another week or 2 he began staying at the bottom of >>> the tank and rushing up for air. I bought water testing >>> kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph. The ammonia was >>> high, so I used ammolock and the ammonia level tested even >>> higher, the nitrite levels were in the .50-1.0 range. I >>> took Sparky to a local pet shop. The woman could not >>> understand why the ammonia was high and at the time, >>> neither could I, so she told me to completely change all >>> the water again and to treat the water with Prime and Tetra >>> Easy Balance with Nitraban. She also said to treat the fish >>> with BettaRemedy Fix, which I did in his small tank for 7 >>> days. He was much much better and was swimming around happy >>> and content. I cleaned out the 5 gallon tank, used the >>> Prime, and Tetra Easy Balance with Nitraban and aquarium >>> salt dissolved for 5 gallons. I also put in stress coat and >>> stress zyme and PH 7.0 for ph balance. I took out the >>> Whisper filter that came with the tank and put in a new >>> AquaClear Power Filter Cycle Guard with BioMax. >>> >>> The new filter sits too high on this tank because the frame >>> is made higher than normal with a tiny cut out made to hold >>> the Whisper filter that came with the tank. So, the way the >>> water pours into the tank, even on the lowest setting, like >>> a waterfall splashing in which may have stressed out the >>> Betta. When he swam under the current it would push him >>> downward. >>> >>> Once again, the ammonia levels started going up .25 to .50, >>> so i started doing 30&37; water changes in an attempt to not >>> allow the ammonia levels to sky rocket again. They stayed >>> down at .25 to .50 daily. This went on for about 5 days and >>> also during those days the ph kept going up so I kept >>> putting in the PH 7.0 to bring it back down to normal. I >>> have always had the tank heated and have kept the temp. >>> between 76-80. I tested the water 2x's a day PH, Ammonia >>> and Nitrite. Ph and ammonia at this point would go up, but >>> the nitrite stayed down to 0. On about the 4th day of doing >>> these water changes, Sparky got sick again and became >>> listless and would not even acknowledge his food in the >>> water. He began staying at the top of the water, sort of >>> floating listlessly, and seeming not to see anything. When >>> I used to approach the tank he used to swim over to me, but >>> now, he didn't budge. I felt awful. I took him out yet >>> again and put him in his tiny tank with dissolved aquarium >>> salt, stress coat, ph 7.0 and started using the Betta >>> Remedy Fix again. I have been using the Betta Remedy Fix >>> now for 5 days and no signs of getting better. He has not >>> eaten for the past 7 days. He hides now unlike the first >>> time he was sick. He hides wherever he can, by the heater, >>> by the thermometer, under the plant. When floating at the >>> top he seems to lose balance and begins to tilt over. It >>> seems as though there is no hope at this point and we are >>> all so very upset and so heartbroken that we may lose our >>> beautiful fish. We have become so so attached to him in the >>> short time we have had him and would hate to lose him. >>> >>> I was going to use some Methylene Blue, but don't know if I >>> can use it in the same water with the Betta Remedy Fix. We >>> don't know what to do. Please help!! >> >> >> >> Google for Betta problems etc. you will link up to experts

Sep 20, 2008

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