Betta Fish Forum banner

How Could I Have Let This Happen?

1K views 10 replies 5 participants last post by  Vizja13 
#1 ·
A couple of days ago my dad and I went to Petsmart to get some Driftwood and I wanted some fake plants for my ten gallon. I got this really pretty bunch of plants for 10$. They were silk, but at the time I didn't notice how spiky the tips were. I put it in Charlie's tank and he instantly loved it! However, when I came back from the dentist, I noticed he was all curled up in the plant, but he didn't seem as enthusiastic/curious. He swam up to me quite hesitantly. I looked at his tail and there's a big rip in the middle, about halfway through. He also had some ragged tips and he seemed in pain): I feel like a bad fish mom! Worse part is, I don't have any aquarium salt and no spare Hospitals for him! My dad or brother won't drive me to Petsmart because "Its a stupid fish Hannah, get over it!", and my sister sides with them :evil: I'm so sad/enraged, I don't know what to do:-(
 
#2 ·
I'm sorry about your baby. I read somewhere about using a 2 liter soda bottle with the top cut off, the person was using them as temp homes for rescues. If you have one laying around that you could wash out with hot water and cut the top (proabably want to try smoothing out the cut edge some) then you can at least have him somehwere that the water would be easier to change daily. Then hopefuly one of the people in your house will stop being a butt and take you to get the salts in the next day or two.
 
#3 ·
I'm begging my brothers friend, as currently my family is being a butt): My brother when he saw it said "OH MY GOD grow up he's a man.". I tried to take Charlie out of his 10G, and Lulu out of her 1.5G, and then swap their tanks, but Lulu is way too aggresive with the platy): And I'm afraid the tetras and platy will nip Charlie's tail even worse; maybe I'm being paranoid, but I want my Charlie to be okay):
 
#5 ·
Actually yea, should I relocate him to there? I need I'm gonna be criticized, but whatever): Do you think I can put a heater in there without it melting?
 
#6 ·
I'm not sure about putting a heater in there, I wouldn't try it. If you can find a container that isn't too big you could float him in his tank to keep his water warmer. You may need to rig something to keep the container steady if the dimentions are a lot different then the top of his tank. If you get any looks or critisism from your family, ask them how they would like it if they had a rip in their skin and were told they should ust deal with it. I mean come on, an injury is an injury.
 
#7 ·
Thanks, CoverMeInClay. I feel a lot better about this situation, a lot less of a bad fish mom. I was thinking about using his petco cup to treat him in, but I just found this 2 gallon tupperware that used to house my old air pumps. Do you think a reptile light would heat it well (I used to be into geckos)? My dad has tried to tell me repeatedly that I only need to change the water every 3 weeks o.o I swear its like living with some ignorant Petsmart employees.... And plus, he has a 70G with cichlids, and even though their tough fish, I feel like their miserable): anyways, back onto the subject, do you think he'll be fine without salts for now?
 
#8 ·
He'll be ok without the salt for a little while. Just fresh water daily should be enough. I don't know about the light. If you have an extra thermometer you could put in there and you can monitor it, it may be worth a try, but it could get too warm on just the surface and not really permeate all of the water. Not sure. Poor fishies. I know what you mean. I've been reading all kinds of posts and finding out proper care and I get people telling me it's silly to change the water that often, they're fine, nothing will happen to them. Bleh, some people just don't get it, even if they are animal savy otherwise. Let me know how you baby does. I by no means have all the answers, but I'm more then happy to share the little bit I have aquired.
 
#11 ·
I don't have any aquarium salt and my parents have the same attitude about fish...I have been using NON-IODIZED table salt on Jazz, who also has ripped fins, andd it's worked wonders on him. He's perked up and his fins have slowly started to grow, in three days

EDIT: another example of my parents not caring about the fish, my mom told me in response to setting up a new tank for Jazz "Just stick him in with the females"...right, because that would TOTALLY work, mom -.-
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top