Let me begin by confessing that I have been a horrible fish-parent. I bought into the hype that betta were low-maintenance fish for pretty bowls and hospital plants.
Over the last 7 months I have acquired a total of 4. 2 large males (1 Crowntail, 1 Veil tail) and 2 smaller mails (1 delta tail and one half-moon tail). Up until a few weeks ago, they were all in smaller containers. The big guys in the 1 gallon bowls and the little guys in the half gallon bowls.
Everyone was happy and healthy when they were in a high-traffic area with company and light and warmth from the kitchen. We had guests with small children so we placed their containers up and away from small hands. My crowntail is a fussy moody fella and he really liked this set up and he - for once - has been consistently pleased to be away from the action. So I decided to keep them in their new spot. Water changes happened every two weeks and everyone seemed okay until the last change. In the light of my kitchen I could see that my two little guys were developing fin rot and showing signs of darkening.
My veil tail, my favorite - I call him my "puppy" fish - his gills had metallic coloring that has has advanced all the way down his back since I began treating him 10 days ago with betta fix.
I'd dealt with Ich before and this is definately different. I visited a specialist store and got something that the owner recommended I try first. It worked great on the little guys. Their coloring (one bright solid yellow one bright solid orange) has returned and their tail tips appear to be healing (they have gone from ragged to "tipped" almost like a scab but not nasty-looking - they are playing and busy again).
Not so much for the other fellow. I go back and forth between hope and dispair with him. He'll flutter about a bit and then he will hide for hours. He is still covered in grey. So yesterday I did a half-water change and introduced a bit of aquarisol on the recommendation of a betta fancier.
So I guess what I want to know is - is there a turn-around point for velvet? Is there a point at which recovery becomes an impossibility?
At the moment - his tank is 70 degrees (I have a small heater en route) he has 2.5 gallons a filter, a thermometer, I have monitored his water with the liquid PH/Ammonia tests and that is fine. Aside from that - I don't know what more I can do.
Thoughts?? I'm so sorry that this is so long. I just want to make certain I give as much information as possible.
Thanks, Paige
Over the last 7 months I have acquired a total of 4. 2 large males (1 Crowntail, 1 Veil tail) and 2 smaller mails (1 delta tail and one half-moon tail). Up until a few weeks ago, they were all in smaller containers. The big guys in the 1 gallon bowls and the little guys in the half gallon bowls.
Everyone was happy and healthy when they were in a high-traffic area with company and light and warmth from the kitchen. We had guests with small children so we placed their containers up and away from small hands. My crowntail is a fussy moody fella and he really liked this set up and he - for once - has been consistently pleased to be away from the action. So I decided to keep them in their new spot. Water changes happened every two weeks and everyone seemed okay until the last change. In the light of my kitchen I could see that my two little guys were developing fin rot and showing signs of darkening.
My veil tail, my favorite - I call him my "puppy" fish - his gills had metallic coloring that has has advanced all the way down his back since I began treating him 10 days ago with betta fix.
I'd dealt with Ich before and this is definately different. I visited a specialist store and got something that the owner recommended I try first. It worked great on the little guys. Their coloring (one bright solid yellow one bright solid orange) has returned and their tail tips appear to be healing (they have gone from ragged to "tipped" almost like a scab but not nasty-looking - they are playing and busy again).
Not so much for the other fellow. I go back and forth between hope and dispair with him. He'll flutter about a bit and then he will hide for hours. He is still covered in grey. So yesterday I did a half-water change and introduced a bit of aquarisol on the recommendation of a betta fancier.
So I guess what I want to know is - is there a turn-around point for velvet? Is there a point at which recovery becomes an impossibility?
At the moment - his tank is 70 degrees (I have a small heater en route) he has 2.5 gallons a filter, a thermometer, I have monitored his water with the liquid PH/Ammonia tests and that is fine. Aside from that - I don't know what more I can do.
Thoughts?? I'm so sorry that this is so long. I just want to make certain I give as much information as possible.
Thanks, Paige