Getting over Ammonia Poisoning

[Starfire1491]

Housing
What size is your tank? 4 gallon bowl
What temperature is your tank? no higher than 80F
Does your tank have a filter?no
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration?no
Is your tank heated?no
What tank mates does your betta fish live with?none

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish?3 betta pellets
How often do you feed your betta fish?once a day

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? once a week
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? 100%
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Water conditoner

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters? only the ammonia

Ammonia: High
Nitrite:na
Nitrate:na
pH:na
Hardness:na
Alkalinity: na

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? When he got sick, just the red dots.
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? Really sluggish
When did you start noticing the symptoms? A week ago
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how?Yes, changed his water a few times and moved him to a bigger bowl;
Does your fish have any history of being ill? No
How old is your fish (approximately)? No idea

I've had my crowntail betta for about 2 months now.
About a week ago I missed his bowl cleaning by two days.
I've since learned that keeping him in a bowl is a deathtrap.
He became really sluggish and had red dots along his fins and body.
I cleaned out his bowl and put him in something smaller.
He got worse.
I've changed his water at least 4 times since then and the spots are disappering.
I'm getting him a 4 gallon tank on friday with a heater and filter.
My only problem is he keeps laying on his side at the top of his bowl for long periods of time. If I lightly tap the glass he moves.
Does this mean he's dying?

[MaggieLynn]

Would it be possible to post any pictures. That doesnt sound like ammonia burns usually that is red gills

[Starfire1491]

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...1/DSCN0119.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...1/DSCN0118.jpg
Those are the best I have, but since these we taken they've pretty much gone away.

[MaggieLynn]

I am not really seeing anything not really sure what it could be as far as the dots but if he is on his sides sounds like something with his swim bladder try 1 teaspoon per gallon of epsom salt with 100% daily water changes. Is he still eating? aside from those spot has his appearance changed?

On further looking the red patches sound almost bacterial. If that is the case you should instead of the epsom use aquarium salt at 1 - 2 teaspoon per gallon, start with one. and do 100% daily water changes. If you need to use an old milk jug and premix a gallon of salt water and add it to a smaller hospital tank. usually most issues can be cured and helped with this salt treatment.

[Starfire1491]

Originally Posted by MaggieLynn

I am not really seeing anything not really sure what it could be as far as the dots but if he is on his sides sounds like something with his swim bladder try 1 teaspoon per gallon of epsom salt with 100% daily water changes. Is he still eating? aside from those spot has his appearance changed?

He's eating his usual amount.
He has a few black scales, but I figured it was his natural coloring. The red dots are going away. I'll get him some epsom salt as soon as I can.
Phleps and I thank you for your help.

[MaggieLynn]

Get aquarium salt instead. With high ammonia the aquarium salt treatment will help with inflamed gills.
1 teaspoon per gallon of aquarium salt with 100% daily water changes and every time you add new water add 1 teaspoon salt back to the water. Dont go over 10 days of treatment. hope this helps! Actually get both salts if you can, both are good to have on hand. But use the aquarium salt for treatment right now

[Starfire1491]

Originally Posted by MaggieLynn

Get aquarium salt instead. With high ammonia the aquarium salt treatment will help with inflamed gills.
1 teaspoon per gallon of aquarium salt with 100% daily water changes and every time you add new water add 1 teaspoon salt back to the water. Dont go over 10 days of treatment. hope this helps! Actually get both salts if you can, both are good to have on hand. But use the aquarium salt for treatment right now

Thanks! I'll pick some up as soon as I can. I know they're both fairly cheap, but I don't get paid until friday. Should I do partical changes until then?

[MaggieLynn]

Yea just keep making sure his water is clean and fresh until then. I know a pound of aq salt is cheap at walmart and at walgreens epsom is under $2 pretty much most issues and diseases can be treated with one of the two salts.

[Starfire1491]

Originally Posted by MaggieLynn

Yea just keep making sure his water is clean and fresh until then. I know a pound of aq salt is cheap at walmart and at walgreens epsom is under $2 pretty much most issues and diseases can be treated with one of the two salts.

Thats good to know. I'll get some tommorow. Thanks for all the help.