We got 2 bettas a few weeks ago (in two separate tanks) for my two daughters. We had been treating both tanks the same (clean schedule etc). Abby's fish looks good. Amanda's fish was never as active/interactive as Abby's fish and then started to lose its color. The water was cloudy so we thought it hadn't cycled yet. Then I noticed what I thought was fungus on both of their heads. I started a treatment. Abby's fish continued to be happy. Amanda's fish became more active/interactive and regained his color.
Then I did a 20% water change and added more anti-fungal. I might have gotten too much in there. Because the next day Amanda's fish is staying at the top of the tank struggling to breath. I have been doing water 25% water changes for 2 days which has decreased the amount of anti-fungal in the water quite a bit (based on the blue color). I also wonder if the stuff on their faces is fungus...it seems to have gotten a little better but hasn't gone away completely after a week.
I did some water tests today. The water is really hard (425ppm)...only our hot water is softened. Our cold tap water is also above 425ppm. The pH is high (8.4) as is the total aklalinity. Nitrites and Nitrates seems to be ok but the test was hard to read. Ammonia was high (1ppm). And the water temperature is probably too hot (84...our programable thermostat for the house goes to 82 when we aren't home but rarely gets that hot, plus the tank has a light).
Since Abby's fish is ok, I am trying to figure out what the issue is.
My thought is that the medicine has probably caused the problem (Abby's fish got medicine but not as much) since it happened with the addition of more medicine. Or the water is too hot (although Abby's should be similar although I haven't checked). Or the conditions are off (although shouldn't have changed drastically in a day).
So the quesion is if the medicine burned him, how long to recover? Or how should we proceed to correct the tank? Thanks!
Then I did a 20% water change and added more anti-fungal. I might have gotten too much in there. Because the next day Amanda's fish is staying at the top of the tank struggling to breath. I have been doing water 25% water changes for 2 days which has decreased the amount of anti-fungal in the water quite a bit (based on the blue color). I also wonder if the stuff on their faces is fungus...it seems to have gotten a little better but hasn't gone away completely after a week.
I did some water tests today. The water is really hard (425ppm)...only our hot water is softened. Our cold tap water is also above 425ppm. The pH is high (8.4) as is the total aklalinity. Nitrites and Nitrates seems to be ok but the test was hard to read. Ammonia was high (1ppm). And the water temperature is probably too hot (84...our programable thermostat for the house goes to 82 when we aren't home but rarely gets that hot, plus the tank has a light).
Since Abby's fish is ok, I am trying to figure out what the issue is.
My thought is that the medicine has probably caused the problem (Abby's fish got medicine but not as much) since it happened with the addition of more medicine. Or the water is too hot (although Abby's should be similar although I haven't checked). Or the conditions are off (although shouldn't have changed drastically in a day).
So the quesion is if the medicine burned him, how long to recover? Or how should we proceed to correct the tank? Thanks!