2 days ago I came home to find my Betta, Minerva, stuck on the filter intake. We moved him to a smaller bowl without a filter, since he seemed weak and we didn't want the filter to be a problem again. Ever since he has been lying on the bottom of the bowl breathing in a labored way. I have read through the list of illnesses and none of them seem to be an obvious diagnosis. Here is my checklist:
Housing
What size is your tank? 5 gal
What temperature is your tank? 80 deg
Does your tank have a filter? yes
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? I think the filter does that – it is a running filter
Is your tank heated? Have a heater - don’t need it in summer in Texas!
What tank mates does your betta fish live with? 2 tetras
Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish? pellets
How often do you feed your betta fish? twice daily
Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? once every month water change, thorough cleaning once every 3 months
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? at least 50%
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Set the water out overnight or add top-fin water conditioner
Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?
Ammonia: probably zero – very slightly greener than zero but definitely less than .25
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 10 ppm
pH: 8.2
Hardness:
Alkalinity:
Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? My betta is red with white tips on the fins and face – they seem the same.
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? Lays on bottom and labors at breathing
When did you start noticing the symptoms? 2 days ago got caught in filter intake – most likely was sick and didn’t have the strength to swim away.
Have you started treating your fish? Sort of
If so, how? Isolated while I cleaned and tested tank
Does your fish have any history of being ill? no
How old is your fish (approximately)? not sure, I've had him for 12 months and he was full grown when I got him from the pet store
Housing
What size is your tank? 5 gal
What temperature is your tank? 80 deg
Does your tank have a filter? yes
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? I think the filter does that – it is a running filter
Is your tank heated? Have a heater - don’t need it in summer in Texas!
What tank mates does your betta fish live with? 2 tetras
Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish? pellets
How often do you feed your betta fish? twice daily
Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? once every month water change, thorough cleaning once every 3 months
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? at least 50%
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Set the water out overnight or add top-fin water conditioner
Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?
Ammonia: probably zero – very slightly greener than zero but definitely less than .25
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 10 ppm
pH: 8.2
Hardness:
Alkalinity:
Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? My betta is red with white tips on the fins and face – they seem the same.
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? Lays on bottom and labors at breathing
When did you start noticing the symptoms? 2 days ago got caught in filter intake – most likely was sick and didn’t have the strength to swim away.
Have you started treating your fish? Sort of
If so, how? Isolated while I cleaned and tested tank
Does your fish have any history of being ill? no
How old is your fish (approximately)? not sure, I've had him for 12 months and he was full grown when I got him from the pet store