He doesn't look good. They were going to flush him because they didn't want to have to deal with a dead fish. Flushing didn't sound like a very humane way to die so I convinced them to let me bring him home to try to keep him comfortable. Kind of like fish hospice care. I don't know if he an be nursed back to health of not. I don't know much about fish so I need your help.
I don't know how old he is. He was originally bought to be a centerpiece for a table at a banquet. After the banquet nobody knew what to do with all the fish. 5 of them were given to the Parent and Child Center (it is kind like a youth center but for babies through preschool kids) because they thought the kids would enjoy watching them. 2 of them died right away and 2 died a few months later. This guy has been at the center for close to a year.
He is in a bowl. Maybe 1.5 or 2 gallons. His bowl has glass stones (they look like flat marbles) on the bottom and a little ceramic decoration. He has no heater, no aeration or filtration, no tank mates. They were using tap water and changing it once a month or less often. The food they gave me with him is Wardley Essentials Betta Food. They were feeding him once a day when they remembered him but he has been known to go a week without food. The heat in the building he was in has gone out a few times. I am in North Dakota so I know it got way too cold for him.
He is not pretty like he once was. his face is gray instead of the dark blue it used to be. He just lays on the bottom of the tank. He has been like this probably 3 or 4 months but the last week he has been very lethargic. He had a growth of some sort on his face. They have been adding something called Wardley's Ick Away to his water and it seems to have helped with the growth but he he has been moving less and less.
I don't know if after being neglected and not cared for properly for so long he has much home but please tell me what I need to do for him. Obviously I need to get him a heater. How big of a tank should he have? Is it okay to use tap water? Is there a certain type of treatment or conditioner I need to put in his water? Is the type of food he has okay? Would he be happier with more decorations in his tank? Are fake plants safe or will they shred his fins and tail? Since he no longer has the growth I don't think I should put the Ick Away in his water anymore. Can I put a filter and airs tone in his tank?
I really have no clue what I am doing! HELP!
I don't know how old he is. He was originally bought to be a centerpiece for a table at a banquet. After the banquet nobody knew what to do with all the fish. 5 of them were given to the Parent and Child Center (it is kind like a youth center but for babies through preschool kids) because they thought the kids would enjoy watching them. 2 of them died right away and 2 died a few months later. This guy has been at the center for close to a year.
He is in a bowl. Maybe 1.5 or 2 gallons. His bowl has glass stones (they look like flat marbles) on the bottom and a little ceramic decoration. He has no heater, no aeration or filtration, no tank mates. They were using tap water and changing it once a month or less often. The food they gave me with him is Wardley Essentials Betta Food. They were feeding him once a day when they remembered him but he has been known to go a week without food. The heat in the building he was in has gone out a few times. I am in North Dakota so I know it got way too cold for him.
He is not pretty like he once was. his face is gray instead of the dark blue it used to be. He just lays on the bottom of the tank. He has been like this probably 3 or 4 months but the last week he has been very lethargic. He had a growth of some sort on his face. They have been adding something called Wardley's Ick Away to his water and it seems to have helped with the growth but he he has been moving less and less.
I don't know if after being neglected and not cared for properly for so long he has much home but please tell me what I need to do for him. Obviously I need to get him a heater. How big of a tank should he have? Is it okay to use tap water? Is there a certain type of treatment or conditioner I need to put in his water? Is the type of food he has okay? Would he be happier with more decorations in his tank? Are fake plants safe or will they shred his fins and tail? Since he no longer has the growth I don't think I should put the Ick Away in his water anymore. Can I put a filter and airs tone in his tank?
I really have no clue what I am doing! HELP!