PLEASE help! Fish sick!

[Sadie555]

Housing
What size is your tank? 3 gal
What temperature is your tank? between 78 and 84 F
Does your tank have a filter? yes
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? yes
Is your tank heated? yes
What tank mates does your betta fish live with? none

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish? Aqueon betta food pellets
How often do you feed your betta fish? 2 in am 3 in pm

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? weekly
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? Seachem Prime

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

Ammonia: 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: at least 10 ppm
pH: Between 7.4 and 8
Hardness: n/a
Alkalinity: n/a

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? dark red spot on head
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? not swimming as much, hangs out around the bottom, STOPPED EATING (was ALWAYS excited about food), seems to be "breathing" hard
When did you start noticing the symptoms? last week for the red spot, this morning for the swimming, breathing and eating issue
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? Don't know how, just keeping the light off for now, trying not to stress her out much.
Does your fish have any history of being ill? only due to stress...no issues lately except for the red spot on her head. It was there when I got her, but not as dark.
How old is your fish (approximately)? 7 or 8 weeks since I've gotten her


I'm not going to be home much for the weekend either. I'm so afraid to leave her alone! I'm afraid she could have Nitrate poisoning. Or something else is wrong...but I don't know.

[registereduser]

Ammonia should be 0 so I think a water change is in order NOW. Also if your tank is filtered I don't think you need the bubbler, they like a quiet water surface.

Let us know how it goes!

The red spot is probably just a red spot, normal coloring.

[ChoclateBetta]

Salt baths help or Indian Almond leaves help scales
Or it could be stress. To much ammonia.

[aokashi]

you should:
1 - do a 100% Water change.
2 - Dissolve 3tsp Aquarium Salt in the new water. Allow salt to fully dissolve.
3 - Reacclimatize fish to water.
4 - Aeration is not neccessary. A filter is an adequet oxygenator

[lelei]

Either use filter or Air stone, but in a 3 gal it's not a good idea for both...In my 2- 5 gals I have filters, and in my 3's I have air stones..can you post a pic of the fishy with the red spot?

[Sadie555]

I have added about 3/8 teaspon (1/4 + 1/8) of Melafix, which was recommended for possible bacteria infection by someone at the store. (The directions told me to use 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons, so I had to adjust it a bit) Lights are off, filter cartridge has been removed and filter turned off. I don't want to stress her out ANY MORE by doing a water change. I'm nervous because I have pet-sitting overnight through this weekend starting tonight. I will only be able to see her a few hours a day.

She either hangs out at the very top or at the very bottom for long periods of time, not moving otherwise. (She's "breathing" really heavy.)

You can actually just barely see the red spot in my profile picture. It's just gotten slightly bigger and darker red.

[lelei]

Ugg, not Melafix, I hear that could make things worse, a lot of people say it hurts breathing organ..could be the reason she is strugglig with breathing, lower the water level, to make easier for her to reach surface..

[Sadie555]

Oh NO! I feel AWFUL. :( And I JUST got back from the store, and I didn't pick up the aquarium salt. ARGH! OK, I'll lower the water level right now. She does seem to have perked up since I've added the Melafix though.

[lelei]

Ok, stop using the Melafix..give her clean water only..no treatment, for a few days, then start using the AQ salt..she will detoxify the fix..with warm clean water..

[Sadie555]

Okay, I had JUST put in the Melafix literally like, 10 minutes ago. I dropped the water level now. Should I completely change her water NOW, adding the Seachem Prime? Or should I wait? Should I just ADD water w/ Seachem prime to the existing remaining tank water (with the Melafix still in it)?

Sorry, as you can see in my Sig, I have Aspergers. This makes it so I need REALLY precise, clear instructions on EXACTLY what to do and how to do it. Think baby steps and cut them in half.