Please help! I think he is dieing...

[jvis]

Please help!

I never had a fish before. I don't quite know how to care for it. I got this one as a gift. It was ok for a few weeks, but then the color of his skin got somewhat grey and he was not moving as much as before and practically stoped eating. Today I found black spots at the end of the tail. It looks like it rottens. Please advise what can be done to save him.

Here is a link to a photo: https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=450da...0C%21112&sff=1

[mursey]

I don't know what the black spots are but people here will ask you to fill out a form. I don't remember where it is but let me look for it . .. Do you change the water often and know about ammonia, water conditioners, temperature, etc? In other words has anyone told you the very basics about betta care yet?

Edit
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I'm still looking but here is the page about basic care in the meantime:
http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=49160

[aokashi]

http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=49233

The form is in the link above, please fill out as much as you can.

do you know how to perform water changes? it is most likely that one is due.
temperature is often a beginner problem too. with the onset of the colder season, bettas become more susceptible to disease.

When you do a water change (change all the water), first take the fish out in a container with a lid.
make sure the water you are changing in is the same temperature as the one going out.

additionally slowly reintroduce your fish into the new water by adding a little of the water at a time. Then reintroduce the fish into his tank.

[mursey]

Housing
What size is your tank?
What temperature is your tank?
Does your tank have a filter?
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration?
Is your tank heated?
What tank mates does your betta fish live with?

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish?
How often do you feed your betta fish?

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change?
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change?
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change?

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

Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness:
Alkalinity:

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed?
How has your betta fish's behavior changed?
When did you start noticing the symptoms?
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how?
Does your fish have any history of being ill?
How old is your fish (approximately)?

[jvis]

Housing
What size is your tank? 1 galon
What temperature is your tank? room temperature
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? Aqueon Betta Food
How often do you feed your betta fish? Used to be twice 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? 75%
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Top Fin Betta Water Conditioner

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters? No

Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness:
Alkalinity:

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? The color changed from green to somewhat grey.The ends of the tail became black.
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? Much less movement. Does not eat.
When did you start noticing the symptoms? Two weeks ago.
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? No, did not treat.
Does your fish have any history of being ill? Probably not
How old is your fish (approximately)? Don't know

[aokashi]

"room temperature" is fairly generic :/ you will need a heater for your betta.
I would recommend a 25w adjustable heater.

For his current situation you need to do a complete water change. which means taking the fish out in a temporary container. (with a lid or some kind of cover!) then dumping all the water.
wash everything with hot water.
add new water (this water should be the same temperature as that of the old
place fish back in.

now you just did a 100% water change. in addition to that everyweek, you also need to do a 50% water change half week.
Otherwise your betta will be swimming in accumulated toxins and fall prone to disease again.

The black tail is fin rot, clean warm water should cure it.

Here is a shopping list for you :)

Highly highly recommended items:
Thermometer
Adjustable 25w submersible heater
stresscoat/prime water conditioner (prime is better)
aquarium salt

Recommended items:
turkey baster (to take out uneaten food)
airline (to siphon)
1gallon bottles (to make water changes easier)
frozen blood worms ( for variation in diet)
freeze dried blood worms (if you cant purchase the above)

[Alcemistnv]

In the picture, correct me if I'm wrong, but his fins look like they're suffering from either fin rot or melt.

[Silverfang]

the black is fin rot. Clean water is what you need. In order to heal him up you need to do daily 100% water changes as Aokashi said. I highly recommend getting a container you can premix treatment water in. Many people use well rinsed (in hot hot water) milk jugs. I'd suggest you use aquarium salt. Start at 1 tsp/gal dosage.