Lost so much color.

[madmonahan]

I posted a thread before asking about my boy Romeo. He has been losing so much color. So, like everyone said, I got him a cave and don't keep the lights on so much. But truthfully, He's gotten much worse than he was. Now he has light stress stripes, and I don't know if he is tearing or biting his fins. All the plants in his tank are silk but it doesn't look to be biting.


Housing
What size is your tank? 5 gallon hexagon.
What temperature is your tank? 79F
Does your tank have a filter? Yes
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? No.
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 Pellets.
How often do you feed your betta fish?
2 pellets once a day. Ocassional frozen or freeze-dried bloodworm. Skipping one day of the week.
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? 50% with gravel vacuum.
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Top Fin, 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? Loss of color, torn fins. (Picture)
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? Nothing has changed so far.
When did you start noticing the symptoms? About a month or 2 ago.
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? No.
Does your fish have any history of being ill? None.
How old is your fish (approximately)? 7-10 months?
This is him now. :(

[eatmice2010]

I would try a 100% water change and add conditioner and something to increase his slime coat

[LebronTheBetta]

I wouldn't do a 100% change, the tank is filtered which means the BB might die off. Can you check the water parameters from the pet store? Maybe something is wrong with the tank stats. Is it cycled? I would change the Aqueon food to NLS or Golden Pearls, Aqueon isn't bad but it's not good either. If you can, add in some IAL or washed dried oak leaves for tannins. It will soothe him and provide reassurance.

[madmonahan]

Originally Posted by LebronTheBetta

I wouldn't do a 100% change, the tank is filtered which means the BB might die off. Can you check the water parameters from the pet store? Maybe something is wrong with the tank stats. Is it cycled? I would change the Aqueon food to NLS or Golden Pearls, Aqueon isn't bad but it's not good either. If you can, add in some IAL or washed dried oak leaves for tannins. It will soothe him and provide reassurance.

Okay so 100% water change.

I don't have a test kit yet..I have strips but I know they are not reliable.
Not cycled.
Our petstore doesn't sell that kind of food, but my mom is taking me to PETCO sometime this week or next to get some New Life Spectrem

Where can I get IAL? (Other than AB)

[LebronTheBetta]

I hope you saw the wouldn't. As in, would not.
I don't think you can find it anywhere else. /: eBay for a last resort answer.

[madmonahan]

Originally Posted by LebronTheBetta

I hope you saw the wouldn't. As in, would not.
I don't think you can find it anywhere else. /: eBay for a last resort answer.

????

Edit: Oohh lol I'm a little crazy today. thanks!

[LittleBlueFishlets]

Originally Posted by madmonahan

Where can I get IAL? (Other than AB)

OFL has suggested using oak leaves, when people don't have IAL. You may want to ask her how to add them to the tank.

[madmonahan]

Where can I get oak leaves?

[LittleBlueFishlets]

Um... you're in NC. There are probably oak trees all over the place. If you don't have any near your home, probably some of your neighbors have them.

Right now, the leaves are on the ground, which is fine. (You want dried leaves anyway!) Just pick up a few leaves that look good, and make sure they're clean.

Make sure you get ones that weren't treated with pesticides though.

[madmonahan]

Okay, thank you! Just making sure getting them off the ground is okay. :) I will definitely look for some tomorrow.