I've had Murphy for 7 months now and a few weeks ago he didn't want to eat and wasn't very active. He stopped blowing bubble nests as well (he used to do that all the time). He's always hungry again and is active, but still doesn't blow bubbles nests. I noticed a bit of a white film on him a while ago and it hasn't grown but I'm a bit worried that it's a fungus or infection. He hasn't been rubbing up against anything in his tank and it's not velvet. I'm also not sure if he has fin rot; the edges of his fins seem a little more tattered than normal. He's never been one for flaring though so I can't tell for sure if it is fin rot. His fins seem a little clumped but that might just be the way he holds them.
If you could answer these, it would help... 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?
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)?
Housing
What size is your tank? 1 gal
What temperature is your tank? 78F
Does your tank have a filter? No
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? Freeze-dried bloodworms
How often do you feed your betta fish? Once 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? 100%
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Water conditioner
Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?
Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? White-ish coat
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? Was sluggish and didn't want to eat, seems back to normal now
When did you start noticing the symptoms? Two weeks ago maybe?
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? Don't know how
Does your fish have any history of being ill? No
How old is your fish (approximately)? Got him 8 months ago
Housing
What size is your tank? 1 gal
This is the very minimum size, at least 2.5 is best.
What temperature is your tank? 78F
Does your tank have a filter? No
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? Freeze-dried bloodworms
Freeze dried foods are a weekly treat only. A healthy pellet is best as it contains all the nutrients a betta needs.
How often do you feed your betta fish? Once a day
I would do two small meals 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? 100%
In such a small tank, 100% water changes are required at least every other day. Ammonia can build up to toxic levels fast.
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Water conditioner
Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?
Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? White-ish coat
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? Was sluggish and didn't want to eat, seems back to normal now
When did you start noticing the symptoms? Two weeks ago maybe?
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? Don't know how
Does your fish have any history of being ill? No
How old is your fish (approximately)? Got him 8 months ago
I suggest increasing the water changes. Also, do you know for sure that the tank is at 78? Or does the heater just say it will go to 78? The only way to know the temp is with a thermometer.
Turtle10:
I'm currently working on getting a 5 gal tank (I'm moving this weekend so I decided to wait until after the move in order to limit the amount of stuff that can potentially be lost/broken)
The food might be part of the issue, I think Murphy stopped blowing bubbles about the same time I switched over to bloodworms... I'll switch him back and see what happens.
I do have a thermometer in the tank.
Okay, then it is definitely at 78 :). Some people just get the heaters and expect them to work perfectly and then don't make sure of the temp with a thermometer.
A varied diet is best, because just like humans, fish can't live on one ingredient alone.
I would definitely wait until after the move, I am in the process right now and boy it is MESSY, not to mention I have no idea where anything is right now lol.
I think it is just his coat becoming dull and losing color. Also, he has very bad fin rot. It looks like all of his fins are deteriorating, as well as clamping up.
I would do a ten day aquarium salt treatment, with 100% daily water changes, warm water, and one teaspoon of aquarium salt per gallon.
I'm not sure about "very bad" fin rot. He's actually blue (there's a red tint to the picture, sorry) so the edges of his fins I think look worse than they are. They're definitely clamping up. I'll try the aquarium salt as soon as I can, thanks for the advice.
Check out the eBook Betta Fish Care Made Easy
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