Help....I think I'm screwed!

[brihonyrhea]

Okay, so this is my very first betta fish. He stopped eating when the tank water got very cold. I bought a heater for the tank, but he has since gotten worse. He's very tired, and still won't eat (even though I have been giving him pellets everyday). I've noticed that his fins are also now starting to rot. It's been over a week since he last ate....is there anything to do, or am I too late?

I don't have a filter for the tank as such, but its heated at 24 degrees celsius with water conditioner. I feed him pellets, and also only give him filtered water when I change it.

[youlovegnats]

What size is your tank?
Do a 100% water change and clean everything down. I would use regular tap water and just use de-chlorinator. Filtered water lacks the nutrients a fish needs.

[brihonyrhea]

I did do a full water change and cleaned everything out a couple of days ago. My fishbowl size is a standard round bowl. About 5 litres?

But thanks for the advice!

[SillyCone]

Fill this form the most you can:

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)?

[brihonyrhea]

Housing
What size is your tank? About 5 Litres
What temperature is your tank? 24 Degrees Celsius
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? Pellets
How often do you feed your betta fish? Twice Daily

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 a full water change every month
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Water conditioner (stress coat and stress zyme)

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? Colour faded, tail looks like it is rotting
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? He is tired, keeps trying to run to the surface for air. Won't eat
When did you start noticing the symptoms? This week
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? No
Does your fish have any history of being ill? No
How old is your fish (approximately)? Unsure. Have had him for 3 months

[SillyCone]

ok it's possible he is suffering from ammonia poisoning, for a 5L tank you need daily or at the very least every other day 100% water change.

I suggest you to do 100% daily water change for the next 10 days.

Later on someone will suggest and give you the recommendations for the salt treatment, because I don't know how to do that.

For the fin-rot problem, take a photo for us of him so we can check if it's fin rot.

But please, 100% daily water change, do one now.

[youlovegnats]

In a bowl that small, you need to be doing 100% DAILY changes. 5 liters is about 1 gallon....
I would also raise the temp. to 80-ish and do salt baths.

[brihonyrhea]

okay. thanks heaps!

[youlovegnats]

the salt treatment is 1tbsp per 5 gal...so about a tsp in a 1 gal bowl. Do DAILY water changes and add the tsp of salt each time for about a week to 10 days. Then do another water change (100%) and don't add salt this time.

[brihonyrhea]

I'm not sure how to do a salt bath, though?