[suomynonakun]

My betta fish has been acting a bit lethargic lately. I thought it was just his personality (in the six months I've owned him, he'll often hang out very still at the bottom of the tank, to the point where I start to wonder if he's even alive, but then he'll start swimming all over). I noticed today that his fins are looking a bit frayed. He's started resting on one of his plants near the top of the tank, which is new behavior, and if I get close to the side to examine him him, he'll quickly swim away, but he'll keep coming back to the same corner and just sit there unmoving.

The tank is small, about 1 gal, and it has a filter. I put some plants in there that he's always seemed to love, but I'm not sure if that's what's causing the fins to fray? So far this morning he's been ignoring food, which he never does. I do fairly regular water changes (probably about once a week). I had just done a water change on Friday, and by Tuesday the tank was halfway empty. I realized there's a leak in the tank, so I added more water yesterday, and I was planning to switch him into a new tank today, but now I'm worried I might stress him out if there's something wrong with him.

I'd appreciate any advice.

Also, I turned off the filter in case it was the current that was bothering him, though that's never seemed to bother him before.

 

[Oldfishlady]

Sorry your Betta isn't well.....

What is the water temp, are the plants live plants, if so what species are they, when you added the water did you use the proper amount of dechloranator and correct water temp.....

You say weekly water changes....how much...

In a 1gal filtered tank-I recommend twice weekly 50% water changes...1-50% water only and 1-50% to include the substrate to maintain water quality......

Right now I would recommend 50% water changes every day for a few days and see if that will perk him up-
Dose the dechlorinator for the full volume of the tank and try to keep the replacement water within a few degrees of the tank water to prevent any sudden temp changes.
Hold food for 2 days-then offer small amounts of good quality varied diet.

I would keep the filter off for now and once he perks back up-get him moved to his new tank-be sure and properly acclimate him to the new water chemistry by adding small amount of the new dechlorinated tank water to him in his holding container over 15-20 min-then net and release into his new tank....

Keep us posted.....

 

[suomynonakun]

Thanks for the response!

The plants are plastic plants. I change probably 25% of the water on a weekly basis, so I'll try upping that to 50%. I do use dechlorinator, but I think if anything I might use a bit too much - could that be a problem, or would that not make a difference?

I don't have a heater and he's seemed to be okay, but could that be why he's always been a little lethargic?

For his fins - I have Melafix at home that I use on my other fish, do you think that might help with the fraying?

 

[Oldfishlady]

You really need to get a thermometer so that you can monitor the water temp-its important to maintain a somewhat stable temp in the 76-80F range since this is a tropical fish-you also need to monitor the water temp of the replacement water used for water changes to avoid any sudden extreme temp changes that can be stressful on the Betta.

You may or may not need a heater, however, its a good idea to have one on hand-proper water temp is really important for tropical fish.

Fin issues can be caused by the filter/water movement itself-then along with poor water quality from limited water changes, possible too cool temps- this can compromise immune response and then nutrition being all important as well....Also, plastic plants can sometimes be the cause of the tattered fins.

I would swap the plastic plants for either silk or real plants, remove the filter and increase water changes to twice weekly-1-50% water only and 1-100%, get a thermometer to monitor temp and heater if needed to maintain the stable water temp.

Prevention with proper care and nutrition will go along ways for the longevity of your Betta....

Nutrition-good quality varied diet fed in small frequent meals and if you have access to mosquito larva-offer several rinse for one meal a day to boost protein intake.....

Healing and re-growth of the fins can take weeks to months based on genetic, age, overall health, severity of damage, water quality, temp and nutrition.....
First you have to find the cause and remove it, provide proper conditions, good nutrition- to support the immune response so that the fish can help itself....then time and Patience......

Good luck....

 

[suomynonakun]

I went out an got a thermometer - looks like the water is at around 73 degrees, so I think I'll see about getting a heater to help get it up where it should be.

I also picked up Bettafix while I was out, just in case, but I wanted to be sure it was a good idea to put in before I did - I don't want to medicate him if it's not necessary. I also don't know if I should be using it without the filter in - could that cause any problems?

I'll try warming up the tank, taking out the plants and doing the waterchanges. Hopefully it'll help.

 

[ZackyBear]

I've read a lot of horror stories about Bettafix...

 

[suomynonakun]

So I've done the water changes and withheld food for two days, but as of this morning he's still not eating. He swims around a little more, but he still spends most of his time just resting. I'm going to change his tank today.

I think his fins are looking a little worse - is there a chance that this is an infection or something? It's so hard to tell if anything's changed with him because he's almost entirely black, so if something's changing color wise I'm not really able to see it.

 

[Oldfishlady]

Have you got the water temp up......you have to have patience too- healing won't happen over night or with a couple of extra water changes.....once he start to feel better he will start to eat.....but your going to have to maintain water quality and provide proper temp...

Good luck....

 

[suomynonakun]

So I put in the heater and he definitely seems a bit happier. He's still a little lethargic, but not as bad as before. He actually ate this morning, which was a relief. He's got new silk plants which will hopefully be gentler on his fins.

I just had a question about the filter. I've left it out for the last several days, but I'm wondering when I should plan to put it back?

 

[Oldfishlady]

Filters are optional for this species and IMO/E filters in 1gal tanks can sometimes cause fin issues....personally I would leave it out and just make the proper water changes.....In 1gal the only change with or without a filter is the 100% water change...still needs at least twice weekly......

With filter...twice weekly 50%
Without a filter-twice weekly....1-50% and 1-100%.....

If you opt to add it back I would wait a week at least-then be sure and give it a good cleaning before you re-start it.....

 

[suomynonakun]

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll wait a week and try adding it back - only because I keep him at work, and I'm just not really equipped to do a 100% water change. I'll keep an eye on his fins and if the filter seems to make it worse, I'll just have to figure out how to do 100% changes.

 

[suomynonakun]

Okay so, I'm still a little worried. He's eating a bit more, but he's still wicked lethargic. Right now he spends most of his time in the corner by the heater. One time he came out and swam by and I thought I saw something weird on him, I had to use a flashlight to get a better view because he's SO black. He MIGHT have a bit of a swollen belly - it's so hard to tell. Here's my biggest concern. He's always had a bit of a reddish/green tint to his scales if you get a light on him, but when I was looking at him today it seems like there might be a lot more red now, could it be Velvet?

Would it hurt to treat him for it if he doesn't have it? I don't want to do something unnecessary but I don't want to just let him be sick if I could help prevent it.