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4 Posts
Hi all,
This is my first post! I am sorry that I have to ask for your help before I have ever contributed, but I am worried about my betta, Red.
I got him about two months ago. He was in a one gallon tank until about a week ago when I got him into his permanent home, a 2.5 gallon tank.
Ever since I got him, he has had trouble swallowing pellets. I tried soaking them, and that seemed to help, but some days he would either get a pellet "stuck" in the front of his mouth, or gulp repeatedly then let the pellet slip back out. He doesn't seem to dislike the food, he always goes back to it, and often will eat another pellet if I drop it in. I have found that he has trouble if I over-soak the pellet, but just a bit of softening seems to work.
Today he couldn't get a single pellet down! I know a healthy betta can go a few days without food, so I am not immediately worried, but I don't want this problem to get worse.
Thanks for any advice you can give me! I know I can try worms, but I don't know if I want to feed him those everyday, and he really should be able to eat pellets!
Housing:
How many gallons is your tank? 2.5
Does it have a filter? No
Does it have a heater? Yes
What temperature is your tank? About 75
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? No
Does your Betta have tank mates? What kind? No
Food:
What food brand do you use? Elive Betta bites
Do you feed flakes or pellets? Pellets
Freeze-dried? no
How often do you feed your Betta? How much? Three pellets every morning
Maintenance:
Before your Betta became ill how often did you perform a water change? In his previous small tank, 2x a week 50%. In the new tank, I plan on once a week 50%
What percentage of water did you change? See above
Do you vacuum the substrate or just dip out water? a plunger-style vacuum
What additives do you use? elive betta water conditioner, with bottled spring water (I use the same water, different conditioner for my last betta, for years, so I don't think that should be a problem)
Water Parameters:
What are your water parameters? Please give exact numbers. If tested by pet store please get exact numbers. "Fine" or "Safe" won't help us help you.
Ammonia: I don't have the numbers right now. Everything was safe when I set up the tank last week. I will test when I get home tonight after work and report back if I haven't gotten any suggestions that work.
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness (GH):
Alkalinity (KH):
Symptoms and Treatment:
When did you first notice the symptoms? Since I got him
How has your Betta’s appearance changed? No
How has your Betta’s behavior changed? No
Is your Betta still eating? Not as of this morning
Have you started treating your Betta? If so, how? No
Does your Betta have any history of being ill? No
How long have you owned your Betta? Was he or she a rescue? about 2 months.
PLEASE PROVIDE CLEAR PHOTOS--I will take a photo tonight if none of your suggestions work. He looks OK to me, and he is my second betta, so I would know if something was majorly wrong.
NOTE: EMBED YOUR PHOTOS INSTEAD OF LINKING. Click on "Go Advanced" and then on the paper clip in the toolbar.
-Thanks!
This is my first post! I am sorry that I have to ask for your help before I have ever contributed, but I am worried about my betta, Red.
I got him about two months ago. He was in a one gallon tank until about a week ago when I got him into his permanent home, a 2.5 gallon tank.
Ever since I got him, he has had trouble swallowing pellets. I tried soaking them, and that seemed to help, but some days he would either get a pellet "stuck" in the front of his mouth, or gulp repeatedly then let the pellet slip back out. He doesn't seem to dislike the food, he always goes back to it, and often will eat another pellet if I drop it in. I have found that he has trouble if I over-soak the pellet, but just a bit of softening seems to work.
Today he couldn't get a single pellet down! I know a healthy betta can go a few days without food, so I am not immediately worried, but I don't want this problem to get worse.
Thanks for any advice you can give me! I know I can try worms, but I don't know if I want to feed him those everyday, and he really should be able to eat pellets!
Housing:
How many gallons is your tank? 2.5
Does it have a filter? No
Does it have a heater? Yes
What temperature is your tank? About 75
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? No
Does your Betta have tank mates? What kind? No
Food:
What food brand do you use? Elive Betta bites
Do you feed flakes or pellets? Pellets
Freeze-dried? no
How often do you feed your Betta? How much? Three pellets every morning
Maintenance:
Before your Betta became ill how often did you perform a water change? In his previous small tank, 2x a week 50%. In the new tank, I plan on once a week 50%
What percentage of water did you change? See above
Do you vacuum the substrate or just dip out water? a plunger-style vacuum
What additives do you use? elive betta water conditioner, with bottled spring water (I use the same water, different conditioner for my last betta, for years, so I don't think that should be a problem)
Water Parameters:
What are your water parameters? Please give exact numbers. If tested by pet store please get exact numbers. "Fine" or "Safe" won't help us help you.
Ammonia: I don't have the numbers right now. Everything was safe when I set up the tank last week. I will test when I get home tonight after work and report back if I haven't gotten any suggestions that work.
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness (GH):
Alkalinity (KH):
Symptoms and Treatment:
When did you first notice the symptoms? Since I got him
How has your Betta’s appearance changed? No
How has your Betta’s behavior changed? No
Is your Betta still eating? Not as of this morning
Have you started treating your Betta? If so, how? No
Does your Betta have any history of being ill? No
How long have you owned your Betta? Was he or she a rescue? about 2 months.
PLEASE PROVIDE CLEAR PHOTOS--I will take a photo tonight if none of your suggestions work. He looks OK to me, and he is my second betta, so I would know if something was majorly wrong.
NOTE: EMBED YOUR PHOTOS INSTEAD OF LINKING. Click on "Go Advanced" and then on the paper clip in the toolbar.
-Thanks!