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I don't know what is wrong with my Betta

491 Views 7 Replies 2 Participants Last post by  Oldfishlady, 
K
So I've had this betta boy for over a year now. Since October of 2010. I am not sure of how old he was before I got him, though. He's only been sick once before (cloudy eyes, which occurred over 4 months ago), but for the past week and a half, he hasn't eaten, and the tips of his gills and a small portion underneath them have turned white. He's very lethargic as well. But the rest of his color is just fine. I've looked all over trying to find what is wrong with him, but nothing is coming up.
He's in a 2 1/2 gallon tank with a filter, no heating (however, my room stays a steady 78-80)
I have another betta with the same living conditions but is in a one gallon, and is perfectly healthy. I can't imagine what it is that has happened to my little boy Blue.
Please help me, I would be absolutely devastated if I lost him. I've already lost two bettas to disease (one of dropsy, the other of swim bladder, both dying after transferring to a hospital tank), and would hate to lose the one I love most.
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O
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Sorry to hear you Betta is not well....we need more info and a pic....if you will copy/paste/complete this and add to this thread it will help us help you better.....

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)?

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Like I said, 2 1/2 gallon tank, 79 degrees, it has a filter, no air stone, the tank is not heated, and he has his own tank.
He eats dried blood worms once a day
I do a full water change once every 2 weeks, and add conditioner before I put him in,
pH is 7.4
Ammonia and Nitrate are 0
Nitrite, hardness and alkalinity are unknown
The only physical difference is the white on his gills. He has become very lethargic and has stopped eating (he goes up to it, but doesn't eat it). I noticed just about a week and a half ago, and as I mentioned, he has only been ill once with cloudy eyes. I have started medicating him with Betta Revive since yesterday (he has been moved to a half gallon hospital tank), and again as I mentioned, I have no idea of how old he was when I got him. At the very least, he is a year and 4 months.
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K
I also for the life of me couldn't get him to sit still (of course, the one time he needs to)
Also, the light spots on his tail fin have been there since I've had him. They're just a shiny blue.

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O
Sounds like he is suffering from long term water quality issues and poor nutrition......
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K
Meant to say Nitrate was 30
Sorry!
And my other betta is doing just fine. same conditions but smaller tank. so I dont get why he's not sick
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K
That also doesn't explain what the white is.
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O
The nitrate at 30ppm is too high and usually a sign of poor kept tanks and/or filters.

Since other factors can be at play in regards to Betta health-like genetics, age, tolerance, general health...etc.....comparing one to the other is not the best way to diagnose.....

With high nitrate long term can compromise the fish immune response-I would slowly get this decrease by making small percent water changes daily and get this in the 10ppm area-Once you get the nitrate at 10ppm-get on a regular schedule of twice weekly 50% in a 2.5gal filtered tank....1-50% water only and 1-50% to include the substrate by vacuum or stir and dip method to maintain water quality-unless you have live plants.

Filter media needs a swish/rinse in the bucket of old tank water with a water change a couple of times a month to maintain good water flow.

Nutrition-good quality varied diet fed in small frequent meals....
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