[emilyghetto]

I have had my betta for almost 2 weeks. I did not get this guy myself, he was a "gift" so I'm trying to learn quickly (my first betta or fish for that matter). He came in a vase with bamboo. I have moved him to a 5gal tank with a filter and heater. I also have given him moss balls and anubus plants. He is fed mostly pellets but sometimes frozen bloodworms. The tank has been reading 79 degrees. I also have been testing the water every other day and things are not perfect but are pretty close to normal. SO... yeaterday i saw 2 pinhead size "cotton puff" things on the tip of his fin (he is a CT) and while i was watching one fell off and floated for a while before it went to the filter. Today the other "cotton puff" is still there (so I don't think it's an air bubble) plus another one. I think it might be ich. SOOOO my question is can I treat for ich just in case or will this hurt my boy? What should I buy or what is the best treatment for ich? On a side note I have become very smitten with this little guy and want to take as best care with him as I am able.

 

[Hadoken Kitty]

I would not treat for Ich quite yet. First you will want to put him in a hospital tank, preferably one gallon as this will be easier to do daily cleanings (and to measure medicine). Use 1 tsp (teaspoon) of aquarium salt per one gallon of water. Do a 100% water change (in this tank) once a day, starting today. When you add the salt, your fish should be in a container like a cup or something until the salt is dissolved. Then you can acclimate him back. You acclimate a fish by floating their cup in the tank for fifteen minutes and adding spoonfuls of water occasionally over fifteen minutes. Then you try to get your fish into the tank without putting much of the old tank water in as possible.

Please fill out the most amount of information as possible, and upload a pic if able:

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)?

 

[emilyghetto]

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:0.25
Nitrite:0
Nitrate:10-20
pH:7.2
Hardness:N/A
Alkalinity: N/A

Symptoms and Treatment no treatment, tiny, tiny cotton puffs
How has your betta fish's appearance changed?no, other than the puffs
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? no
When did you start noticing the symptoms? yesterday 2-20-13
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? no
Does your fish have any history of being ill? no, not in the 2 weeks i've had him
How old is your fish (approximately)? ?????? he was a "gift" from the flower shop

 

[emilyghetto]

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? have only done so once.
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? 25-3%
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? just a dechlor

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?

 

[callistra]

weekly 50% water change is needed with siphon. However, during cycling you should be testing for ammonia and nitrite daily and doing an extra 50% change any time you see either show up. http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=47838

Right now I can see you need an extra 50% change.

Fuzzy is columnaris or fungus. Can you share photos? You probably need an antibiotic like Kanaplex or Triple Sulfa.

 

[emilyghetto]

how do i keep a hospital tank warm ? r we talking a 1 gal kriter keeper? filter?

 

[emilyghetto]

I'm trying for pics. THIS IS HARD!!!!!

 

[Hadoken Kitty]

You don't need a filter. Just do the water changes. I use pre-set heaters, but if you can find an adjustable one that is small enough to fit in a one gallon, that is even better.

 

[emilyghetto]

Hi everyone. Thanks for all your help and advise last week. Scallywag (he finally got a name!!!) seems to be doing very well. I finally got some pictures and posted them under my albums. Ican,t figure out how to post them anywhere else. If there are any suggestions please give them, as I said earlier this is my first fish.