[clerbird321]

Hey all,

So recently, like just today and yesterday recently, I’ve noticed my betta swimming around a lot less and sticking around one spot in his tank, between his floating log and a rock decoration. I’ll attach a pic below. I changed his water last Saturday, so it’s been a week, and I’m about to change his water again. I just checked his water parameters, and everything is in a good range except for it seems like his pH may be a little low, like in the 6.5 range, and his KH may be a little low, like in the 40-60 range. He’s still eating but other than that he just kinda hangs out in one spot most of the day which I’ve never really seen him do. Not even just there, he will float around at the top of the tank in other spots too, but it’s mostly been there it seems like. I’m worried about him😔 I use API stress coat and Seachem Prime, and I’m about to go out and get him some aquarium salt to try. Any thoughts? Maybe he’s just getting older? We got him September 2020 so that’s very possible. My boyfriend is worried about him “trying to find a spot to die” and it’s stressing me out😅 Also I know he looks kinda rough, he nips at his fins and he has black coloring on him due to age I believe. I take the best possible care of him! Please help!

 

[Feanor]

Hi!
Sorry you are worried about your Betta.
Would you mind filling out the form although you‘ve given some important information already? Just to make sure we don‘t miss anything.

BF Diseases & Emergencies Form

 

[clerbird321]

Hi!
Sorry you are worried about your Betta.
Would you mind filling out the form although you‘ve given some important information already? Just to make sure we don‘t miss anything.

BF Diseases & Emergencies Form

Yes of course, give me just a bit to do that!!

 

[clerbird321]

Hi!
Sorry you are worried about your Betta.
Would you mind filling out the form although you‘ve given some important information already? Just to make sure we don‘t miss anything.

BF Diseases & Emergencies Form

Housing:
How many gallons is your tank? 5.5
Does it have a filter? Yes
Does it have a heater? Yes
What temperature is your tank? Ranges from 77-79°F
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? Imagitarium betta pellets and freeze dried bloodworms and mysis sometimes
Do you feed flakes or pellets? Pellets
Freeze-dried? Yes, see above
How often do you feed your Betta? How much? Twice a day, 3 pellets. Used to be 4, changed that a week or two ago

Maintenance:
Before your Betta became ill how often did you perform a water change? Once a week
What percentage of water did you change? 50%
What is the source of your water? Tap
Do you vacuum the substrate or just dip out water? Vacuum
What additives do you use other than conditioner? API stress coat
What brand of conditioner? Seachem Prime

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. Important: Test your water before the regular water change; not after one.

I USE API 5 IN 1 TEST STRIPS AND TETRA EASY STRIPS FOR AMMONIA

Ammonia: looks like 0ppm
Nitrite: looks like 0ppm
Nitrate: looks like 0ppm
pH: Looks to be around 6.5, kinda low according to my test strip chart
Hardness (GH): looks like around the 60-120ppm range
Alkalinity (KH): looks to be around the 40-80ppm range, kinda low according to my test strip chart

Symptoms and Treatment:
When did you first notice the symptoms? Just a day or two ago
How has your Betta’s appearance changed? He has been changing ever since we got him, getting more black coloring which I was told was due to age, he also has tattered fins due to what I was told is nipping
How has your Betta’s behavior changed? He is sitting in one spot floating at the top of the tank most of the day, nestled between his floating log and a rock decoration, pics above. He will still move around but has been sticking around there a lot, which he has never done before
Is your Betta still eating? Yes
Have you started treating your Betta? If so, how? I am trying to purchase some aquarium salt but can’t find it, should get it tomorrow. Then I will use that. He also has an Indian almond leaf in his tank all the time
Does your Betta have any history of being ill? No I don’t believe so
How long have you owned your Betta? Since September 2020
Was he or she ill or suffering some sort of damage when purchased? No I don’t believe so

 

[Feanor]

You are really giving him such good care and I can‘t think of anything specific to add or alter.

Could be worth a try exchanging 1 feeding for frozen Bloodworms as they are really nutritious and might serve as a little extra energy kick (easiest to be fed with tweezers).

You could also try a supplement like Vitachem for fish and see if he improves.

His black spots are nothing to worry about and your maintenance and IAL prevented his bitten tail from any infectionSo fine so far.

Leads me to conclude that unless he‘s showing any specific symptoms his slowing down might be age related.

 

[clerbird321]

You are really giving him such good care and I can‘t think of anything specific to add or alter.

Could be worth a try exchanging 1 feeding for frozen Bloodworms as they are really nutritious and might serve as a little extra energy kick (easiest to be fed with tweezers).

You could also try a supplement like Vitachem for fish and see if he improves.

His black spots are nothing to worry about and your maintenance and IAL prevented his bitten tail from any infectionSo fine so far.

Leads me to conclude that unless he‘s showing any specific symptoms his slowing down might be age related.

Okay I can do that! I used to give him frozen bloodworms often but we ran out, I will for sure get him some more and do that as a meal replacement. How many do you recommend feeding?

okay, I’ll see if I can find Vitachem near me. Is API BettaFix worth a buy or not? Just curious, I’ve never seen anything about it. I know aquarium salt is so i will do that as well as trying to find Vitachem.

Thank you so much. I had a feeling it was because he’s getting older but just wasn’t sure. I will come back here if I have any more questions.

 

[clerbird321]

You are really giving him such good care and I can‘t think of anything specific to add or alter.

Could be worth a try exchanging 1 feeding for frozen Bloodworms as they are really nutritious and might serve as a little extra energy kick (easiest to be fed with tweezers).

You could also try a supplement like Vitachem for fish and see if he improves.

His black spots are nothing to worry about and your maintenance and IAL prevented his bitten tail from any infectionSo fine so far.

Leads me to conclude that unless he‘s showing any specific symptoms his slowing down might be age related.

This stuff?