Something is Wrong with My Betta!!

[goldenpuon]

I have a female betta that is about 15 months old right now. (She was from my first betta spawn). A couple months ago, I isolated her from my other female bettas because when she swam, she was tilted sideways and her gill cover was sticking out. Then when I tried to giv her a MB bath, she went into shock.

She whas spent the last few months recovering and hs been eating well. her gill cover also seems to have healed mostly.

But yesterday, I noticed a lot of uneaten food in her 1 gallon conatiner with fuzzy stuff on it. Apparently, she had not been eating the past few days and I hadn't noticed. I did a complete water change for her. At the time, she was hiding in the plants and was going to the top for air a lot.

Tonight, she is still hiding and goes to the top even more when she comes out. She also seems a little "off balance" and has a tiny bump on her side (not sure if that's anything) I wouldn't think it is ammonia/nitrite poisoning since I just changed all of her water yesterday. I am concerned a contributing factor to this may be the temperature. It is 67-68 F every day now in her container now that it is almost winter. My other bettas are fine but I put a heater in 1 of my female betta tanks just in case and will be bleaching another before I put it in with some more of my bettas.

Unfortunately, I don't have a heater to use for her in her size container. I will be saving up for a reptile infared lamp for her and my male bettas. My other bettas seem to be fine at 67-68 but I think it would be better for them warmer.

But in the mean time, something seems very wrong with her with her symtoms. Any idea what it is?

[kagome]

Renee I don't know about the symptoms, but as far as keeping her warmer is it possible for you to put her container on top the refrigerator? It's much warmer up there, that's where I put bread to rise when I'm making fresh bread. That should keep her at a much better temperature than 67.

I hope she turns out to be OK. Bettas are awfully tough so hopefully it will turn out for the good.

[cashay]

The fridge is a good idea, on top that is, heat rises, I always thought betta liked between 76-86?? that's what I use to keep mine at, until I killed him, lol that sounds terrible, it wasnt the heat that killed him though... Even one of the little heaters I got the hydron heater, very small Carl recommended it to me, and works good. i think in pet smart it was like 8 dollars maybe cheaper....but it is small and raises the temp just a couple of degree's... BUT if you have more then one, well that wouldn't do much good.... to many to buy... hmmmm

[Penycat]

Renee, one thing I do since I've got so many betta containers all over the place (I know you do to) is I went out and bought one of the rubber maid under the bed type storage containers. Then I put as many of my betta containers in there. Then fill the rubbermaid container half way with water and lay one regular sized submersable (sp) heater in that water and turn it up on high. I keep a thermonitor thingy in one of the tanks to keep and eye on the temp, but it keeps them all warm that way. The only thing I have to remember is to top off the rubbermaid container so that the heater doesn't go out of water. otherwise it's helped me big time as my problem is running out of plug in space for all the heaters and stuff for each betta...lol

I so hope your little girl will be okay! Do you have any of the almond leaves or the betta spa which I think is the same thing but in liquid form? That might help her too. anytime any of mine are "off" I drop in a leaf and let the water go nice and brown, seems to help a lot most of the time.

Good luck my friend!

[cashay]

Then I put as many of my betta containers in there. Then fill the rubbermaid container half way with water and lay one regular sized submersable (sp) heater in that water and turn it up on high.


Awesome Idea!!!!!

[Carl]

As already noted, heat is a major aspect of her recovery.
One more possible solution is a desk lamp with a Reptile Infrared bulb, see this article: Aquarium Heaters.

I know the bath seemed to cause stress the last time, however I would strongly suggest a salt and MB bath.

Also water parameters are and issues, especially since you had some rotting food in the tank. It is important that you have adequate minerals such as Calcium for good osmoregulation.
You might consider a dose of ParaGuard or Herbal Ich Attack since both work for fungus/saprolegnia as well (my suggestion would be to try the Herbal Remedy first).

Penycat made a good suggestion (besides the use of a heated "tray" of water, which a distributer I know use this method) , is the use of Almond Leaves to add helful tannins AND less refined Almond Leaves can also restrict the growth of Aeromonas bacteria in a tank. Although I prefer Bio Lif over Atison’s SPA (less refined)

Carl

[Suzie Q (Lori)]

Renee...that is way to cold for a Betta...although a breeder in FL left his week old fry outside and it got down to 40* and they all lived...I keep mine between 78*-86*. These fish come from a warm (well their ancestors did) climate.

As far as her issues...sorry can't help. I usually add Jungle Parasite Rid and an anitbiotic to the tank and that usually clears things up for me.

[goldenpuon]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Sorry for keeping her at too cold a temerpature. My people have told me that was fine and some didn't. Now I know better. I have always kept my bettas at that temperature in winter. Maybe that is why they never bred well.

Penycat, that is also a very good idea. I hope I could see my fish through it. I will try to get one instead of a reptile lamp. Then I will be able to heat many more of the containers and do so evenly. The number one thing though is that they're at the right temperature.

Unfortunately, I don't have almond leaves... I will give her the herbal attack and try the most minute amount of MB in a bath for her. I hope she doesn't go into shock this time.... Now all Ineed to save up for is another heater since IO'm getting one ready for some of my female bettas today and a huge plastic container.

[goldenpuon]

I gave her a MB and epsom salt bath this afternoon for about 20 minutes. I didn't see much improvement but I'll see if she improves with time. i'm giving her baths once a day. I'm also treating her with Herbal Ich Attack.

I saw soemthing that looked like a flake on her skin. Her mother, Melonga, had similar symtoms before she died, with many white flake like thing son her skin but the difference is that her mother seemed to have dropsy and wasn't going to the top constantly. Again, it's just one flake so I'll have to wait and see. I will be looking into some almond leaves but rigth now, my number 1 priority is a heater and a large plastic bin as Penycat suggested. Also, a sponge filter so I can have a male guppy tank...

Any suggestions in th meantime are appreciated. Thanks everyone for your advice and support!

[Suzie Q (Lori)]

Nov 17, 2008 16:37:34 GMT -5 goldenpuon said:

Thanks for the replies guys.

Sorry for keeping her at too cold a temerpature. My people have told me that was fine and some didn't. Now I know better. I have always kept my bettas at that temperature in winter. Maybe that is why they never bred well.

Sweety please don't take that as me getting on to you...it was not meant to come across like that.

An occasional drop in temperature is not going to hurt them (like an over night drop in temp) but if they are cold all the time, they get lethargic. In the winter, the water in the tanks average about 78* (unless I am using an adjustable heater). My betta are always active.

I hope your girl gets better soon.

Lori

[goldenpuon]

Thanks Suzie.

I bleached a heater (it was in a tank with fuzzy stuff that needs to be emptied from long ago) and will be putting it in with my female second container of girl bettas to bring the temperature up for them. That should help them a bit. (This is a 4 gallon container , not the one with the sick betta. The heater would be too big to fit into her container)

As for the boys and the the female I have now that is having problems, I have to save up for a long container, and put some water in it, and the betta containers, and a heater (I need any additonal one for this). But I was wondering, if I filled up say, a 30 by 12 conatiner wth water and about 7 gallon betta containers, would all the containers be heated evenly? The reason I ask is some containers would be closer to the heater than others and I'm afraid they would block out some fo the heat for the bettas father away. I think this was Penycat's suggestion, but I just want to make sure that I interpreted what she said correctly.

At the moment, all but one of my bettas are healthy and active despite the temperature. I will try to save up for what I need for them as fast as possible. I'm glad I'm going to be heating them. That sway they can have better lives and live longer.

Thanks for the help. I'm going to try to make my fish's lives as good as possible!

[Carl]

But I was wondering, if I filled up say, a 30 by 12 conatiner wth water and about 7 gallon betta containers, would all the containers be heated evenly? The reason I ask is some containers would be closer to the heater than others and I'm afraid they would block out some fo the heat for the bettas father away. I think this was Penycat's suggestion, but I just want to make sure that I interpreted what she said correctly.

This can vary, with warmer temperature closer to the heater (depending on how many Betta containers are in the warm water container).
You could center the heater or add a small pump for circulation such as a Via Aqua 80 (which only cost about $6) to circulate the water for better heat distribution.

Carl

[goldenpuon]

Thanks for the reply.

I do have some spare bubblers and tubing so that will work. Unfortuantely, I am in debt with my fish right now. I still owe my mom for the two Ich medications I bought from you. Nonetheless, I will try to get what I need as soon as I can. None of the fish are doing porrly besides that female so they should be ok for the time until I can get the heater and container.

Renee

[Crazy4Fish]

The Temp is to low for a betta as they are tropical and need to be at 76-86.
also a 1 gallon is way to small even for a betta, the minumum is 5 gallons for a fully grown betta.
You will proberly find that she will recover once the temp has warmed up.
My female betta is in a 15 gallon with guppies, minnows, corydoras etc... and when I came down one morning nothing was moveing propperly! I checked the temp and I was 18 degrees!
When I turned It up to 24 they all started to recover, I was so releved!

[goldenpuon]

Thanks Crazy4Fish. I agree that the area I have them in is too small. But I was breeding bettas and with lack of room like other breeders, I have been keeping them in 1 gallons. Some breeders actually keep them in a 1/2 gallon but I think that is inhumane. Now that I have discontinued breeding them (due to realizing what is best for the fish), I am working on improving their conditions. Unfortunately, my family does not have a lot of money but I am doing my best. I am current;y saving up for a hater and container to heat them as Penycat suggested. Thanks so much for your concern. I love my fishies. I wish I could give each of my bettas a 20 gallon each. I am also working on selling 5 of my females right now.

On a positive note, the female has made a great recovery. Whenever I give her food, she looks around for more like the rest of my healthy bettas do. She also isn't near the top anymore and is swimming around normally.

Thanks for the help Crazy4Fish!