here He goes again

[cashay]

Cash has done nothing but lay on his side for two days, I don't think he has a chance this time. Im trying to get a picture of him up here. But to be honest I don't think he will make it this time. Tha last time he was sick from what ever... he would just sit at the bottom alot .. this time he is laying on his side, when I touch him he will go to the top to get air then just float back to the bottom on his side.

[Carl]

I am sorry to read this again.

How old is Cash?

I would consider some daily or bi-daily salt baths with 2 teaspoons NaCl per gallon (plain salt) and 1/4 teaspoon Epsom salt per gallon for 30 minutes.
Methylene Blue can also be added to this bath.

This may not help (I do not want to give you false hopes), but it is reasonably inert as to making things worse either.

Good luck with him.

Carl

[cashay]

hopefully this will work Im not sure how old he is. I have had him 9 months, and he was the same size in the store, so I really dont know...

[8 in the Corner]

Sept 28, 2008 16:12:05 GMT -5 cashay said:

Cash has done nothing but lay on his side for two days, I don't think he has a chance this time. I'm trying to get a picture of him up here. But to be honest I don't think he will make it this time. The last time he was sick from what ever... he would just sit at the bottom alot .. this time he is laying on his side, when I touch him he will go to the top to get air then just float back to the bottom on his side.

Not knowing anyone here well enough to know their experience, I will just suggest things as I would to a beginner. If I am suggesting things that you already know, please don't take offense, I am only trying to help.

Partial water changes for bettas in small containers are a must. You need to change at least 40% of the water every 3-4 days to keep the water quality high and the fish in good spirits. In larger containers and small tanks, once a week is good.

High quality food with high protein is a must for bettas, they are carnivores in the wild and eat insects and larvae. I feed mine BettaMin by Tetra (high protein content) and give him treats of frozen brine shrimp, frozen blood worms and tubifex worms a couple times a week.

I, personally, do not use or reccommend feeding pellets to bettas as I believe they can cause intestinal blockages and sometimes death if too many are eaten before they soften from the water. I would not feed him for a couple days, and definitely do the salt bath as Carl suggested. The epsom salts will help if he does have a blockage problem.

Bettas are tropical fish from Southeast Asia and need water temp at about 76-78 degrees. If you do have a heater, make sure it is not set too high. A filter is also something you should have for him.

There is no telling how old a betta is when he reaches the store, but they can and do live to 7 years old in a well maintained, heated and filtered aquarium.

John

[cashay]

Well Thanks for the info John, But I lost him tonight. I was doing the water changes once a week, Never fed him the betta pellets because he didn't like them. His water stayed between 76 -78 degree's all the time. I just lost a nerite snail a few days ago also Im wondering if that had any link to what happened to cash?? I dont know But I'm going to miss my little guy.. So once i morn I guess I will try again, but maybe not with a Betta this time, although... I do find them very interseting

[Carl]

Sorry that Cash died, I am sure you did the best you could.

Thanks John/8 for jumping in and trying to help as well..

Unfortunately we can all give our fish the best care we can, and sometimes this still is not enough.

Carl

[8 in the Corner]

Sept 28, 2008 18:51:05 GMT -5 cashay said:

I just lost a nerite snail a few days ago also I'm wondering if that had any link to what happened to cash?? I dont know But I'm going to miss my little guy.. So once i morn I guess I will try again, but maybe not with a Betta this time, although... I do find them very interseting

Aren't nerite snails saltwater inhabitants? Or was that in a different tank?

Bettas are great fish, I love them. I have only one right now, he is a blue crowntail with a red wash. He is beautiful, IMHO. He lives with about 50 mixed fancy guppies of all sizes in a 10g tank. I am hoping he will cut down on the number of guppy fry, bettas love to chase and eat fry of other fish.

He has a definite personality and is always at the front of the tank watching me, waiting for food.... maybe he isn't eating the guppy fry after all.

I wouldn't just go get another betta, I would wait until one jumped out at me from the shelf (if you know what I mean) then you will know that is the one you are supposed to have.

John

[Carl]

Sept 28, 2008 19:01:34 GMT -5 8 in the Corner said:

Aren't nerite snails saltwater inhabitants? Or was that in a different tank?

John

That is what I once thought too, however they have been adapted to FW aquariums and have the added bonus of being excellent algae eaters while not multiplying in freshwater aquariums.

I have a little section about them near the bottom of this article:
Planted Freshwater Aquariums; Algae Eating Inhabitants

Carl

[Carl]

Sept 28, 2008 18:51:05 GMT -5 cashay said:

I just lost a nerite snail a few days ago also Im wondering if that had any link to what happened to cash??

This is possible, although it may well be a coincidence.

I would check ALL your water parameters just in case and change water as John/8 suggested.

Carl

[cashay]

Actually John/8 that is exactly what happened when I found cash! He did jump off the shelf at me!!! I just had to have him, So yes I know what you mean, And i never knew about the nerite snails either until Carl sent me his article, they have done well in Freshwater, And Lord they are excellent algae eaters.. Not a spec in my tank!
I have changed the water 50% , put a new filter in the whisper, and all the water parameters are good
30 Nitrate
0 Nitrite
200 GH
50-60 KH
7.2 PH

[goldenpuon]

I'm sorry to hear that you lost Cash. Sometimes these things just happen even with excellent care. But as far as lifespan, don't be worried that the next betta if you decide to get one will die after only 9 months, bettas have a lifespan of 2-4 years or more, so you could end up with a betta living 4+ years with you. Best of lcuk and sorry to hear of your loss.

[cashay]

Thanks for all the support you guys, I know it was my first fish, and I should expect all the down sides of fish keeping but I'm not giving up just yet, and recycleing my tank and will try again, when I get it just right and add more fish will post more pictures. I'm not thinking about getting a different tank right now or anything, but other then a betta is there any other kind of fish that could live in a 5 gallon? does it need to just be one fish or can I get a pair of something with the tank size?

[Carl]

There are several fish that could be placed in your 5 gallon aquarium.

Most of these fish can be added in numbers greater than one unlike a male betta.

Here are few suggestions (others may have more to add):
*Platties (ask John how much fun they can be)
*Guppies
*Mollies
>The above fish can breed rapidly, so consideration of this should be considered such as a fry tank or having only one sex of each
*Head & Tail Light Tetras
*Glo Light Tetras
*White Clouds
*Rasboras
*Zebra Danios
*Even some small Dwarf Gouramis such as the Sunset (they have similar personalities to Bettas IMO)

This is FAR from a complete list (these just came to my mind as I typed)

Carl

[cashay]

This is really good to know! I was looking at the tetra's, I wasn't sure on how many I could put in a tank together though, i don't want to crowd them. I like the neon gorgeous

[goldenpuon]

I love neons. I wanted to get some but then I decided to breed bettas instead. I think 3 neons will work in a 5 gallon. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm not sure but you may be able to add a couple more than that. Neons are also schooling (group) fish.

[bikeguy33]

instead of the neons....there bare cardinal tetras which look alot alike but are MUCH brighter. in a 5 gallon....I bet 5 could live happy. they are a schooler.....so 5 imo is the minimum. they are also very very hardy if they survive the first 2 days in your tank....