I have a blue betta and a red betta that are separated in a 2.5 gallon aquarium. When I bought them, their fins were loose and able to spread out, etc. Now their fins look like it's stuck together and much less loose than it was before, and the blue betta is showing some yellowish colorings on his scales. The red betta has it too, but because of his red color, it's harder to see the yellowish material. I clean the aquarium once a week and it has a 2-5 gallon filter. I use spring water (not tap water). What is going on with the fish?
2007-02-06 02:55:46 · 8 answers · asked by Jerry H 5 in Pets ➔ Fish
ok magicman116. I will try your technique. if it works, i shall rate your answer as the best answer
2007-02-06 05:49:26 · update #1
Take the fish to the pet store where you bought them, they should be able to tell what is wrong and recommend something to cure it. Also take a sample of the water in a seperate bag so they can test it.
2007-02-06 03:10:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
A yellow dusting on the fish is a sure sign of a disease commonly called velvet. It is very deadly to the fish if left untreated. You can use a strong flashlight in a dimmly lit room to see if there isn't more, but any is a problem. The fin clamping is a sign of stress brought on by the disease.
You need to raise the temperature to the 86-88 F range and add a bit of salt to the tank. A tablespoon would be about right to help treat this disease. Use a parasite control medicine that contains copper. Copper is by far the best treatment for this disease. You will need to treat this way for a full 10 days to be sure you kill it all off. Before you start the treatment, do a large water change (50-60%) and remove any carbon or charcoal from the filter as it would just remove the medication. With treatment this is a fairly easy disease to control.
Best of luck with it, you should have good success with the treatment.
BTW, tap water is often better for the fish than spring water. You might consider switching over, just be sure to dechlorinate the tap water before using.
2007-02-06 03:05:18 · answer #2 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
clamped fins are a sign that the betta is stressed. It could be that the space you give for each betta is too small. I suggest getting another tank. 2 bettas in a 2.5 gallon tank is too small. Male bettas can get to be about 3 inches!!!
2007-02-06 03:20:33 · answer #3 · answered by chamelean75 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Soulds like velvet disease. Treat with salt and 82 degree water. Salt at 4 teaspoons per gallon. Leave in for 2 weeks.
2007-02-12 03:29:23 · answer #4 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is a sickness called velvet. they have many articles on it. When my Betta had those same symptoms i took him to a pet store. He gave me some medicine and told me to raise the temperature up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit to speed the life cycle of the sickness.
2007-02-11 03:12:46 · answer #5 · answered by genericname_one 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what is with the yellow stuff, but I do know that Bettas do NOT like filters. Bettas like calm water..filters keep the water moving and that stresses out the fish. I have had a couple bettas die because of the stress of the filter. I don't have filters anymore, and my bettas seem to live forever.
2007-02-06 03:03:39 · answer #6 · answered by the love guru 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
I found in my fresh water tank a teaspoon of aquarium salt helps protect the fish from disease.
Don't use spring water (it still has all kinds of minerals and metals. Try distiled.
good luck
2007-02-06 03:17:43 · answer #7 · answered by james o 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
betas will live forever no matter how hard you try to get rid of them.just leave them alone...they'll be fine.
2007-02-06 03:04:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋