How do I know if my beta fish tank water has ammonia in it?

Question

plz help my fish is dieing and i don not know what to do. he is laying at the bottom of the tank. if you have an answer or website PLZ post. :(

MY FISH DIED STOP POSTING

Answer 1

Yes, change water now! It might be ammonia or it might be something else, but changing about 1/2 his water will help no matter what.

MM

Answer 2

The two best things you can do right now are a partial water change (25-50%) and make sure he is in water 78-80 degrees.

As far as is the ammonia - if you haven't just performed a 100% water change and have no gravel in your betta tank, or the tank is less than a month old, the answer will be YES! This isn't your fault - if you feed your fish and he eats and poops, ammonia will be produced. If you have gravel and have cycled your tank, there will be bacteria that will convert the ammonia to nitrite, then nitrate, but this will only happen with time and cycling. The only way you can know for sure how much ammonia is in the tank is to get a freshwater test kit.

Bettas like water warm - they're tropical fish, after all! If the temps are too low or too high, they will get very lethargic and lie around. If you don't have a heater in the tank and your room is cool, try keeping a desk lamp on over part of the tank.

Bettas usually live for about 2-3 years, the record I think, is about 9 years. If you have reason to think there's something wrong with your betta other than too cool/hot water temperature or water changes that aren't regular, see this website for symptoms, names of problems, and how to treat them: http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/stressdisease.shtml

Answer 3

To test for levels of ammonia, you need to purchase a testing kit, or take a sample of your water to a pet store (most will test for free).

If you are concerned that is why he is dying, change 25% of the water with clean, chlorine free water (treat it or leave it sitting for 24 hours) every three days until it is better, then once a week after that. This should take care of the problem. This wont hurt him if that isn't the problem, so you may as well try it!

Are you sure your betta is dying? It is not uncommon for them to be lethargic and sit on the bottom of the tank.

Answer 4

Best to get an ammonia test kit. As an emergency measure, do a 50% water change, using dechlorinator, & a further 50% change the next day. If ammonia is present, I would suspect that the tank is newly set up. It needs to be properly "Cycled"

Answer 5

confident, greater advantageous than a million beta fish in a tank will combat one yet another, besides the undeniable fact that there is situations of the place ive heard beta fish struggling with before everything, yet then making a collection of command that we could them peacefully co exist. Beta fish will combat something that has fins the size, on the factor of, or greater advantageous than theirs.

Answer 6

The only way to tell if there is ammonia is to go to the store and get a test kit. I reccommend a liquid test kit, strips are very unreliable IME. But if your betta appears that sick the stop wasting time and change water ASAP!

Answer 7

Change the water and don't worry about it!! As above leave it out or add water treatments and have water around 80 degrees.Put 1 tsp of salt per gal of water and he should be fine. Good Luck !! ><>:)

Answer 8

I've been told with my Beta to set out a bowl of tap water for 24 hours to get all the chemicals out of it. Also, Betas tend to be more active at night, so he could just be sleeping. That's how my Beta is.

Answer 9

try these.
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441781361&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030152&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1171322438326&itemNo=8&Ntt=tests&In=Fish&previousText=tests&N=2023693
http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Product_R_6350_PC_productlist_Nav_229_N_24+130+30+367_sku_909807_familyID_11617.aspx
http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/symptoms.html
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/information/Diseases.htm
http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Diseases1.htm
http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/disease-fw.html
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0140-7775&site=1
http://www.aquariumfish.net/information/signs_of_stress_and_disease.htm
http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm
http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-Betta.htm
http://www.siamsbestbettas.com/diseases.html
http://www.fishjunkies.com/health.php
http://home.hiwaay.net/~keiper/goldfishpage.htm
i know that fin rot is fairly common in betas, so you might want to read about it.
and here's a good website about dirrerent beta tails. i thought it ould be fun to look at.
i hope things work out for the 2 of you. : ]