Water Conditioner for split fins in bettas, Nitrate and ammonia levels. I'm a new betta owner.?

Question

Although he is still new to the 1 gallon tank, and I have done A LOT of research,I noticed his fins were splitting. water temp is 78-80 deg.. I quickly did a lot more reading and ran out and got a Stress Coat Water conditioner by API with aloe for slime coat and reduces cholorine and neutralizes chloramines, spring water, and did a 25% water change. He did eat a freeze dried blood worm, which is the only thing he ate for me since I bought him yesterday. I put an artificial plant in that reaches the top, tooksome smaller ones out along wiht a castle. He seemed really happy, blew some bubbles, fins were up, and I added a little bit more water same temperature and he still has fins out but will put them back down.
Should there be more than 2 cm of air between water line and lid?
How long will conditioner take before his fins are not split?
Can I add cond. while he is in tank.
Is it normal for the fish to hover at top?
Is it ok if nitrate and amonia levels are near 0, like .05?

haha thanks G, I know I am worrying, but I don't want him to die, this is very expenisive to get into. I know there is a very BIG probabilty of him dying, but I have just heard such Horror stories through peoples answers.

Answer 1

OK, I'll try to take these one at a time -
1) fins - if the fins are "down" this is a resting position - it just may mean he's comfortable and taking it easy.

2) air space - I'm not sure what you're using for a container and "lid", but it's good that you have a cover - bettas are good jumpers! - but you need some airspace. Is the cover closing off the entire top of the betta's container? It would be better if there was some air exchange with the outside. If he's in a small tank (one of those with a hood with built-in light, filter, etc., you want the water up to the top trim. This makes it easier for the impeller to move the water through the filter - he'll still have plenty of space.

3) A water conditioner won't cure splits in fins - only time can help this. The water conditioner will make tap water safe to use (almost immediately) and will help him with a slime coat, which they use as a protective barrier. Some bettas (called crowntails) have tails which look like they're jagged at the ends, but this is the way they're supposed to look: http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=crowntail+betta&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

4) It's best to add the conditioner to the water before you add it to the tank. You should use this whenever you do a water change in the tank.

5) Yes, it's normal.

6) If this is a new tank ,this is good. Do you have gravel on the bottom of the tank? This will give the bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrate a place to live. These are what will give you the 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite levels, so you don't want to clean the gravel too well.

Give him a while to start eating - they don't need to eat every day. Most people overfeed!

If you haven't discovered this website yet, it's a good source for lots of betta info: http://www.bettatalk.com/

Answer 2

Ammonia or fin rot, does not really matter, thats one poor fish and you shouldnt be buying it from that store. If you suspect the store of poorly treating fish then report them to your local animal welfare group, even if you're wrong don't worry because it is up to them to investigate the claim. They'd rather a false call than you not to report at all. A water test is the real only way of telling. Does the store have sick tanks? Are their many dead fish in tanks? Do the fish have marks and blotches? Do they make bad recommendations? I can understand you wanting to 'save' some fish but.... they will get more fish in to replace it and you will be supporting the store too. So in fact buying from a bad store will encourage their behaviour, dooming more fish

Answer 3

OMG you worry too much! you are going to stress the stressed betta!

betta fin splits are kind of normal -- they can get them from rough objects, flaring (they call it blowing a fin), even overly agressive jaunts to escape your net. they really aren't that big of a deal as long as the water isn't a cess pool of bacteria and they aren't wigged out. they take some time to repair -- like a few weeks to a month. its not overnight. conditioner will have a negligable effect on the split fins. your best bet is really using some salt or melafix instead to keep bacteria down.

you can dump in conditioner on their heads. about the only thing you don't want to dump on their heads is salt. make sure you disolve it before you dump it.

they like to hover at the top, at the bottom. all over the place. different bettas are very different. usually when they get more used to you they will hover where they can watch you. my tanks are at about 2 cm beneath the top so i assume that is fine.

just give him a couple days to adjust. bettas are very moody. all the redecorating could even be making him weird. think stability instead of science experiment. say hi to him and ask him if he wants a bloodworm.

you are going to give yourself a heart attack with the water test kit in a gallon tank. just change the water once every 5 days to a week and he will be fine.

Answer 4

Bettas are cool aren't they? They are very hardy little fish!

I once had one that was presumed dead and sat for (i'm not kidding) 2 months..
no food no anything... I know! that's awful!,any way he was PRESUMED dead!
When I went to dump his 'remains' in the toilet... HE MOVED!
I was blown away! I hurried and changed his water real qiuck and put some food in for him... 1 day and the little guy died. I think the clean water did him in!
I've used this water conditioner called NovAqua+ with Echinacea, vitamins and Anti-Virus Protection.
This stuff is what allowed that fish to survive in those conditions!
It's the absolute best and I don't bother with any of the other stuff any more.
Personally I think that Bettas are the best fish and should cost at least $10.00 each. They're beautiful enough for sure!

Answer 5

A tsp. of non-iodized salt per gal of de-chlorinated water is all I ever use for my Betta's, I have raised them for over a year now with no problems, over 120 counting the fry. Don't over medicate. Leave it natural. Float a plant on top. Don't worry to much, enjoy..Good Luck..><>:)