Can tap water make my beta fish sick?

Question

I had to put tap water into my beta fish's tank because i was out of distilled water. I used de-chlorinator in it and then put my fish in. A week later i noticed that my fish seems to be losing scales around the gill area and they look almost like shallow gouges on his gills. He seems happy and looks fine other than his gills, he is actually shinier then he was when i had him in distilled water! Someone please tell me if this is caused by the change in water types and what i should do about it!! Thanks ahead of time for any answers! :-)

Answer 1

Switching from distilled water to tap water was a good move. Distilled water does not contain the trace minerals and salts that fish need. The missing scales and the like was not caused by the tap water, but the shinier could have been. It could be that his slime coat isn't being removed so fast by the distilled water any more. There is nothing at all wrong with over 99% of the tap water in the US as far as fish keeping is concerned. Kee using it. Not only is it better for your fish, it's waaaay cheaper too.

MM

Answer 2

Depending on where you live and what the PH level is tap water should be okay. You did good to add the de-chlorinator to the water. If you fill a container with water and let it sit out over night most of the chemicals added for our benefit will dissolve or evaporate. The other concern then would be checking the PH level. Most water companies want it around 8.0 to 9.0 for human consumption. Betta's do pretty well with a PH range between 6.5 to 8.2, and most do well in a 7.0 though. If you haven't already bought one, I suggest you buy a test kit for checking water parameters. Test strips are easiest, liquid drops and vials are more accurate.
I was told not to use bottled water because all of the good minerals are removed too. Using Spring water sounds like a better idea.

Answer 3

We have had several betas and have never used anything but tap water for them. We've had our current Beta for almost 2 years. However, we do allow the tap water to set out for a day or two to come to room temperature and to let any chloramines gassify off.

The gill problem may not be good or bad, it may simply be an adjustment to the new water.

Answer 4

Get a testing kit from the petstore. Your water may have heavy metals, hard/soft water, or a pH that is too high or low. You can fix it once you know what's wrong with it.

The dechorinated tap water is making your fish look healthier because it has minerals in it that was removed in the distilled water. If you want to continued buying bottled water for them, get bottled spring water, it's only slightly more expensive (when you buy a gallon it's 99 cents here) but it has the minerals in it that fish need.

Answer 5

beta's are very picky about there water. Go back to distilled water. Tap water has more than just chlorine in it. Better yet put him in a tank with a filter in it is best. They have beta's containers to keep him from other fish in the tank. You can enjoy him and other fish in same tank.

Answer 6

stay with tap! but instead of just a de-clorinator get a full water conditioner.

distilled water is not good for fish because it is too pure, there is no nutrients in it or much of anything.

Answer 7

Either there are other fish biting it or because of the tap water...Try going to local vets and getting a fish cleaner to clear the tap water better...

Answer 8

use tap water for sure

distilled water has none of the good stuff for fish to live in.

Answer 9

i used tap water and it was fine for me...you might want to get little water conditionaers and add drops of that...but no de-chlorinator!!!maybe get some medicine for the scales...goodl uck

Answer 10

yes it can tap water is full of chemical additives ,,,,major bugger being chlorine