Aquarium Salt?

Question

How much do I use and how often for a small, round fish bowl with 1 betta?

This betta is swimming sideways, which means he's constipated. I was told by the pet store that the salt will help.

I know they don't NEED salt. The salt is medicinal. Everything I've read about betta says that salt will help with the various ailments they get, including what this one has. I'm not planning to load up the bowl with salt.

Okay, so how long shoudl the salt be left in the bowl?

How often do I add it?

How do I know the fish is 'better'?

Answer 1

Constipation is a result of the diet. Try fasting your fish for a few days or feeding cooked peas with the skin removed. The salt you need to treat constipation is Epsom salts (magnesium chloride [as in milk of magnesia] - not aquarium salt which is sodium chloride). Use very little for a bowl - the normal dosage for this is 1/8 teaspoon Epsom salts per 5 gallons of water.

To address the dietary portion, try adding more variety to what you're feeding. Pellets should be soaked in tank water before offering, plus bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and occasional peas can be added.

It's also possible your fish has a swim bladder disorder or is in the beginning stages of dropsy. See this link for info on those before deciding to medicate: http://www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

ADDITION: Leave the salt in or fast him for three days. His swimming and any appetitie loss from constipation should have improved by then. If you do a water change during the treatment period, you should add approximately the same amount of salt as would have been removed by the water taken out (if you add 1/8 teaspoon and take out half the water, add 1/16th teaspoon back). Once he's swimming normally and eating well again, you can just stop adding salt to future water changes. This will reduce the amount to almost nothing after a few changes..

Answer 2

You probably have API Aquarium salt - Blue yellow and pink paper carton. Your fish bowl probably holds anywhere from .8 - 1 gallon. You're supposed to add 0.5 rounded teaspoons per gallon. So add about a half a teaspoon and you'll be fine.

Aquarium salt is good to have in the tank from time to time. It provides electrolytes and helps when treating disease. Just make sure that you don't add again until you perform a water change - salt ions don't evaporate out of the water, so whatever you put in stays in until a water change.

I'm guessing you do a water change every 4-5 days for your bowl. Don't worry too much about the salt. When I had my betta in a bowl, I used to add salt for a week and leave it off the next week - just for prevention. I've read in a few places that salt can be a little harsh on the fish's fins if they're constantly with it. So I don't recommend what I did, even though my fish thrived and had no problems with its fins. I'd add the salt for the next two water changes, and since it is constipation, I'd hold back a little on the food for a few days. You could be overfeeding. It should go away fairly quickly - probably a few days to a week max. I'd continue to add salt for the next two changes as a prevention tactic. A little salt does wonders as far as diseases go. You'll know from the fish's behavior if its fine.

Answer 3

You are right, from what I have read and learned from my own betta, they do prosper from a little bit of whats called Conditioning Salt for Freshwater Aquariums, its different than the salt for saltwater aquariums. But it helps with a number of issues, especially fungus. Stress too. I have my betta in a gallon and a half jar, I put in just a couple pinches when changing the water. Also, the container of salt should tell you how many teaspoon per gallon, info like that. Good luck!

Answer 4

They don't need aquarium salt as it is a freshwater fish. A Betta or Siamese Fighter as they are more commonly known can live an in a bowl as they can breath from the surface. But they would be much happier in a proper aquarium where they have a larger surface area, they will grow and thrive better. Don't ever put two males together though as they will fight to the death.

Answer 5

That pet shop dealer has misled you. The siamese fighting fish[Betta Splendens] is a fresh water species and does not need any salt water at all They originate from thailand and are found in ditches..ponds and drains that are filled with rain water which dont contain any salt. Fill a polythene bag with tap water and put him in it. Empty out the bowl out and three parts fill it with tap water then gently tip your Betta into the bowl Do not feed him and he might recover. Good luck. .

Answer 6

Aquarium salt for freshwater water aquariums can help fight parasites like ick... Or when the fish are sick. It can't be table salt, as the iodine will kill them... It must be aquarium salt for freshwater aquariums from the pet store. It can't hurt (unless you put too much in).

Answer 7

you will no when your fish is better as it will behave like it did before Once your fish is well i would then do a partial water change and i only added salt when the fish are ill

Answer 8

1 rounded tablespoon per 5 gallons. 1 rounded teaspoon per 1.5 gallons.

Answer 9

read the directions on your salt container

Answer 10

i don't think bettas need salt to survive tbhh

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