I hope someone can help me here! My betta is acting very sick at the moment. Here are his symptoms:
1. Opaque, gray color to his face (loss of coloration)
2. Lethargic... doesn't swim much
3. Loss of appetite
He does NOT have sores, clamped fins, no other skin symptoms other than the gray on his face (which doesn't look like a film of anything).
Tank info:
3/4 gallon bowl
76 degree water (moved him to a warmer room)
Ammonia: .25 ppm
nitrate: 0 ppm
nitrite: 0 ppm
pH: 6.4
I have freshwater aquarium salt on hand... can someone clarify on whether I just dissolve the appropriate amount into some water and put it in the bowl? Do I just put it in and leave it there?
2007-09-25 17:09:08 · 4 answers · asked by Cochy 6 in Pets ➔ Fish
If you just moved him, the change may just be due to the move.
The symptoms are also consistent with ammonia in the water. If it's been a while since you've done a water change, you might try that and see if his behavior and color change back to normal.
Ammonia buildup is common for fish kept in bowls - there isn't as much water to dilute the wastes, and without a filter or airstone to aerate the water, the amount of aerobic bacteria needed to convert the wastes to nitrate don't exist. Water changes probably prevent the anerobic bacteria that could convert the ammonia to free nitrogen can't develop either.
You might see about moving him into a small tank rather than the bowl - I keep most of my bettas in 2.5 gallon minibow kits: http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/22430/product.web these have a filter and light/hood and come in four colors that you can choose to match or complement your fish's colors.
2007-09-25 17:33:31 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most likely it is ammonia poisoning. With that size bowl you should be doing water changes daily. Also the temp might be a little cold for him. They thrive in water that is between 78-82F. You could put a very small amount of the salt in a cup with the bowl water and let it dissolve and then place it in the bowl. Your Betta would be much happier in a larger bowl or even a small tank that is filtered. Good luck!
2007-09-25 23:00:04 · answer #2 · answered by LuvinLife 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you use aquarium salt you should dissolve it before you add it -- you can burn a fish by letting them come in contact with the salt directly.
when was the last time you cleaned his bowl? have you ever thought of getting him something bigger?
2007-09-25 17:57:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like stress to me
2007-09-25 20:26:25 · answer #4 · answered by sac1977 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋