Page 2 of 2
Re: betta's unusual behavior
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 1:07 pm
by happyone
belleora wrote: ↑Thu Jan 23, 2025 7:50 am
folix wrote: ↑Thu Jan 23, 2025 3:08 am
Hi, I'm getting a bit worried about my betta. I got him on February 11th, and it took him some time to adjust to his new environment and start eating. But recently, I've noticed some changes. He's still active and eating, which is good since he's been living with me in my dorm. I've attached some photos so you can see what I mean - he's lost some scales or something on his face and side. I remember seeing a few white spots on his side not too long ago, but I didn't think much of it since he had them when I first got him. His belly looks a bit reddish too. I've included some photos from when I first got him, and some from yesterday and today.
I'm concerned about the water quality in your tank. Do you ever do water changes to keep the environment clean for your betta? Is there a filter in place to help with that?
The water looks really murky and cloudy in the pictures, and I can see a clear waterline where it's been evaporating.
I'm curious, do they even manufacture filters for such small tanks, like a one-gallon tank? I suppose a tiny sponge filter might be a possibility, but that's about it.
Re: betta's unusual behavior
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 2:26 pm
by roygun_1
happyone wrote: ↑Thu Jan 23, 2025 7:07 am
It seems like he might be dealing with ammonia poisoning, his symptoms are pretty telling.
Honestly, it's basically a decorative container for a single plant, not a suitable environment for a fish.
Re: betta's unusual behavior
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 4:24 pm
by belleora
happyone wrote: ↑Thu Jan 23, 2025 7:07 am
It seems like he might be dealing with ammonia poisoning, his symptoms are pretty telling.
I'm not sure about nano filters, but I think they might be a thing. I don't want to add to the info overload for OP, so I'll step back and let others guide from here. Wishing you the best of luck, OP - hope you can get things sorted out and nurse your betta back to health.
Re: betta's unusual behavior
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 5:42 pm
by folix
I don't have a filter in the tank. I do have water conditioner and I use it every time I change the water. I'm looking for a tank that's dorm-friendly, maybe 2.5 or 3 gallons, with a filter. A 5-gallon tank might be too big for my desk. I'll try to get some water testing supplies, but I need to get approved to leave campus because of COVID regulations. How can I tell if the water is dechlorinated? I've been using tap water from school because the pet store guy said it should be okay. I also have Ice Mountain water bottles, but I'm not sure if that's a good idea.
Re: betta's unusual behavior
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 6:52 pm
by duskrose
Check the bottle of your water conditioner to see if it removes chlorine and chloramine. If not, your betta might be dealing with chlorine poisoning on top of everything else. You'll need a dechlorinator to get rid of the chlorine, and I highly recommend Seachem Prime - it not only removes chlorine and chloramine but also helps with ammonia issues. Unfortunately, pet store staff often don't know much about their department, and it's clear that's the case here. Without a filter in your tank, you're going to run into a lot of problems keeping the water clean.