I'm still getting used to this whole fish ownership thing, but after what I saw at that local summer camp, I had to act. So, I've got this young male betta - I'm pretty sure that's what he is - who was part of some ill-fated science experiment. They stuck him and a few others in a 2-liter coke bottle with a tiny bit of water and a plant in a funnel that was supposed to filter the water. Needless to say, it didn't work out too well - the water was disgusting, and they all died except for this little guy.
As for how he's doing now, he seems really weak and pale, but his color has improved a bit since he's been in a new environment. He's got some sort of swim bladder issue - if he stops swimming, he just sinks to the bottom. He spends most of his time lying on the ground, but at least he's moving around to different spots and shows some interest when I'm near or when I add some food to the water. He can swim to the surface to breathe, but he can't seem to stay afloat.
I've been keeping an eye out for any obvious health issues - no weird spots, no bloating, no pine-coning - but I'm no expert. I did manage to scrounge up a small 1-gallon tank with a heater and a moss ball, courtesy of a friend. I know it's not ideal - most people say bettas need more space - but I figured getting him out of that coke bottle was the top priority.
So, what's the best way to move forward from here?
help with rescuing a betta
Re: help with rescuing a betta
Hi Silkline, welcome to the forum. I totally understand your concern for this little guy, and I'm glad you took him out of that awful coke bottle setup.
To help him recover, I'd recommend focusing on keeping his water super clean. You see, sick fish need clean water to get better, and it's not just about the ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate levels - it's also about keeping disease organisms at bay. The easiest way to do this is by doing massive daily water changes for a few weeks.
Get a dedicated bucket just for his water changes - make sure it's never had any soap or detergent in it. Fill it up with tap water, add a dechlorinator to remove any chlorine or chloramine, and let it sit for at least 5 minutes before using it. I like to aerate the water for a bit to make sure everything is mixed in properly.
When you're ready, drain out most of the water in his tank, leaving just enough for him to swim around comfortably. Then, fill it back up with the fresh, dechlorinated water. This will help dilute any nutrients from his food and reduce the risk of disease.
Big daily water changes will make a huge difference in his recovery. Clean water will help him feel better and heal faster. And who knows, with proper care and time, he might just regain his strength and start swimming normally again.
If he's still having trouble swimming up to the surface, you could try reducing the water level a bit to make it easier for him. Just be sure to keep an eye on him and adjust as needed.
As for feeding, I'd recommend doing it more frequently - 3-5 times a day is fine when he's recovering. You can mix it up with dry, frozen, or even live foods. Just be sure to remove any uneaten food right away and do those daily water changes to keep everything clean.
Give him time, and with the right care, he might just make a full recovery.
To help him recover, I'd recommend focusing on keeping his water super clean. You see, sick fish need clean water to get better, and it's not just about the ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate levels - it's also about keeping disease organisms at bay. The easiest way to do this is by doing massive daily water changes for a few weeks.
Get a dedicated bucket just for his water changes - make sure it's never had any soap or detergent in it. Fill it up with tap water, add a dechlorinator to remove any chlorine or chloramine, and let it sit for at least 5 minutes before using it. I like to aerate the water for a bit to make sure everything is mixed in properly.
When you're ready, drain out most of the water in his tank, leaving just enough for him to swim around comfortably. Then, fill it back up with the fresh, dechlorinated water. This will help dilute any nutrients from his food and reduce the risk of disease.
Big daily water changes will make a huge difference in his recovery. Clean water will help him feel better and heal faster. And who knows, with proper care and time, he might just regain his strength and start swimming normally again.
If he's still having trouble swimming up to the surface, you could try reducing the water level a bit to make it easier for him. Just be sure to keep an eye on him and adjust as needed.
As for feeding, I'd recommend doing it more frequently - 3-5 times a day is fine when he's recovering. You can mix it up with dry, frozen, or even live foods. Just be sure to remove any uneaten food right away and do those daily water changes to keep everything clean.
Give him time, and with the right care, he might just make a full recovery.
Re: help with rescuing a betta
I'm really concerned about disturbing the fish when I'm adding the new water, so I was wondering what the best way to do it is without sloshing him around everywhere. I've heard of people using a siphon hose or something to slowly pour the water in, but I'm not sure what the best method is.
As for the food, I want to make sure I'm removing all the uneaten bits to keep the water clean. The problem is, the food keeps falling between the stones at the bottom of the tank - it's like a little obstacle course for my betta. I've seen those vacuum hoses that people use to clean their tanks, but the ones I've seen at my local pet store are way too big for my little 1-gallon tank. Is there a smaller option available, or is there another way I can remove the food without making a mess?
As for the food, I want to make sure I'm removing all the uneaten bits to keep the water clean. The problem is, the food keeps falling between the stones at the bottom of the tank - it's like a little obstacle course for my betta. I've seen those vacuum hoses that people use to clean their tanks, but the ones I've seen at my local pet store are way too big for my little 1-gallon tank. Is there a smaller option available, or is there another way I can remove the food without making a mess?
Re: help with rescuing a betta
You can use a cup to gently add new water to the tank, or position the bucket of clean dechlorinated water above the tank and use a thin hose to slowly siphon the clean water into the container. This way, you can minimize the disturbance to the fish.
As for cleaning the gravel, I'd recommend using a basic model gravel cleaner. These are widely available at pet shops, but you can also make one yourself using a small plastic drink bottle. Simply cut off the bottom, remove the cap and plastic ring, and throw those away. Then, stick a plastic hose in the top of the bottle and put the other end in a bucket to collect the dirty water.
To use it, just stick the plastic bottle in the tank, fill it up, and get the water draining down the hose. Then, push the bottle into the substrate and lift it up. The gravel will circulate in the bottle and drop back down, while the gunk and dirty water is removed from the tank. You can find videos on YouTube that demonstrate how to use a gravel cleaner, or ask your local pet shop to show you how it's done.
As for cleaning the gravel, I'd recommend using a basic model gravel cleaner. These are widely available at pet shops, but you can also make one yourself using a small plastic drink bottle. Simply cut off the bottom, remove the cap and plastic ring, and throw those away. Then, stick a plastic hose in the top of the bottle and put the other end in a bucket to collect the dirty water.
To use it, just stick the plastic bottle in the tank, fill it up, and get the water draining down the hose. Then, push the bottle into the substrate and lift it up. The gravel will circulate in the bottle and drop back down, while the gunk and dirty water is removed from the tank. You can find videos on YouTube that demonstrate how to use a gravel cleaner, or ask your local pet shop to show you how it's done.