Betta exhibiting rapid breathing and pacing

[sunsetora]

I got my first betta, Harry, two weeks ago and just did his first water change today. I changed about half the water with conditioned water, trying to keep it around 80 degrees. At first, I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary after the change, but lately, Harry's been darting back and forth along the glass in the back of the tank, and his breathing seems pretty heavy. I'm not sure if he's stressed from the water change or if something else is bothering him. To give you some background, Harry's in a 10-gallon tank by himself, which is heated, filtered, and has a cycled filter. I'd really appreciate some advice on what might be going on with him.

[FinLass_8]

I'd highly recommend getting an API freshwater master test kit if you don't already have one - it's a lifesaver for your fish. If you do have one, go ahead and do a water test to see if there's anything out of whack that could be stressing Harry out.

[sunsetora]

I'd highly recommend getting an API freshwater master test kit if you don't already have one - it's a lifesaver for your fish. If you do have one, go ahead and do a water test to see if there's anything out of whack that could be stressing Harry out.

yeah, i've got one. i'm actually planning to run some tests tomorrow to see if anything's off.

[coltin]

When you did the water change, did you use a dedicated container for the fish or just grab something from around the house? If there was any kind of residue in the container, that could've contaminated the water. Same thing if you had anything on your hands - moisturizer, disinfectant wipes, perfume, or oil, for example.

Increasing aeration and surface turbulence might help, so try that and monitor Harry for an hour or two. If you don't see any improvement, you might need to do another water change. This time, make sure to use a clean container specifically for the fish. Give it a good rinse before filling it with tap water, and don't forget to add a dechlorinator to break down the chlorine and chloramine. Let the mixture aerate for at least 5 minutes, preferably 30, before using it in the tank.

The water temperature doesn't need to be an exact match, so don't stress if it's a degree or two off. As long as the new water feels similar to the tank water, it should be fine.

[sunsetora]

When you did the water change, did you use a dedicated container for the fish or just grab something from around the house? If there was any kind of residue in the container, that could've contaminated the water. Same thing if you had anything on your hands - moisturizer, disinfectant wipes, perfume, or oil, for example.

Increasing aeration and surface turbulence might help, so try that and monitor Harry for an hour or two. If you don't see any improvement, you might need to do another water change. This time, make sure to use a clean container specifically for the fish. Give it a good rinse before filling it with tap water, and don't forget to add a dechlorinator to break down the chlorine and chloramine. Let the mixture aerate for at least 5 minutes, preferably 30, before using it in the tank.

The water temperature doesn't need to be an exact match, so don't stress if it's a degree or two off. As long as the new water feels similar to the tank water, it should be fine.

i really appreciate your help. i've had a long day and it's getting late, so i'll just observe harry in the morning and go ahead with the water test regardless. i was careful with my hands and equipment, and i have a dedicated bucket for him, so hopefully that minimizes any risks. thanks again for your advice - if he doesn't show any improvement, i'll definitely try what you suggested.