Help: I Just Got a New Betta And He Is having Trouble Swimming!!

[logansmomma1228]

Well if you have high ammonia, nitrite or nitrates it could kill him. I suggest you do 50% water chances once (or twice) a day until you get a test kit. Anything over .25 ppm is lethal for ammonia or nitrites (iirc) and anything over 40 is lethal for nitrates.

Maybe this link will help explain it better: Nitrogen Cycle

Don;t get test strips as they are innacurate and will be more expensive in the long run. Get this : http://www.walmart.com/ip/Freshwater-Master-Test-Kit-Fish-Aquatic-Pets/3635493 this is the cheapest I have seen it. It lasts a long time and is much more accurate.

 

[Saltypuppy]

Ok! But I just changed his water at 3 PM isn't that ok? This doesn't make sense... its not dirty its fresh water... same as all the other changes.

 

[krap101]

Well if you have high ammonia, nitrite or nitrates it could kill him. I suggest you do 50% water chances once (or twice) a day until you get a test kit. Anything over .25 ppm is lethal for ammonia or nitrites (iirc) and anything over 40 is lethal for nitrates.

Maybe this link will help explain it better: Nitrogen Cycle

Don;t get test strips as they are innacurate and will be more expensive in the long run. Get this : Walmart.com: Freshwater Master Test Kit: Fish this is the cheapest I have seen it. It lasts a long time and is much more accurate.

I think lethal is a bit strong.. maybe over 1ppm ammonia/nitrite, and 120-160ppm nitrate. Toxic or poisonous might be closer.

 

[Saltypuppy]

But Would I have an issue with that tright now? I changed the water like 4 hours ago...

 

[krap101]

I think you should be fine. Just watch for signs of distress. Too many water changes can also be a bad thing at times.

 

[Saltypuppy]

Alright. I covered his tank with a towel so its dark (I'm hoping to calm him.) He was nudging at the sides of his cage so I was starting to think he was seeing his reflection and was getting all worked up. I took a peek at him a minute ago and he seems calmer.

 

[logansmomma1228]

Do you have enough plants/decor in there for him? Fish like security, whether fake or real. Even though I am sure they prefer real plants. I know that bettas need soft silk plants so they don't rip their fins.

 

[Saltypuppy]

I don't at the moment cause I was trying to watch for poo and stuff. But I think I will put on in there today. He is rubbing on the sides or the tank a lot though (at least I think he is) So Now I am thinking parasite?

 

[logansmomma1228]

Does he look like he is pineconing? Usually dropsy causes fish to scratch up against stuff. Tropical Fish Disease Identification with pictures and cures.

 

[Saltypuppy]

Nope no pineconeing its not dropsy. I just put him in 1 gal of spring water that has been treated ( So no chems I hope) and I added a small filter and I also am still heating the water I put back in the rock and the plant. I am hoping he gets better... :C

 

[Saltypuppy]

ph is 7.0

 

[corrado33]

For the record, I've never seen my betta poop. But he's healthy as a horse.

 

[Saltypuppy]

Really? I haven't seen my betta poop but I clean it up. There was nuthin' in the tank this morning though. I put the filter in and he is doing a lot better. I also took some of my tank water and put it in there hoping it would help out with the amonia and such.

 

[Saltypuppy]

Hey Guys I just wanted to thank you for all the help that you have given me! I signed up on other fish forums and you guys are by far the most helpful anf kind people of all of them. I am kinda being ignored on the other ones for the most part. Lol. Sad.

 

[Saltypuppy]

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g114/iamgothicandyouarnt/111_4909.jpg

 

[Saltypuppy]

There is a new picture of him. He got all pissy last night. Lol

 

[logansmomma1228]

He is very pretty. This place is also my fav. Hope he gets better

 

[BillD]

UPDATE -

So his tank is now at 78 and has 4 inches of water for his ease. It has been decholrinated and I gave him a pea 2 days ago. He was fasted for one day and is swimming like a normal fishy. His spine is nice and straight and he seems to love displaying his fins to me. So I am happy he is making an improvement. But his swimbladder is still swollen and he isn't pooping as much as I think he should be. So I am fasting him again today... but I was thinking maybe He needs another pea. What do you think?

If you fast him he will not have anything to poop out. I'm surprised he will eat a pea. He must be starving. How do you know the swimbladder is swollen? That would probably make it float.

 

[Saltypuppy]

He is puffy there. If you look on some of the old top view picks it shows it. I am giving him real food tomorrow. I feel bad for not feeding him but I just want to make sure he is better first.

 

[DragonFish71]

Once he's past this, try adding some "greens" to his diet at least once a week. I would feed mine algae flakes twice a week and never had bloating issues.