New (shipped) betta flashing? Med recs?

[sparklepuff]

Hello all.

This little fellow just arrived early this afternoon after 5 days in the mail. He is in a 6 gallon tank, with normal parameters (it hasn't quite been two weeks of running it yet so not fully cycled yet, but no ammonia or nitrite). Water was prepped with Prime, Stability and a bit of Stressguard. The water is slightly cloudy due to bacterial bloom. See pic and video below. Note: the flow isn't as high as it looks in the clip...I have sponge in the outflow/am still trying to figure out if it can be lowered though. Filter is this one. (Amazon.com)

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7wejHuJvI0

I don't see any outward signs of him being ill (maybe one slightly puffy eye, its hard since he's mostly light colored), but he has been seemingly rubbing himself on the gravel. I realize being shipped and now being in new water may cause some irritation to his skin, and was planning on just monitoring him before trying anything? He seems energetic thankfully (he attacked the thermometer a few times, among other things lol). I am going to give him a pellet or two this evening or early tomorrow morning. I see mixed opinions about fasting shipped fish when they are arrive.

I have some KanaPlex, Prazipro and API ich meds on hand, just in case. Was thinking of maybe getting some SulfaPlex as well.

 

[Autumnsky]

Six days the fish was likely to be very hungry.

Six days and the fish was likely suffering ammonia burns.

That can be very harmful and of course uncomfortable.

2 weeks is not time to build a beneficial bacteria colony for a filter to be cycled.

Check out the bottom of this post in my signature regarding getting started article which will give you a great deal of information for keeping a tank well.

Changing large amounts of water each day will be of most benefit to help the Betta heal as quickly as possible.

A fish will often flash if water parameters are out of the safe zone.

Though if you can see any white spots like Ich
https://www.aquariumadvice.com/ich-ick-white-spot-or-whatever-else-you-call-it/

https://www.aquariumadvice.com/freshwater-ich-yuck/

https://www.aquariumadvice.com/i-just-learned-about-cycling-but-i-already-have-fish-what-now/

https://www.aquariumadvice.com/fishin-cycling-step-dark-side/

And I had a Betta shipped from Thailand and here is my difficult experience. It is long all together, but will help understand some simple treatment options.

Medication is often hard on a fish internal organs and immune system. If a actual illness which requires medication is affecting the fish, and there isn't a less strong method to treat it, or one is not working, then it is understandable to do what you can. Since you might lose the fish anyway.

First options to possibly identify illness.
https://www.aquariumadvice.com/fish-disease-index-for-diagnosis-and-treatment/


Using the "perfect water" option / changing most of the water every day, this gives the fish the easiest opportunity to heal as there aren't unsafe water parameters pulling the fishes immune system and body from healing to help fight the problematic water quality.

the post re: my imported fish
https://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f23/importing-a-thai-betta-the-experience-367697.html