I have a very sick betta. He has very tattered fins, popeye, and is very lethargic. He was in a 5 gallon tank with no filter or heater and was doing well for about 1 month. I started getting an oily layer on the top of the tank and was doing more frequent water changes to try and remedy. His water became cloudy and I noticed a rip in his fin. I went to a local fish store and they said it didn't look like fin rot and gave me bacteria to change the water with. We determined that something in my tap water was too harsh and was burning his fins and killing my anacharis (I was dechlorinating). The water never cleared and he started having trouble breathing. He became lethargic but the fish store didn't think it was a problem and they said my water samples were testing well, though it was still murky.
I have moved him to a 1 gallon bowl with betta water and dosed with Melafix yesterday. I think the popeye started a little on Saturday. When I moved him to the smaller bowl I noticed how bad his fins were (part even fell off - I removed it from the bowl - and there is another big chunk I think will fall off). He swam around a little after being moved to the bowl but became lethargic again. He is swimming around a bit this morning.
1) What is he sick with?
2) How can I treat it? How often and what percent do I change the water?
3) Is he likely to recover?
I have moved him to a 1 gallon bowl with betta water and dosed with Melafix yesterday. I think the popeye started a little on Saturday. When I moved him to the smaller bowl I noticed how bad his fins were (part even fell off - I removed it from the bowl - and there is another big chunk I think will fall off). He swam around a little after being moved to the bowl but became lethargic again. He is swimming around a bit this morning.
1) What is he sick with?
2) How can I treat it? How often and what percent do I change the water?
3) Is he likely to recover?
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