Help! Abnormal behaviour?

[Shawshank]

Hey, so, I have a heated, filtered 5 gallon tank with a betta, a cory catfish and an apple snail, and the catfish and snail are acting abnormal...
So basically I moved places, and my friend had to look after my tank for about 10 days, and it didn't get cleaned during that time, so when I went and picked it up it was obviously due for a clean; however, I got home and noticed my betta has a case of fin rot, so i cleaned the tank and I trotted off and grabbed some meds for him... Now, I removed the carbon filter, and for three days I have been putting the med in the water. Tonight I'm casually observing the happenings inside the tank and I notice that Mr. Snail has been sitting on the waterline for about four days (extra information: my heater died the day before yesterday, so they had to go without head for one night) not eating. Furthermore my cory is refusing to go to the bottom of the tank, methodically swimming from side to side, also not eating at all.. I'm concerned.. Could it be the medication? It's just bettafix?

- I've had these guys for a year and a bit, and this is the first abnormal behaviour I've seen.

And sorry for all the information, but I thought background info would help..

 

[shellieca]

Hey, so, I have a heated, filtered 5 gallon tank with a betta, a cory catfish and an apple snail, and the catfish and snail are acting abnormal...
So basically I moved places, and my friend had to look after my tank for about 10 days, and it didn't get cleaned during that time, so when I went and picked it up it was obviously due for a clean; however, I got home and noticed my betta has a case of fin rot, so i cleaned the tank and I trotted off and grabbed some meds for him... Now, I removed the carbon filter, and for three days I have been putting the med in the water. Tonight I'm casually observing the happenings inside the tank and I notice that Mr. Snail has been sitting on the waterline for about four days (extra information: my heater died the day before yesterday, so they had to go without head for one night) not eating. Furthermore my cory is refusing to go to the bottom of the tank, methodically swimming from side to side, also not eating at all.. I'm concerned.. Could it be the medication? It's just bettafix?

- I've had these guys for a year and a bit, and this is the first abnormal behaviour I've seen.

And sorry for all the information, but I thought background info would help..

It is said by many that any of the meds with the word fix in them are not good for labyrinth fish such as a Betta because it has tea tree oil in it which can coat the labyrinth organ & cause death. Fin rot will usually heal up with clean, warm, conditioned water. When you completely cleaned the tank it is possible you killed off the BB & the tank is experiencing a cycle. Have you tested your water for ammonia, nitrites & nitrates? I would start there. Its not unusual for a snail to go motionless for a period of time at the water line.

 

[librarygirl]

Both bettas and corys come to the surface for air. Some meds like bettafix might not be good for them. If the cory is acting strangely I would do a couple of 50% water changes to try to get the meds out. Fin rot can usually be treated with clean water (aquarium salt can help too although I wouldn't recommend adding salt with a cory or snail in the tank). As the poster above said you may want to test your water for ammonia and nitrite as well just to make sure there aren't toxins in the water that may be affecting the fish as well and could be the reason for the fin rot. If possible, you could also set up a quarantine tank for the betta and treat it with frequent water changes and aquarium salt.

 

[Shawshank]

Thanks!

 

[Shawshank]

Both bettas and corys come to the surface for air. Some meds like bettafix might not be good for them. If the cory is acting strangely I would do a couple of 50% water changes to try to get the meds out. Fin rot can usually be treated with clean water (aquarium salt can help too although I wouldn't recommend adding salt with a cory or snail in the tank). As the poster above said you may want to test your water for ammonia and nitrite as well just to make sure there aren't toxins in the water that may be affecting the fish as well and could be the reason for the fin rot. If possible, you could also set up a quarantine tank for the betta and treat it with frequent water changes and aquarium salt.

Thanks!! I'll do that.