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Betta in five with four neons and a snail-think I have a sick betta
Badmans Tropical Fish Message Center: archive: Betta in five with four neons and a snail-think i have a sick betta
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katie ogles
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Tuesday,
July 24, 2001 - 04:27 pm
I have a betta in a five gallon. He has been there about six months...about
two months ago I added four neons..i am always making improvements
and learning more about the proper tank maitenence. i am still
such a novice-but have been so pleased that this betta and the
neons look so good, and appeared so healthy. my next goal is a
thirty gallon but i have to save money and learn more anyway-up
till about three days ago everything was good, even when i added
a snail about a month and a 1/2 ago...(i know i am at max
capacity)I first noticed a strange white dot on the betta's
eye. I have seen ick and it did not resemble the ick. it was a
pinpoint white dot on the eye. But no where else. He still appeared
healthy and lively....the next morning i noticed a faded small
patch of beige on the side of his head. yesterday I went out and
bought some Coppersafe and treated the water with it. This morning
the spot on the eye appears to have gone away....and the patch
is looking less obvious...however there are one or two single
scales that are discolored also...this is more recent as of this
morning. Today I also did a fifty percent water change....I want
to know anyones oppinion of this situation-should i add some more
of the Coppersafe anytime soon as follow up treatment...A lady
at another petstore recommended methane-blue bc she said the spot
on the eye sounded like fungus. And that this would treat bacteria-parasites-and
fungus...I also need to know if when doing fresh water changes
should using stress coat interfere with the products?
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Kick
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Tuesday,
July 24, 2001 - 07:24 pm
First I will say congrats to you on being able to keep neons.
These are not really beginner fish and become quite stressed when
water perimeters change so apparently you are doing something
right with them.
Now on to the betta. I am not too fond of adding medications to
my betta tanks. About the only thing I am very strict with is
aquarium salt at the rate of about l teasp per gallon of water
as it adds the nutrients that they need plus keeps fungus and
ick to a minimum in their tanks helping them to stay healthy.
But the salt is not really an option for the snail or the neons.
It would be very hard for me to tell you what is going on with
your betta as I cannot "see" him to know for sure. Sometimes
some of their scales can be injured and the color may fade somewhat.
Regarding the white spot on his eye and head, at first I was thinking
popeye as bettas are prone to this, but the more you wrote, the
more I tend to think maybe it might be a small patch of fungus
developing. But if it is now gone, and the discolored scales have
not hindered his activity or eating, I don't think I would
add anything else to the tank right now. Stress coat on the other
hand definitely needs to be added to the tank when doing water
changes. It rids the water of the much harmful chlorine and chloramines
that water supplies usually have. Without some type of conditioner,
you will poison the fish with these water additives. The stress
coat should not hinder the medications.
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katie ogles
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Tuesday,
July 24, 2001 - 07:49 pm
Kick, Thanks for the advice. It's a shame i can't add
salt to the five...i guess i could add some to my one gallon and
the betta I keep in a bowl. how much do you recommend for these
fellows?
So on the five gallon-you recommend waiting and not adding any
other medicaitons for the moment? The spot on the eye and the
small patch of beige seemed to have disappeared all together.
but there is one stubborn pale scale that appears raised....I
will wait and see...btw -i have three bettas...yesterday i almost
had to have a fourth...he was so pretty irredescent a pearl and
purple...very nice fins...how many do you have? what colors? just
curious.....tell me about them i am becoming a fanatic
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Kick
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Wednesday,
July 25, 2001 - 08:30 am
You want to be careful not to overmedicate these guys and since
all you are seeing right now is the pale scale, I wouldn't
add anything else. You might want to think about getting the betta
his own quarters so you can add the salt. In a one gallon "bowl",
I usually add about l/2 teaspoon with 100 percent water changes.
They really do require this for good health, and in all reality,
I think your betta may be happier by himself as this is what they
are used to.
I only have 5 right now. I was into breeding a while back, but
with summer being here, it has not left much time to care for
the fry and the tank, so have put this on hold. And females are
not readily available in my area at this time. Colors are navy
blue, red, teal with red, an almost purple looking one and one
light teal. They are alot of fun and great to have, but don't
be tempted if you do not have the time to keep up with their bowls
and tanks. At one point, I had 10, and it seemed all I was doing
was changing water. Bettas have been in my household for about
6 years. Have fun and let us know how the little one gets along.
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katie ogles
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Wednesday,
July 25, 2001 - 09:54 pm
Kick-I did buy another one -and swear it will be the last for
awhile...I am just fascinated by them all....I haven't any
aquarium salt-I will go and buy some...and start putting it in
with all the bettas that do not have tankmates...my new fellow
is a very pale red, his head is so pale it looks yellow-and looks
marbled. His fins are red-but appear to have the faint irridecant
teal between each ridge...I originally wanted a purple one but
just didn't see one as pretty as this guy...I do not plan
on anymore-i know that this is too much, my others are really
pretty. one is royal blue, Ephesias -One is dark steel blue with
red fins, and his top fin is light blue that fades to speckles
in to the red. He has the prettyiest fins of all my bettas. That
is Ying...Also I have Blinky-the pearl with a pinky-peach sorta
body and teal and red tipped fins....I am thinking of naming the
new guy Emperor...my bf likes pymetheris(?) means something
like firegog. i dunno...I'll try the salt with the other guys...adding
the 1/2 teaspoon per gallon-Every full water change?(2-3 days?)
And if my other guy gets to looking sick again i will seperate
him although-he really does seem to like all that room! Thanks
for all your help and will keep you updated....
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Kick
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Wednesday,
July 25, 2001 - 10:56 pm
katie, they all sound so pretty, and I know what you mean about
resisting the temptation to buy them. You say "no more"
and then you find the one that you just can't live without.
The salt will help to keep them healthy and also helps to keep
the water a little cleaner (at times). Just make sure
their water is clean and they are not overfed, and you should
be successful. Thanks for sharing. And have fun with your new
fettish!!
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katie ogles
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Thursday,
July 26, 2001 - 06:58 am
kick-one last question. The new guy doesn't want to eat. Betta
bites or blood worms...I noticed after i bought him that he had
about six uneaten betta bites in his container from the store.
have tried about four times to offer him food...do you think he
will come around. Seems to like his bowl, and i guess i am overworried
new mom, Trust me he is my last! A woman at my LFS has 28! Can
you believe it?
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Kick
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Thursday,
July 26, 2001 - 08:28 am
Oh yeah, I can believe it. I know of some folks who have lots
and lots of them, kept in 30 to 50 gallon breeder tanks. Don't
worry too much at this point about him not eating. This sometimes
happens with a move to different surroundings. Did you happen
to ask the LPS how long she had had him? The shipping process
upsets their system, they become stressed and therefore don't
eat. Try to offer just very small pieces for a few days, but if
he does not eat, don't get excited until at least a week has
passed. If you don't see him eating after this time, there
may be a problem that needs to be looked into.
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katie ogles
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Thursday,
July 26, 2001 - 07:52 pm
Thanks Kick!!!!! I did actually break up a few pieces, and this
afternoon he ate some-the tiniest tinyest pieces,you could barely
even see the specks-sure was picky and choosy about it too. but
maybe he is like my other betta Ying...But I am encouraged I guess
that's all for now-thanks so much!
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Kick
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Thursday,
July 26, 2001 - 09:54 pm
You are very welcome Katie. Glad I could help!
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Linda
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Saturday,
August 18, 2001 - 11:51 am
Hi Everyone..I was just browsing and came across all this Beta
talk. I have 8 of these great fish. They each have their own separate
triangle shaped aquariums and all are doing great. Since they
all are building nests and spreading their fins beautifully for
each other,I decided to get some females and try my luck at breeding.
My problem is that I just can't seem to keep my females alive
in my community tank. They last only a few days. My community
tank does quite well except for the female Betas I try and introduce.
I haven't lost a fish in months so I don't understand
it. I have neons,platties, guppies and tetras but can't seem
to keep a female Beta for one of my guys. Does this mean I need
to get them their own tanks too? Thanks for the help
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joycedonley
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Saturday,
August 18, 2001 - 06:30 pm
Linda gotta wait for Kick she has kept Bettas a long time and
will let you know. Maybe she is off for the weekend, but I am
sure she will get back to you.
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katie ogles
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Saturday,
August 18, 2001 - 07:42 pm
Hi, all..just an update...Emperor is eating regularly now, and
all my bettas are doing great...The betta in the five gallon and
four neons are all happy and healthy. I have been addding salt
to my bowls, and the water does seem to stay cleaner!!! By the
way I did get one last betta..He is a "rare black" with
clearish black tinted fins with very appealing electric blue markings...His
name is Marduk...However I still worry about YIng...He sometimes
appears sporadic and darting around and at other times I worry
that he is not holding himself right, also he will bob his whole
head out of water sometimes....swimming and bobbing his head out
of water...And I am still breaking up his food ...Does anyone
think it would be a good idea to feed him peas on a reg basis...i
think with his eating problem maybe he tends to have trouble "passing
food" bc sometimes when he does eat a big piece it gets stuck
there...I spend way to much time worrying over this fish...Is
a community tank a the LFS an option? WOuld a special needs fish
be kept? If i could find one with an affinity for bettas?
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