Treatment Question

Lexi_D

Lexi_D

is *Magic*
Nov 25, 2007
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watershedrussiantortoise.blogspot.com
I've been treating my betta for velvet (which is what I thought he had), but he doesn't seem any better. I'm using coppersafe which is supposed to be for velvet, ich, and other external parasites (in case it isn't velvet)... but he has shown pretty much no improvement. My mom thought he was dead today but he was still very much alive when I gently squirted him with the turkey baster (lol). He's rather lethargic as well. Could there be another problem here? Is he going to get worse before he gets better? I added the dose of coppersafe on Sunday, it is supposed to treat the whole tank for a month. Thank you for any answers! :help:
 
Ammonia: .25-.5
Nitrate: 5-10
Nitrite: 1

Alright, there appears to be an issue there! I actually tested the nitrite twice to make sure the reading was accurate and apparently it was, so should I start the water changes? I don't want to stress him too much.
 
What test kit are you using?
Is your tank cycled?

The meds are not the problem. A fish cannot fight off a disease with all that stress from poor water quality. Do water changes immediately and a product like Prime is a quick solution.
 
2.5 gallon tank, 1 betta, no filter (*ducks down to avoid flying rocks*), lots of live plants. I've never had a problem with my source water before that I know of, my other tanks get it and have never had an issue.
 
I'm not really sure I remember but it involved adding about 2 cups of gravel from an established tank. I will definitely find a little nano-filter soon, I've seen them at our good LFS that's a half hour away, not sure when we'll be able to get there but hopefully very soon. Is there anything else I should be doing? I'll have time to do water changes starting tomorrow afternoon since the camp I'm working at ends early on Fridays (we might even go to the LFS afterwards).
 
an unfiltered tank (or bowl if you may) will not cycle. the bacteria require water flow and oxygenation to stay alive (flow and oxygen that is found via a running filter). your ammonia and nitrite amounts are there because it is an uncycled environment.

i'd suggest a near 100% water change immediately (put the betta in a tupperware with about 10% of the old tank water while you do). when you go to put the betta back in the bowl, do it the same as you would drip acclimate a new fish. i've used this method many times without issue. daily changes for at least a week and monitor for improvement.
 
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