View Full Version : New betta I need help on what to do. (LFS gripe as well)
Neo Sithlord
02-23-2005, 3:51 AM
Well next week will mark my first year in fish keeping I've come along way and I've been trying to setup a tank for a betta to finnally get back to the fish that got me started. I've done great in my opinion. I'm on my 2nd tank (transfer from my first/upgrade) and haven't had a death in 3-4 months and almost 6 months without a death that could be faulted on my care in one way or anouther (Had neon tetra desease and lost all but one of six). I was fishless cycling a 10 gallon and gave up and went with a fishy cycle. I feel I did everything in my power to make the fishless work again but it just didn't take. So anyways my LFS that has been a second option to my favorite store had an awsome betta that was to good to pass up. Black head blue iridecent body and kept in a 10 gallon tank alone at the time of purchase. I'd been watching the bettas in the store for a month since I've had so little sucess with them. All seemed well. Then the ,owner I'm guessing, started to fish him out of the tank. He was on the sponge filter in the back and she started to jab the net back there to get him out he shot to the other side behind the heater and she began to jab at that as well. He ended up getting pinned bahind it and it just got worse. Eventually she had him pinched between the gravel and the glass I swear she had his fins pinched in there. I felt horrible about it but couldn't let him stay at that point more out of shock more then anything. The stores been arround since the early 80's and I've been watching the store for the last year because it seemed like my best option they just never had any of the fish I wanted. Tonight when I came home he's just resting on the bottom of the tank he's been that way since he first explored the tank after I let him out of the bag. What can I do to make sure he's ok? Should I try adding some salt to ease any stress? He doesn't apear to be injured his fins are intact and he doesn't have any signs of spine injury. Or I'm just over reacting and I should give him a day or two to get comfortable? I'm really ticked off about how he was netted and I plan on NEVER buying there again! I need the help of all of the Betta people to figure out if he's going to make it. I'm just sick with the idea that I finally have a betta again but I'm going to lose him due to poor treatment other then being kept in a cup.
Maybe I'm over reacting then again...
Maybe I'm just venting then again I want him to live a long happy life and I feel I got hosed by yet anouther fish store.
-Neo Sithlord
Hello Neo....that poor little guy !! Shame on that employee !
You know, betta are just not that hard to net...especially in a 10 gallon tank, they aren't exactly the fasted fish in the store...what a careless thing to do.
Anyway....That boy probably needs a good rest after THAT ! Have you added stress coat to his water ? That will help, and aquarium salt couldn't hurt. I would keep the area where his tank is dark...that helps to calm them. Do you have plants or anything in the tank he can hide in and feel more secure ? That can also help. He probably needs to just veg for awhile and feel safe again. Some bettas take awhile to get used to thier new surroundings, don't be too concerned if he doesn't eat for a few days.
Keep an eye on him for injuries or any illnesses that could crop up from such a stressful experience. I wouldn't treat him with any meds unless really necessary. If you keep the water good and clean he should be fine.
Good luck with him Neo....if he's a good strong fish he'll recover well. :)
Harlock
02-23-2005, 8:54 AM
It's fairly normal for a betta to check thnigs out and then rest after a stressful move. Adding salt "to ease the stress" isn't a good idea in my opinion. Salt is unnatural to him and is a stressor, not something that eases it. I dislike using any chemical in a prophylactic measure in fish, though I know some people do. Netting is rough and when it is done by incompetent LFS people it's worse, but what your betta is doing is nothing abnormal. Just give him a day or two and he'll be happy enough.
Wierd, at the LFS I work at, Bettas are always the easiest to catch... barley move at all. It gets frustrating trying to catch the harder fish. Im always very consious of not hurting the fish, and sometimes it takes a while :P.
pbecot01
02-23-2005, 12:17 PM
I just bough some guppies and neons yesterday (at 2 different stores!). The kid who netted the guppies kept squeezing the bag and shaking it around, and the guy with the neons got 'em trapped behind heaters and filter intakes. They BOTH dropped a fish in the process.
I had 4 guppies and 2 neons die overnight :(
Harlock
02-23-2005, 12:19 PM
Bring em right back and demand a refund, then head somewhere else, if you can. If not, ask to net them for yourself.
Lauren
02-23-2005, 12:31 PM
What is the temperature of the tank? Bettas can get very lazy if the water temp is low. I would add salt and keep the light off. Some fish need some time to get used to their new tank. But regardless of whether or not he gets better: complain about that employee. Seriously, bettas are not that hard to get, and even if they were, there is no need to jab at them. Any fish can be caught with gentle persuasion; it just may take a while.
pbecot01
02-23-2005, 12:43 PM
Both places are good stores... who had different people working yesterday then they usually do.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the trip back to the stores until sunday.
Beco...call the store and tell them what happened...then put the fish in the freezer so they don't go bad.....and bring them back to the store with you when you go. Hope you still have your reciept...I always keep my reciepts after a purchase.
Neo Sithlord
02-26-2005, 4:46 AM
Ok I over reacted then had problems with Windows XP (I like to call it service pack 2 BAH!) so I couldn't get back online. Anyways. He's doing ok now I really over reacted on the situation. He's adjusting "ok". The thing that bothers me the most is that the current in the tank seems abit to much for the guy to handle. I think that's why he's been hiding out. I'll try and get a picture of the tank up so you guys can see how it plays out in there. He's eating VERY well but due to the current he can't swim arround without being slammed into the decor or turned on his head and flipped upsidedown. I have a peguin bio wheel miny in there and I'd like to slow the out flow abit for him. Any ideas? maybe a differnt filter that I could get at Petco/Petsmart or a LFS something common is best and I can't use an UGF because I have sand as a substrait. The tank wasn't really cycled but I did attempt a fishless on it with no success. So there's more to come on this as soon as I can upload afew pics off of my camera.
Thanks guys I won't forgive the employee and I regret to say it may have been the owner but I have so little to chose from here that I'm begining to forgive big issues for high quality fish. And this store really does have really healthy stock.
More to come...
- Neo Sithlord
I'm glad to hear your fish is doing well. It also sounds like the fish was a fighter, which is not a bad thing because that tells you he's a fighter!
Ok I over reacted then had problems with Windows XP (I like to call it service pack 2 BAH!) so I couldn't get back online. Anyways. He's doing ok now I really over reacted on the situation. He's adjusting "ok". The thing that bothers me the most is that the current in the tank seems abit to much for the guy to handle. I think that's why he's been hiding out. I'll try and get a picture of the tank up so you guys can see how it plays out in there. He's eating VERY well but due to the current he can't swim arround without being slammed into the decor or turned on his head and flipped upsidedown. I have a peguin bio wheel miny in there and I'd like to slow the out flow abit for him. Any ideas? maybe a differnt filter that I could get at Petco/Petsmart or a LFS something common is best and I can't use an UGF because I have sand as a substrait. The tank wasn't really cycled but I did attempt a fishless on it with no success. So there's more to come on this as soon as I can upload afew pics off of my camera.
Thanks guys I won't forgive the employee and I regret to say it may have been the owner but I have so little to chose from here that I'm begining to forgive big issues for high quality fish. And this store really does have really healthy stock.
More to come...
- Neo Sithlord
:) :)
Neo Sithlord
02-26-2005, 5:42 AM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/Neosithlord/10-3tags.jpg
Ok the down flow is the spill zone from the filter he gets slammed around pretty good over there. That's where I'd like to reduce the current in the tank. The quiet zone where he hides has the shelter of a plastic plant with an indent in the decore on the bottom that he likes. the holes in it lead to a "cave" that he also likes to hide in. The "Still zone" is where he only seems to be able to swim with out getting tossed about. The "ghost fish" is Franky uhm... welll... he's... Special! So this is the best picture I could get of him I just want you all to understand why I want to see more of him he's an awsome betta.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/Neosithlord/0-1cropped.jpg
Pretty ain't he?
Tank specs are:
10 gallon
tronic 100w heater
Peguin Mini Bio Wheel
temp 78 degees F
substrait Tahitan Moon Sand one inch deep
Chemistry (uncycled so it's going to swing) Neutral ph
-Neo Sithlord
Neo...very pretty little fish.. :)
I have a mini penguin bio wheel in a 10 gallon. I slow the current down by putting a piece of plastic canvas in front of the outflow for the filter. It works fairly well to cut the current.
I'd take a picture for you of just how I did this, but my daughter is away for the weekend and she has my camera... ;)
kveeti
02-27-2005, 9:47 AM
He's gorgeous! It really sounds like you care a lot about your betta, so you weren’t over-reacting, just being vigilant, like any good parent.
I remember reading on a betta site somewhere that somebody bought (buy NEW!) one of those clear acrylic soap dishes with 2 suction cups and suctioned to the glass right under the out flow.
Wow...what a great idea...lol...bet it looks better than my plastic canvas setup... :idea2:
fishdude
02-27-2005, 2:30 PM
One time there was an employee at my LFS drop a very pretty ram i had just bought. it spent a few days recovering but i would never get that same person to net fish for me again.
Yes. IMO you should defienetly complain to the manager of the store.That is something the employee can easily avoid by just taking his time. i mean i dont think many bettas could win the hundred meter dash :\
ive heard that a piece of foam infront of the outflow slows it down, this will also prevent any anoying dripping sounds...