my male betta is dying...advice needed!

S

strizzy

Registered Member
Apr 20, 2006
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I've had my male betta for almost 2 months now and its been living in a very small (less than one gallon) tank. About a month ago, he started losing color and turning white under his mouth and around his gills [see attached picture if you want]. His face is losing it's lustre and is just a dark, flat color. Also, the fins on his bottom side in the middle that are long and thin are shriveled up and white at the ends. His back and top fins aren't as full as they used to be, they're scraggly and unhealthy looking.
He's also acting weird. Most of the time, he sits there for hours with his nose in the corner of the tank and doesn't move. He blows bubbles there, which I know is a mating thing. When he swims, he bolts around the tank frantically. He seems to have lost his appetite also.
I have been using BettaFix remedy which is supposed to heal fins and restore color, but it's not working.
If anyone knows why this is happening or can give advice on how to make him better, that would be great!
Also, I was thinking about putting him in an aquarium that has 4 fancy goldfish (orandas and ryukins) living in it already because it has a regulated temperature and more oxygen in the water...would that be bad?

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Strizzy, how often do you change the water in the Betta bowl? What is the temperature? I have a Betta in a 5 gallon mini-bow with a filter and a small heater. Bettas like warm water. I keep the water around 80 degrees or so and I change most of the water once a week.
 
Strizzy, if it helps, Bettas need a more constant warm temp--fluctuations cause stress=fungus/disease/problems. Also clean water conditions are a must--dirty water also creates stress, thus lowering their immune systems and making them vulnerable to a host of problems. Your goldfish are coldwater fish; if you put him in with them, he will not only be very stressed by their presence, but also go into a kind of thermal shock=death. Good luck!!
 
strizzy said:
I've had my male betta for almost 2 months now and its been living in a very small (less than one gallon) tank.
Click to expand...

There's your problem right there.
 
Do a weekly 100% waterchange and plant some anacharis into the bowl. one or two stalks will do the trick. Make sure it gets some natural sunlight and you will have taken care of filtration issues. Keep the temperature stable and your fish will be fine even though its in a horribly small tank.

The problem is the fact that there is no biofiltration in the tank. The water becomes oxygen poor since it is stagnant. The anacharis will act as the biofilter and oxygenate the water at the same time. With people who refuse to get rid of their betta bowl, this is a way to take care of the ammonia problem that comes with a betta bowl not waterchanged daily.
 
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I wouldnt put him in with the goldies b/c they prefer colder water temps and bettas need around 80* Also with the goldies having flowing fins, this could pose a problem with nipping. What you could do, is go get him a bigger tank that has a heater and filtration. A 2 1/2g will work, although a 10g would be much better. I moved my betta to a 10g with 3 snails and he is as happy and healthy as can be. That would be my suggestion.
 
Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to clean the tank more, and soon he'll be moving into a bowl that's a lot bigger than what he's living in now. Unfortunately, I don't have the money to buy $50 worth of aquarium stuff for it. The fish was a birthday gift so it's not something I was planning on. I'm going to look into a heater and the plant though. Are underwater plants high maintenance?
 
You should be able to buy a "bunch" of anacharis for 2-3 dollars or so. They do well just floating, so if you have no anchoring gravel etc., they'll still thrive. I've found anacharis to be the hardiest of aquatic plants so far!! They help filter water, provide nibbles, and give the aquarium more "presence," or visual interest. It also gives your betta an entertainment area of sorts, as well as bubble catchers. Good luck . . .~r
 
strizzy said:
I've had my male betta for almost 2 months now and its been living in a very small (less than one gallon) tank. About a month ago, he started losing color and turning white under his mouth and around his gills [see attached picture if you want]. His face is losing it's lustre and is just a dark, flat color. Also, the fins on his bottom side in the middle that are long and thin are shriveled up and white at the ends. His back and top fins aren't as full as they used to be, they're scraggly and unhealthy looking.
He's also acting weird. Most of the time, he sits there for hours with his nose in the corner of the tank and doesn't move. He blows bubbles there, which I know is a mating thing. When he swims, he bolts around the tank frantically. He seems to have lost his appetite also.
I have been using BettaFix remedy which is supposed to heal fins and restore color, but it's not working.
If anyone knows why this is happening or can give advice on how to make him better, that would be great!
Also, I was thinking about putting him in an aquarium that has 4 fancy goldfish (orandas and ryukins) living in it already because it has a regulated temperature and more oxygen in the water...would that be bad?
Click to expand...

If we stuck you in a shoe box to live how would you feel?

fighting fish need TROPICAL water temps and this requires to be filtered. Tropical fish keeping isnt like getting a goldfish from the circus where you bung it in a bowl of cold water and leave it. Id suggest you save up and definately get a small tank with a filter and a heater and if the poor fish survives try to learn something about the interest you are involved in :)
 
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