Sick Betta - Slime on Fins

[Jan]

My betta has what appears to be slime on his fins. It covers the lower parts
of fins, and it hangs in thin strands. There is no blood, the fins aren't
torn, its just the slime. I am treating him with BettaFix for a week now,
and the slime doesn't go away. Should I continue treating him? Or will it go
away on its own? Otherwise he looks fine, he even built a bubble nest in his
bowl.

A couple of months ago he had fin rot. Since then, his fins still don't look
healthy, especially after a water change (the ends look torn, but they heal
in a couple of days). He lives in a 1 gallon bowl, with 100% water change
every week (I treat the water with AquaPlus). Maybe this much water change
is stressing him out, or it could be something in the water that's bothering
him?

Now I am preparing a 2.5 gallon planted tank for him. With fewer water
changes, I hope he'll do better.

Any suggestions as to what is causing this? Your help is appreciated.

[Elaine T]

Jan wrote:
> My betta has what appears to be slime on his fins. It covers the lower parts
> of fins, and it hangs in thin strands. There is no blood, the fins aren't
> torn, its just the slime. I am treating him with BettaFix for a week now,
> and the slime doesn't go away. Should I continue treating him? Or will it go
> away on its own? Otherwise he looks fine, he even built a bubble nest in his
> bowl.
>
> A couple of months ago he had fin rot. Since then, his fins still don't look
> healthy, especially after a water change (the ends look torn, but they heal
> in a couple of days). He lives in a 1 gallon bowl, with 100% water change
> every week (I treat the water with AquaPlus). Maybe this much water change
> is stressing him out, or it could be something in the water that's bothering
> him?
>
> Now I am preparing a 2.5 gallon planted tank for him. With fewer water
> changes, I hope he'll do better.
>
> Any suggestions as to what is causing this? Your help is appreciated.
>
>
It sounds a lot like ammonia burn to me. Have you tested his water for
ammonia? AquaPlus is only OK to use on chlorine and not chloramine - it
will release ammonia into the water if chloramines are present.
Uncycled bowls also frequently have ammonia buildup from fish waste.

100% water changes are quite stressful for fish so I would also change
smaller amounts of water more frequently and use AmQuel or Ammo-Lock to
detoxify any ammonia in the bowl. BTW, either of those is a suitable
water conditioner instead of AquaPlus for both chlorine and chloramines.

Are you planning on filtering and heating the 2.5 gallon tank? He'll
definately do better in the long run if you do.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Jan]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, that could well be ammonia burn. I've never
tested the bowl water - somehow I always assumed that it's good, since I
change it frequently... The 2.5 gallon tank is not heated or filtered - I
always read that bettas are cold water fish. The only spare filter I have is
a 150 gph power filter - that would be too much for this tank. Anyways, I'll
introduce the betta to the new tank and see how it goes. I'll definitely
monitor his water from now on.

Thanks,

Jan

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
m...
> Jan wrote:
>> My betta has what appears to be slime on his fins. It covers the lower
>> parts of fins, and it hangs in thin strands. There is no blood, the fins
>> aren't torn, its just the slime. I am treating him with BettaFix for a
>> week now, and the slime doesn't go away. Should I continue treating him?
>> Or will it go away on its own? Otherwise he looks fine, he even built a
>> bubble nest in his bowl.
>>
>> A couple of months ago he had fin rot. Since then, his fins still don't
>> look healthy, especially after a water change (the ends look torn, but
>> they heal in a couple of days). He lives in a 1 gallon bowl, with 100%
>> water change every week (I treat the water with AquaPlus). Maybe this
>> much water change is stressing him out, or it could be something in the
>> water that's bothering him?
>>
>> Now I am preparing a 2.5 gallon planted tank for him. With fewer water
>> changes, I hope he'll do better.
>>
>> Any suggestions as to what is causing this? Your help is appreciated.
> It sounds a lot like ammonia burn to me. Have you tested his water for
> ammonia? AquaPlus is only OK to use on chlorine and not chloramine - it
> will release ammonia into the water if chloramines are present. Uncycled
> bowls also frequently have ammonia buildup from fish waste.
>
> 100% water changes are quite stressful for fish so I would also change
> smaller amounts of water more frequently and use AmQuel or Ammo-Lock to
> detoxify any ammonia in the bowl. BTW, either of those is a suitable
> water conditioner instead of AquaPlus for both chlorine and chloramines.
>
> Are you planning on filtering and heating the 2.5 gallon tank? He'll
> definately do better in the long run if you do.
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Elaine T]

Jan wrote:
> Thanks for the reply. Yes, that could well be ammonia burn. I've never
> tested the bowl water - somehow I always assumed that it's good, since I
> change it frequently... The 2.5 gallon tank is not heated or filtered - I
> always read that bettas are cold water fish. The only spare filter I have is
> a 150 gph power filter - that would be too much for this tank. Anyways, I'll
> introduce the betta to the new tank and see how it goes. I'll definitely
> monitor his water from now on.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jan
>
Glad to help.

Bettas are actually tropical fish. I've never seen a book that said
otherwise - maybe there's a bad website out there. :-( They really
thrive when the water is about 78-80F. Your betta will be much more
active and a more interesting pet if you heat the tank. You will also
have a wider selection of plants. I keep java moss, watersprite, and
Rotala with my betta.

As for filters, air driven sponge filters are great for betta tanks.
They don't create too much current, give great biological filtration,
are cheap, and all you have to do is rinse the sponge out once a month
or so. You still have to change water (I do 50% every 2 weeks on my
planted 2.5 gallon betta tank), but once the tank cycles in about 6
weeks from when you add him, it will be free of ammonia and nitrite.

I know this seems like a lot for a betta, but you will be rewarded with
a pet that lives for up to 5 years, is perky and responsive, and has
long, beautiful finnage all the time.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[coolchinchilla]

Jan wrote:
> Thanks for the reply. Yes, that could well be ammonia burn. I've never
> tested the bowl water - somehow I always assumed that it's good, since I
> change it frequently... The 2.5 gallon tank is not heated or filtered - I
> always read that bettas are cold water fish. The only spare filter I have is
> a 150 gph power filter - that would be too much for this tank. Anyways, I'll
> introduce the betta to the new tank and see how it goes. I'll definitely
> monitor his water from now on.

He'll be most grateful for the extra care on the water parameters.
You might think about changing 20% every other day.

Here is a link about bettas and their care. It seems to indicate
that a betta can survive in cold water but they don't necessarily
thrive.

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/anabantids2/p/betta.htm

HTH.
coolchinchilla

[Daniel Morrow]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
m...
> Jan wrote:
> > Thanks for the reply. Yes, that could well be ammonia burn. I've never
> > tested the bowl water - somehow I always assumed that it's good, since I
> > change it frequently... The 2.5 gallon tank is not heated or filtered -
I
> > always read that bettas are cold water fish. The only spare filter I
have is
> > a 150 gph power filter - that would be too much for this tank. Anyways,
I'll
> > introduce the betta to the new tank and see how it goes. I'll definitely
> > monitor his water from now on.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Jan
> >
> Glad to help.
>
> Bettas are actually tropical fish. I've never seen a book that said
> otherwise - maybe there's a bad website out there. :-( They really
> thrive when the water is about 78-80F. Your betta will be much more
> active and a more interesting pet if you heat the tank. You will also
> have a wider selection of plants. I keep java moss, watersprite, and
> Rotala with my betta.
>
> As for filters, air driven sponge filters are great for betta tanks.
> They don't create too much current, give great biological filtration,
> are cheap, and all you have to do is rinse the sponge out once a month
> or so.

That's good advice - I would highly recommend an appropriate jungle sponge
filter and make sure Jan that you clean the sponge in the betta's waste
water by squeezing it some while it is submerged when you do water changes,
if you clean the sponge under cold tap water the chlorine/chloramines and
cold/hot temperatures will kill the good bacteria that eat ammonia and
nitrites and that colonize the sponge filter. I made that mistake a year and
a half ago, it caused constant cycling and fish loss which I first fixed by
using a penguin power filter (nice biowheel) but found out later that those
sponge filters work perfectly when used/cleaned properly (I didn't clean
mine properly), and that a sponge filter would have worked just fine for me,
too late for me to use air driven sponge filters now because I am all set
with the alternatives I use now. An approximately $06.00 elite mini
submersible (tiny) filter would probably work good for you too (58 gallons
per hour U.S.) (Size: 3 1/2 x 1 1/4 x 1 3/4 inch size), pretty cool looking
small tiny filter, I prefer air driven sponge filters now that I know how to
use/clean them though. The hagens have quick change cartridges and the ad
says nothing about biological filtration so I would easily prefer the sponge
filter if anything for reliability. If the hagen ad stated biological
filtration I would go for it but the ad doesn't so it is a possibility that
the quick change filter cartridges for the hagen elite mini submersible
don't have any sponge or other biological filter media and not do biological
filtration. Good luck, and later!

You still have to change water (I do 50% every 2 weeks on my
> planted 2.5 gallon betta tank), but once the tank cycles in about 6
> weeks from when you add him, it will be free of ammonia and nitrite.
>
> I know this seems like a lot for a betta, but you will be rewarded with
> a pet that lives for up to 5 years, is perky and responsive, and has
> long, beautiful finnage all the time.
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Jan]

Thanks a lot. The website was very informative.

Jan

[Jan]

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
> m...
>> Glad to help.
>>
>> Bettas are actually tropical fish. I've never seen a book that said
>> otherwise - maybe there's a bad website out there. :-( They really
>> thrive when the water is about 78-80F. Your betta will be much more
>> active and a more interesting pet if you heat the tank. You will also
>> have a wider selection of plants. I keep java moss, watersprite, and
>> Rotala with my betta.

Thats exactly what I have in his new tank - java moss and water sprite. I
find these are great plants. As an update, the betta is now enjoying his new
tank, and everything looks great.

Thanks for the info. I'll see if I can find a small sponge filter for this
tank.

Jan