please check these pics.... sick betta?

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michaelg210

Medium Fish
#1
Jun 6, 2010
67
0
0
#1
H20 perameters today am/ 0 nitRI 0 nitRA approximately 8 - 10, say closer to 10....

was wondering if someone could check some pics of my daughter's betta....there are some possible issues with 1. the fin 2. the grey matter on the head and face, and now some blackish matter.... if anyone knowledgeable on bettas / diseases, etc would just look at them for me.... pls...thanks
mjg
Giovanni 082410 pics pictures by michaelg210 - Photobucket
 

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michaelg210

Medium Fish
#3
Jun 6, 2010
67
0
0
#3
i try to keep it at 0

sometimes between water changes it gets up toward like 15 or so, but i change my water about 1x/wk 20% to 30% cause my nitrate level is like 15 from the tap.... i have begun diluting tap water with about 50 - 60 percent distilled water to try to keep it closer in the 5 - 10 range......
 

lauraf

lauraf

Superstar Fish
#4
Jan 1, 2010
2,181
0
0
Vancouver, British Columbia
#4
michaelg210 said:
sometimes between water changes it gets up toward like 15 or so, but i change my water about 1x/wk 20% to 30% cause my nitrate level is like 15 from the tap.... i have begun diluting tap water with about 50 - 60 percent distilled water to try to keep it closer in the 5 - 10 range......
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Your ammonia gets to 15? That's what achase was asking about.
 

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michaelg210

Medium Fish
#7
Jun 6, 2010
67
0
0
#7
point 15

achase said:
0.15 that is way better than 15 because I would have assumed it was ammonia poisoning.
How old is your betta? What size tank? Any tank mates?
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at 15 he would have either been dead, or wearing a cape with an S on his chest.

just checked perameters, ammonio ~ .10 / nitrite 0 / nitrAte ~ 10 - 12.

did about a 25pct water change, again using about 35 pct spring water.

nitrAtes now at 5.

have had the betta 5 months, so say around 1 & 1/2 yrs old. 10G tank, no mates.

The little white patches on his face imho look as though they cake up, like barnicles on a whale, layer atop layer, if you will.... don't recall seeing that on him before, looks to me also a bit of white around the mouth.... but his is acting normally.

any ideas?
 

achase

achase

Large Fish
#8
Feb 1, 2010
765
0
0
British Columbia, Canada
#8
at 15 he would have either been dead, or wearing a cape with an S on his chest.
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Lol! Yes I would imagine he would have to be super/special to survive those conditions.

I have no idea what going on. It might be worth while to PM, bassbonediva, who I believe has lots of experience with bettas. Or check out this website: sick betta
 

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michaelg210

Medium Fish
#9
Jun 6, 2010
67
0
0
#9
still not sure what's up

achase said:
Lol! Yes I would imagine he would have to be super/special to survive those conditions.

I have no idea what going on. It might be worth while to PM, bassbonediva, who I believe has lots of experience with bettas. Or check out this website: sick betta
Click to expand...
thanks for the tip, i sent her a pm......i am having a problem with nitrates, so don't know if that perhaps is causing the betta stress and that is what i am seeing.... have only been feeding him 3 pellets per day, and my nitrate, as i think i stated, comes outta the tap at like 15.

Having to use more and more distilled water and think now i need to start adding trace elements, Seachem makes on called Fresh Trace.... dunno anything about it, but i really like seachem, great products......

either way, even after a water change of 25%, like 3 days later, nitrates are back up to like 15. I would think perhaps overfeeding, but he gobbles everything down right away, three pellets in like 30 seconds......

let's see what bassbonediva has to say.........
 

bassbonediva

bassbonediva

Superstar Fish
#10
Oct 15, 2009
2,010
0
0
Northern Arizona
#10
Nitrates aren't a problem. In fact, you want between 10-20ppm of nitrates. They are what the good bacteria break the ammonia and nitrites down into and are only harmful in extremely large amounts (like 40ppm+).

About the betta...he actually looks pretty good. How long have you had him? I'm not going to ask how old he is because the age you get bettas in the pet stores varies considerably. I've had a few that were extremely young (just a couple of months old) when I got them and others that were very old retired breeders when I got them. Some of my older boys have gotten "growths" like Giovanni is showing as they aged, especially my darker-colored boys. If he's healthy, active and eating, I wouldn't worry about it. :)
 

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michaelg210

Medium Fish
#12
Jun 6, 2010
67
0
0
#12
Thanks

bassbonediva said:
Nitrates aren't a problem. In fact, you want between 10-20ppm of nitrates. They are what the good bacteria break the ammonia and nitrites down into and are only harmful in extremely large amounts (like 40ppm+).

About the betta...he actually looks pretty good. How long have you had him? I'm not going to ask how old he is because the age you get bettas in the pet stores varies considerably. I've had a few that were extremely young (just a couple of months old) when I got them and others that were very old retired breeders when I got them. Some of my older boys have gotten "growths" like Giovanni is showing as they aged, especially my darker-colored boys. If he's healthy, active and eating, I wouldn't worry about it. :)
Click to expand...
actually, he seems fine other than the marks... he is very much active, often swimming back and forth, instead of relaxed slow swimming, almost as if he is "pacing" or "sparring" or just hyper, i really don't know. We have had him going on 5 months.

I was told by someone else gotta keep nitrates below 10. API Complete Freshwater Test Kit gives a much higher threshold, and i thought based on all the conflicting information available that 40-60 was the danger zone, kind of tantamount to .25 on ammonia. Either way, 10-15 is a releif, then, cause I can't seem to keep it much lower.......

Thank you for your help.

mjg
 

achase

achase

Large Fish
#13
Feb 1, 2010
765
0
0
British Columbia, Canada
#13
I believe you are correct regarding nitrates being safe for fish 40ppm and under. I know in my 16 gallon tank the nitrates stay between 5ppm - 10ppm.
Water changes (weekly 20% - 25%) will help with the ammonia staying down (I believe??).
 

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michaelg210

Medium Fish
#14
Jun 6, 2010
67
0
0
#14
bassbonediva said:
Nitrates aren't a problem. In fact, you want between 10-20ppm of nitrates. They are what the good bacteria break the ammonia and nitrites down into and are only harmful in extremely large amounts (like 40ppm+).

About the betta...he actually looks pretty good. How long have you had him? I'm not going to ask how old he is because the age you get bettas in the pet stores varies considerably. I've had a few that were extremely young (just a couple of months old) when I got them and others that were very old retired breeders when I got them. Some of my older boys have gotten "growths" like Giovanni is showing as they aged, especially my darker-colored boys. If he's healthy, active and eating, I wouldn't worry about it. :)
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I am sorry, i thought i had replied way back when, but don't see it.... have had him 5 months..... i came back to ask you another question, can you tell me please if you know which would be better for my betta since i am using distilled water.... seachem fresh trace: Seachem. Fresh Trace
or Aqueon's Betta Water Renewal: Aqueon Betta Water Renewal -- 4 fl oz - Vitacost
both contain overlapping ingredients, approximately 9, but each contains other elements / minerals the other does not... any advice?

thanks
 

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michaelg210

Medium Fish
#15
Jun 6, 2010
67
0
0
#15
test

bassbonediva said:
Nitrates aren't a problem. In fact, you want between 10-20ppm of nitrates. They are what the good bacteria break the ammonia and nitrites down into and are only harmful in extremely large amounts (like 40ppm+).

About the betta...he actually looks pretty good. How long have you had him? I'm not going to ask how old he is because the age you get bettas in the pet stores varies considerably. I've had a few that were extremely young (just a couple of months old) when I got them and others that were very old retired breeders when I got them. Some of my older boys have gotten "growths" like Giovanni is showing as they aged, especially my darker-colored boys. If he's healthy, active and eating, I wouldn't worry about it. :)
Click to expand...
i have replied to this several times but my post do now show up........anyone out there ??? testing 1, 2 testing, 1,2
 

achase

achase

Large Fish
#17
Feb 1, 2010
765
0
0
British Columbia, Canada
#17
Why would you be using either of these products? The only products I use in my tanks are API dechlorinator and Flourish excel (for my plants). In the past I have never used anything in my betta tanks beside dechlorinator.
 

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michaelg210

Medium Fish
#18
Jun 6, 2010
67
0
0
#18
why use these products? because:

achase said:
Why would you be using either of these products? The only products I use in my tanks are API dechlorinator and Flourish excel (for my plants). In the past I have never used anything in my betta tanks beside dechlorinator.
Click to expand...
I am having to use distilled water in the tank, therefore, no trace elements exist in distilled water.......
 

achase

achase

Large Fish
#19
Feb 1, 2010
765
0
0
British Columbia, Canada
#19
I see that would make sense. I don't know enough about either product to make any suggestions. I have never used anything other than tap water. Is there a particular reason for you using distilled water (Not that it's bad I'm just curious)?
 

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