Betta problem

[whaase]

I don't know if this is betta specific or fish in general problem. My wife bought a betta and a small 2g tank. The fish seems to be sick I think. It almost appears to be sheding. It looks like bunched up clear skin coming off of it. Any ideas? I never had this probelm when I kept FW fish...

Walter

[Richer]

Little more info needed... is there a filter on this tank? Heater?

Contrary to what is commonly seen... bettas need normal filtration and a heater just like any other tropical fish. I would suspect that less than optimal water conditions is the cause of your betta's problem. If you want to run the tank without filtration, I would suggest doing 80-100% water changes at least once every other day... and to feed lightly (2-3 betta pellets a day).

-Richer

[EmilyB]

A betta is a room temp fish.

[Richer]

Room temp. being what? I don't know about you... but on average (minus extreme summer temps) its difficult for me to keep water sitting at around 20-25 degrees C.

Bettas will do quite well in lower temperaturs, I won't argue that... after all, I did have a betta survive for 2 years in an unheated 5 gallon tank (and another one in a 15 gallon slightly heated tank). However I think they would do even better with a little bit of heating in their tanks. Several profiles I've read about these fish also suggest that they are more incline to live in tropical environments.

-Richer

[EmilyB]

Ah, yes. Our room temp would be about 22-25 at any given time.

We had a betta for several years we took camping with us. I took a heater for him, as it got pretty chilly at nite.

[Canadian Man]

They also come from puddles in rice fields. Water can't be too clean in that case.

[Richer]

Have you seen rice fields? They can be pretty big. I would suspect that the rice fields wouldn't have detectable levels of ammonia or nitrites neither (because of the plant life in the fields). Unfortunately... some people think that bettas usually live in little puddles no bigger than they are. Though I suppose this can be true, I'd think that its more of a temporary kind of thing (ie. when fields dry out, etc.).

-Richer

[whaase]

Ok, setting aside the conditions it's in (because it is a 5 star hotel considering the conditions ot the LFS). Why would a fish apear to shed a layer of 'skin'?

Walter

[EmilyB]

Sunburn?

[DOO-E]

Bettas dont live in rice field all year they live in puddles during 75 percent of their lives. Mostly peoples foot prints theyr breath air like people. If you dant hav filtration put a live plant in their. It will do them good. They do need some degree of heating but i have been keepign bettas for years with no heaters. They do good mostly with tetras that dont nip fins. A 5 gallon community tank just isnt the same without a betta.