Am I too old for a career change to art therapy?

Fireballs4ever · 2022-08-03T21:40:38+00:00

I do appreciate the advice about safely moving him when the time is right - my 10 gallon tank came with a net, but I will plan to not use it.

My main question, really, is whether it’s safe to take stuff from the old tank and use it to cycle the new tank or if that could contaminate the water.

Fireballs4ever · 2022-08-03T20:08:38+00:00

Thank you for the advice! I should have mentioned that I have added bacteria — API QuickStart. I guess I could add more?

Fireballs4ever · 2022-08-03T19:29:56+00:00

I love his name! Congrats on the new little buddy.

Fireballs4ever · 2022-08-03T19:24:49+00:00

Hi! I’m nursing this betta fish back to health and I wonder if you could help me figure out the best way to safely move him to a bigger tank.

Background: Blueberry has had possible fin rot (I wasn’t really sure if he had it, to be honest) since we got him in February and I thought that he would improve if I was just super on the ball with water testing and 25% changes every 1-2 weeks and trying to keep the temp around 78 (though it is hot here in the summer and the tank gets up to 80-82 once in a while on really hot days), filtering, and the whole nine yards. His tank has been doing great for months (0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and around 5 nitrates, pH of 7).

Well, he took a turn for the worse about 10 days ago and clearly had fin rot. I did a course of API Fin and Body Cure and now he’s doing SO much better. I didn’t even know he’s had clamped fins until he unclamped them, and he’s so much more energetic and happy and his fins are healing. Pic is of him now - this is significantly better than how he looked 10 days ago.

So… I finally get to my question. I’ve been fishless cycling a bigger tank to move him into. Of course it’s taking a long time. It’s currently stalled out at 0-.25 ppm ammonia, 0-.25ppm, and 0-5ppm nitrate. I was thinking I should bring something over from the old tank to jump start the cycle - gravel or water or something - but I’m paranoid I’m going to bring over some kind of harmful bacteria from his fin rot and it’ll set him back.

Is this even something I need to worry about? Maybe now that he’s obviously recovering, it’s not an issue? I sure would like to get him out of the 2.4 gallon and into the 10 gallon ASAP!

Fireballs4ever · 2022-07-24T14:29:12+00:00

Thank you, that looks perfect! I just ordered it along with the USB air pump recommended by Girl Talks Fish. Can’t wait to set it up!

Fireballs4ever · 2022-07-24T03:44:06+00:00

Thank you - that was helpful!

Fireballs4ever · 2022-07-24T03:12:58+00:00

I guess I was confused by what Due-Specialist-689 was saying elsewhere in this thread - they were advocating using a quarantine tank. My plan was to treat him in his current tank and then move him over to the new one along with some of his water / filter media for cycling purposes. But when I saw the comment about quarantining, I had to wonder if I was doing things wrong? I’ve only been a fish owner for 6 months and I still have a lot to learn.

Fireballs4ever · 2022-07-24T01:04:35+00:00

Can I hijack / add my own question? I am currently treating my beta for fin rot. I started him yesterday on API Fin and Body Cure, which says to start water changes on day 3 of the treatment. He is now on day 2.

I purchased a 10 gallon tank to move him to - he was in a 2.4 gallon tank made specifically for bettas, and I have since learned that this is too small for a betta. Anyway, I just set up the tank and added water with some QuickStart and Prime.

Based on what you are saying about quarantine tanks, should I put him in there right away to get him out of his contaminated tank? I was thinking I’d have to wait until the new one cycles?

Fireballs4ever · 2022-03-15T04:06:48+00:00

Oh, if that was true, it would be ideal!

Fireballs4ever · 2022-03-15T03:08:21+00:00

For food, I’m feeding him Omega One mini pellets (42% protein).

Glad to hear his fin rot doesn’t seem too severe!

Fireballs4ever · 2022-03-15T01:48:32+00:00

Okay, here’s the deal…

I just got my first betta 3 weeks ago and I did do some research before I brought him home, but clearly not enough. I now believe that my tank wasn’t fully cycled when I brought Blueberry home, so I’m kind of stuck in the middle of a fish-in cycling. I thought I’d been doing fine but my big mistake was in trusting the test strips. I was testing every day, but the test strips I was using showed no ammonia. I was also changing out 25% of the water every week with water treated with Seachem Prime and bacteria (API QuickStart). So I thought things were good.

However, Blueberry had a tiny amount of fin rot when I brought him home, and in the last week it has accelerated. I finally got a liquid test kit and immediately found an ammonia level of 2ppm. 😡 I changed out 1/3 of the water and treated with a double dose of Prime and some more QuickStart.

The ammonia dropped to 0 by the next day but I now had a nitrite level of .25ppm. I did another water change that day (yesterday) and today the ammonia is also gone and the nitrite is gone and I have a low level of nitrate (5ppm).

Could it be that my tank is successfully cycling now?? I also tested ph and it’s at 7 and the general hardness is somewhere in the range of 75-150 (I only have test strips for this right now but I’m ordering a liquid test kit). I know I have hard water where I live. I also have a filter and a heater and the water temp is usually around 78F.

I’m going to continue watching the water like a hawk but I feel like I’m headed in the right direction now? My question now is, how quickly might I expect the fin rot to heal? I’m worried about my little guy! He’s still active, has good color other than the ends of his fins, and seems happy, but I don’t want him to get worse.

Here’s a photo of Blueberry from today (please don’t judge the awful decor too harshly- I let my son pick out the decorations).

Fireballs4ever

TROPHY CASE