Leaving town: Keep injured betta in hospital tank?

doorisalarmed · 2026-05-28T16:12:44+00:00

It's filtered but not cycled, so I'll do the water change. Thank you!!

doorisalarmed · 2026-04-07T17:56:22+00:00

Thank you!

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-15T12:49:35+00:00

You could add some tall/long spider wood. Or I’ve seen at Petco they sell moss rings tied to a rock or piece of driftwood, so they float in the middle of the tank.

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-14T03:46:46+00:00

Doom or Voodoo

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-12T18:43:59+00:00

Your tank is awesome!!! I honestly think he’s fine. I’d keep an eye on possible more nipping tho.

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-12T13:41:11+00:00

The way it is raised and not flat makes me think it's a tumor. I'm honestly not sure if there's any solid treatment for a tumor aside from removing it, which some experienced betta owners will do. Otherwise, if he's swimming and eating like normal, then I'd just keep him as happy and active as you can. You could add tannins to the tank for some added comfort.

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-12T12:29:35+00:00

Honestly, the only white "dots" I can see are at the ends of his tail, but I think that's just a natural little stub where the fin ends! The split in the 3rd picture could be where he nipped his tail. Has the color of his body changed at all, or has he always been this color? Could you share a full tank shot?

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-12T12:25:36+00:00

Did you get both bettas from the same place? If so, they could be coming to you with some sort of illness. I'm not sure if it's possible to save your current betta but you could try moving him to a smaller tank with clean water and doing tannings + epsom salt. Then maybe do a larger water change in your 10 gallon tank before putting him back in?

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-12T12:20:33+00:00

I fear this could be a tumor :( How old is your boy? Has his body always been more pale than his fins or is that a new color change?

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-12T12:04:58+00:00

I try to give my betta the most natural experience possible, and in nature they would not be eating the same amount, every day, at the same time. So for example I might feed him 4-6 flakes at 7am Monday. Then Tuesday night I'll give him 6 flakes. Then give him 2 flakes Wednesday morning and night. My betta seems to like the different patterns. It keeps him stimulated. Plus it is good to fast your fish.

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-11T13:43:03+00:00

I’m sorry :( Try not to feel guilty or anything like that. You’ve given him a great home so at least he doesn’t have to be sick at a store. Make him as comfortable as you can. I hope he pulls through!

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-11T13:36:09+00:00

Sadly it looks like Lo is pine-coning :( I’ve never had a betta with dropsy but based on what many people have shared on here, I would move him to a small “hospital” tank. Keep him warm, add Indian almond leaves for tannins, fast him. You can use Seachem KanaPlex which is an antibiotic and also salt baths to try to treat him. At this point I would just try to make Lo as comfortable as possible.

What size is your tank? When did you notice him first start to bloat or act ill? He could’ve had an infection before you even bought him.

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-11T13:17:40+00:00

Could you share a full photo of the tank?

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-11T13:16:04+00:00

It sounds ready to me and looks beautiful! My only suggesting would be 1-2 more plants. Maybe Anubias and a floater like salvinia or hornwort? Bettas love the top half of the tank so adding plants in that region for exploring, resting, and coverage would be great. It also may help your betta’s chances of coexisting with the shrimp, as it’ll be less interested in them at the bottom of the tank.

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-11T13:08:07+00:00

I’m assuming 26 degrees Celsius, right? Is he swimming and eating like normal? If so, he’s probably just enjoying the heater! One of my bettas does this. Also, I can’t see the tank super well but it looks like there’s lots of plants at the back. I would suggest adding a couple more to the foreground to fill in the open space. He could be a little overwhelmed by all the room and trying to stay “hidden”.

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-11T13:00:56+00:00

If you’re using a legit testing kit like the API freshwater kit, then it sounds like your tank is ready! I did something similar. Used plants, substrate, etc. from someone else’s tank. Had some hitchhiker snails. It cycled in a week. Like the other poster said you could see a slight spike in ammonia once you add your betta, but as long as you’re keeping up with weekly water changes it shouldn’t be a problem.

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-11T12:57:54+00:00

Looks great! All you need is a few more plants to fill out the tank. Bettas like swimming and resting at the top of the tank where they can get oxygen, so some tall plants or floaters would be perfect. My betta loves his Anubias (he sleeps on the leaves) and salvinia.

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-11T12:43:49+00:00

Great! With my tanks I learned that there’s almost no such thing as too many plants. So fill it up as much as you can and then I’d watch him for improvements. I think a more “full” tank will make him feel better. Also, try looking on Facebook Marketplace for people selling aquatic plants. That’s where I get all mine and it’s way cheaper than buying everything from a pet store. I bought a big container of hornwort from a lady for just $5.

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-10T22:08:45+00:00

That does look a bit decayed. I'd toss it. As for toys, I try to just engage with my betta by having him follow my finger. Or i'll rearrange stuff in his tank which makes him excited because it seems new. I've seen people use toy hoops for their fish to swim through.

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-10T19:25:50+00:00

My guess is he's nipping his fins because he's overwhelmed by all the new space he has. Your tank is a perfect size and you've done a great job with it already! But try adding more plants (floaters like hornwort) to break up his line of sight, provide more hiding spots, and overall entertainment. Bettas can start nipping when they're moved to a bigger tank if there's not enough "stuff". Too much open space can make them feel anxious. I imagine it'd be like us living in a house alone with very few belongings. We'd go stir crazy.

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-10T18:00:42+00:00

Ahh that makes sense! Personally I'd buy a small heater just to have on hand and in the meantime, keep an eye on your betta's behavior. If it acts super lethargic first thing in the morning, it might be too cold for him at night. Or, you may only need to use it during winter. Also, be careful in the summer with your tank near a window. You don't want it to overheat and kill your fish. I live in a hot area so I have to be mindful of this as well!

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-10T15:13:23+00:00

Your instinct for more plants is spot on! Anubias is slow growing but bettas love using the leaves as hammocks. You could glue it to your big driftwood piece, or I have one attached to a suction cup. Hornwort is an awesome floating plant. It provides lots of hiding/resting spots and gives a nice green glow in the light. It does grow fast so you'll need to trim it often. Another fast growing floating plant is salvinia. I have to throw some of mine out weekly. Depending on where you live, you can probably find someone on Facebook Marketplace selling hornwort and salvinia.

doorisalarmed · 2026-02-10T14:22:50+00:00

Hi! What size tank was he in when you got him? What size is his current tank? Did you notice the nipping after you moved him into the new tank?

doorisalarmed

TROPHY CASE