Becca
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Sick fish at office -tips?
I have 3 fish bowls in my office, 2 with Bettas and one with two Scarlet Badis, one Spiketail Paradise fish, and one "mini crab" from Rachel.
The two Bettas have recently taken a turn for the worse and I don't know what is going on. I have NEVER had trouble keeping Bettas alive and healthy. The one I had in college lived over 5 years and took several road trips with me.
One of the Bettas is a recent addition (within the past month) and he is the first that I noticed looking questionable. Initially he showed signs of swim bladder problems (tucking himself under stuff, etc) but now he's sort of listing to one side, fins clamped with a thin film over them, looking skinny.
The Betta I've had longer has started "flashing" as though he itches and is spending an unusual amount of time at the bottom of his bowl instead of being feisty and shooting dirty looks accross the glass at the paradise fish.
Before you tell me change the water - I DO - I change it at least twice a week and all of the bowls have a variety of live plants in them. They are also all between 1 and 2 gallons in size, so they're not super small. I've also already tried salting the water a little - it hasn't helped. I'm hesitant to salt it too much because I'm not absolutely certain how much water is in each vessel because of their unique shapes.
In another "mommy brain" moment, I realize I've been using the same siphon to change the water in all of the bowls, so whatever one has, they probably all have.
It has been so long since I've had a fish with an actual disease that I'm at a loss regarding what to do, especially in this kind of environment. The things I used to use aren't even available to buy anymore!
My office is also pretty warm (over 70 degrees) because I keep a small fridge in it - so I don't think it's the temperature.
I have 3 fish bowls in my office, 2 with Bettas and one with two Scarlet Badis, one Spiketail Paradise fish, and one "mini crab" from Rachel.
The two Bettas have recently taken a turn for the worse and I don't know what is going on. I have NEVER had trouble keeping Bettas alive and healthy. The one I had in college lived over 5 years and took several road trips with me.
One of the Bettas is a recent addition (within the past month) and he is the first that I noticed looking questionable. Initially he showed signs of swim bladder problems (tucking himself under stuff, etc) but now he's sort of listing to one side, fins clamped with a thin film over them, looking skinny.
The Betta I've had longer has started "flashing" as though he itches and is spending an unusual amount of time at the bottom of his bowl instead of being feisty and shooting dirty looks accross the glass at the paradise fish.
Before you tell me change the water - I DO - I change it at least twice a week and all of the bowls have a variety of live plants in them. They are also all between 1 and 2 gallons in size, so they're not super small. I've also already tried salting the water a little - it hasn't helped. I'm hesitant to salt it too much because I'm not absolutely certain how much water is in each vessel because of their unique shapes.
In another "mommy brain" moment, I realize I've been using the same siphon to change the water in all of the bowls, so whatever one has, they probably all have.
It has been so long since I've had a fish with an actual disease that I'm at a loss regarding what to do, especially in this kind of environment. The things I used to use aren't even available to buy anymore!
My office is also pretty warm (over 70 degrees) because I keep a small fridge in it - so I don't think it's the temperature.
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