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Posted by on August 6, 2007, 3:19 pm
Please log in for more thread options I've kept a Siamese Fighting Fish in my cubicle at work for the past
year and a half with good success. But lately he seems to be more
lethargic, just sitting still at the bottom of his tank. I'll place a
mirror next to the tank a few times a week to give him some "company,"
and he puffs up for a while. But most of the time, he just hangs at
the bottom of his tank. He looks otherwise in a healthy state, (his
fins look good, no visible signs of illness) just kind of depressed.
Is this lethargy a sign of ill health? If it is just him being down,
what can I do to perk him up?
-Fleemo
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Posted by atomweaver on August 6, 2007, 4:18 pm
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fleemo17@comcast.net wrote in news:1186427950.536711.265850
@i13g2000prf.googlegroups.com:
> I've kept a Siamese Fighting Fish in my cubicle at work for the past
> year and a half with good success. But lately he seems to be more
> lethargic, just sitting still at the bottom of his tank. I'll place a
> mirror next to the tank a few times a week to give him some "company,"
> and he puffs up for a while. But most of the time, he just hangs at
> the bottom of his tank. He looks otherwise in a healthy state, (his
> fins look good, no visible signs of illness) just kind of depressed.
> Is this lethargy a sign of ill health? If it is just him being down,
> what can I do to perk him up?
>
> -Fleemo
>
>
Hi,
What size tank?
(ideally, he should have 5 gallons, or more)
Tank temperature?
(ideally, he should be in heated 79-82 deg F water)
Tank water conditions; ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/pH?
(ideally, they should be 0/0/<20 ppm or less/6.8 to 7.2)
How frequently do you do water changes?
(ideally, 20-30% weekly or more)
Any tankmates?
(something that likes the higher temepratures, like a few cardinal tetra
would be good, as would a planted tank, or floating plants)
Did you get him as a juvenile, or do you otherwise know how old he is?
(Bettas kept in good conditions usually live 5-7 years, or more, but
you often don't know their age if they're bought full-grown from a pet
store...)
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Posted by on August 7, 2007, 6:10 pm
Please log in for more thread options Hey Atomweaver,
I can fill you in on the few things I know. It's a one-gallon tank
that does have an air pump and bubble stone. It is not heated, just
goes by room temperature which is usually around 78 degrees. I don't
know the water conditions, but I do change out half the water in his
tank once a week. I use the big 5-gallon drinking water jugs as my
water source and don't condition the water at all. He is all alone in
the tank. I got him full-grown at a Petsmart back in March of '06. Up
until recently, he's seemed very happy and healthy, but recently he
seems to sit quietly at the bottom of the tank. There are no other
signs of ill health (Ick, torn fins, etc.) Any input is
appreciated. :)
-Fleemo
> What size tank?
> (ideally, he should have 5 gallons, or more)
> Tank temperature?
> (ideally, he should be in heated 79-82 deg F water)
> Tank water conditions; ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/pH?
> (ideally, they should be 0/0/<20 ppm or less/6.8 to 7.2)
> How frequently do you do water changes?
> (ideally, 20-30% weekly or more)
> Any tankmates?
> (something that likes the higher temepratures, like a few cardinal tetra
> would be good, as would a planted tank, or floating plants)
> Did you get him as a juvenile, or do you otherwise know how old he is?
> (Bettas kept in good conditions usually live 5-7 years, or more, but
> you often don't know their age if they're bought full-grown from a pet
> store...)
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Posted by atomweaver on August 8, 2007, 9:14 am
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fleemo17@comcast.net wrote in
> Hey Atomweaver,
>
> I can fill you in on the few things I know. It's a one-gallon tank
> that does have an air pump and bubble stone. It is not heated, just
> goes by room temperature which is usually around 78 degrees. I don't
> know the water conditions, but I do change out half the water in his
> tank once a week. I use the big 5-gallon drinking water jugs as my
> water source and don't condition the water at all. He is all alone in
> the tank. I got him full-grown at a Petsmart back in March of '06. Up
> until recently, he's seemed very happy and healthy, but recently he
> seems to sit quietly at the bottom of the tank. There are no other
> signs of ill health (Ick, torn fins, etc.) Any input is
> appreciated. :)
>
Thanks for the extra info. In a one gallon, he's got some limited space
in which to swim, and no companion fish. Your temperature is on the low
end of whats comfortable for bettas, but should be acceptable. There's a
couple of different things you could do;
1) If you possibly can, swap him into a tank just a bit larger (actually,
as large as you can reasonably accomodate, up to say 10 gallons). Every
little bit of extra water will help, and in a larger tank, you can add a
few 'dither' fish. Being solo in a bowl just isn't a natural way to
live, even for a male betta. A 5 gallon tank would allow you to include
a small school of 4 cardinal tetras. If you just cannot increase the
size of his accomodations, I'd add two cardinals to his tank, and a small
amount live floating plants which are good in low light conditions (water
sprite). Increase your water changes to twice weekly if you add fish to
that one-gallon tank.
2) If you could add heat to get your temperature up to 82-83 degF, that'd
be ideal. I saw some small-tank heaters for ~$8 in Wal-Mart the other
day...
3) Get some method of testing your tank water, even if its only 5in1 dip
strips. I know they're not the best, but they'll at least alert you to
major issues with your water.
4) Lots of drinking water sources are simply local tap water (you may
know differently about your source); if there is any question about
possible chlorine content, I'd err on the side of caution, and start
using a water conditioner.
In the end, though, you're already in the range of age for a Petsmart
betta where simple old age might be what you're dealing with. The
difference between my stated age range and Tynk's, is probably in part
because of initial living conditions for bettas from major pet chains are
_very_ different from those raised from fry with a bit more care.
Regards
DaveZ
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Posted by on August 8, 2007, 3:30 pm
Please log in for more thread options Thanks for the input here, folks. I know my fish appreciates it. :)
> 1) If you possibly can, swap him into a tank just a bit larger (actually,
> as large as you can reasonably accomodate, up to say 10 gallons).
Alas, he's a cubicle companion here at work. Even the 1 gallon tank
is a bit of a stretch in some folks' minds. :/
>If you just cannot increase the
> size of his accomodations, I'd add two cardinals to his tank, and a small
> amount live floating plants which are good in low light conditions (water
> sprite). Increase your water changes to twice weekly if you add fish to
> that one-gallon tank.
I like the idea of him having some company. I know fighting fish are
reportedly solitary beings, but to live your entire life alone? Would
a pair of Cardinal tetras be better company than a female of his own
kind?
2) If you could add heat to get your temperature up to 82-83 degF,
that'd
> be ideal. I saw some small-tank heaters for ~$8 in Wal-Mart the other
> day...
That's where I got his 1 gallon tank, so I'll look for a heater for
the lil' guy.
Thanks!
-Fleemo
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> year and a half with good success. But lately he seems to be more
> lethargic, just sitting still at the bottom of his tank. I'll place a
> mirror next to the tank a few times a week to give him some "company,"
> and he puffs up for a while. But most of the time, he just hangs at
> the bottom of his tank. He looks otherwise in a healthy state, (his
> fins look good, no visible signs of illness) just kind of depressed.
> Is this lethargy a sign of ill health? If it is just him being down,
> what can I do to perk him up?
>
> -Fleemo
>
>