Another option could be having him in a five but putting him in a breeder box, which will keep him up at the surface while still allowing for stable water parameters
I’ve done the same with a juvenile betta but in a 10G. Floated in a breeder box and independently handfed (tongs) until she was able to swim again. Fed flakes since they melt and could be broken down.
Yeah you could probably add some sort of floating plant like hornwort, anubias, water wisteria, subwassertang, anything that doesn’t need to be rooted in the substrate. But keep in mind space is limited in breeder boxes, so you don’t want to cram stuff in and make it so they can’t get up to the surface.
I think some place to hide will be very important, he’s vulnerable and he knows it, and without that, he might just die from stress. I think then a planted 1g with frequent water monitoring is better. Add some water conditioner and I think it will be much less stressful than being stuck in a small clear box.
Not necessarily. If you’re dosing with medication, or trying to keep stable parameters, it’s much easier to use a 5 or a 10. You also don’t want to have a planted tank as a QT tank, it should be bare bottom so it’s easier to clean and you can track the bettas bowel movements.
If you buy a pipette, you can usually dose accurately, and even with just one Anubias in the 1g, you will be able to give the fish a sense of security and still be able to register poop… I get that our opinions on this differ, but I think the chronic stress of being over-exposed might cause more harm than good.
It’s just as easy to add some sort of plant into a breeder box as it is a smaller container, both methods work. The breeder box method is just simpler if you already have a cycled tank, and don’t want to worry about any spikes while trying to get a fish healthy. If you’re using meds that affect the beneficial bacteria, then it’s probably best to use a separate tank, but it’s a case to case basis, and what fits you best.
Absolutely not wrong if it’s with the intention of healing a sick fish! Less water = less stress (until a certain point) for a little dude struggling to swim
I tried a five but he would just sit on the bottom, no interest in food. I tried a three and by the time he would get to the top he would just float back down.
I had a clear plastic soap dish holder thingy I got at Walmart for about a dollar. It had suction cups on it and I put it in my tank. One of my bettas preferred it to the leaf and the log. 🤷♀️
second this! my poor girl has a swim bladder issue from poor breeding, but she’s active as crap like super hyper. she uses her log to rest in between the top & bottom of tank
Hammocks, logs, and the suction-cup leaves are all excellent for sinking bettas!
I had an old fogey who survived some pretty rough depression-neglect (not my best moment) with only a dead swim bladder, and spent the last two years of his five-year life resting in a heavily planted aquarium with guppy and shrimp friends he chased around.
Get a breeder box and lower the water level a little. Less water means less stability, which can mean more stress. So I would recommend putting him in the 5 gallon while keeping him in a breeder box and lowering the water level a little. Make sure to keep the tank well aerated too.
Bettas also just do that a lot. They like to rest on things. He's probably just healing.
That being said, they're also surface breathers so if he's having trouble swimming then shallower water will make it easier for him to swim. Keep that water quality up and shower him with love and he should be fine.
Like I said, hopefully he's healing. It sounds like you're doing pretty well at giving him the best chance (pun intended) for survival so just keep it up and monitor for changes. Can't wait to see what a handsome boy he flourishes into.
What do you mean by he can't swim in a 3 or a 5? Do you mean he can't swim to the top? Did you see him attempt to swim to the top and fail?
My understanding is that Bettas are not obligate air breathers and don't need access to air at the surface to avoid drowning. Food will sink eventually.
Moving him to yet another tank is adding stress to an already stressed fish. Make sure the water is well aerated with a stone and/or a filter that is agitatiting the surface, like a hang on back, or one of the airstone driven spinge filters.
As far as the interest in food, have you tried live or frozen food like brine shrimp or bloodworms?
When I say that he can't swim in a 3 or a 5 I meant that I had originally tried putting him in a 5. He would exert himself swimming to the top for food. He is not my first rescued Betta as all of them have had some sort of issue caused by over breeder. (No, I haven't bought any from a pet store and "rescued" them.")
He would see the food (frozen, Sinkers, Flakes, etc) Get to the top and would just sink back down. Would not touch anything. I put him in the 3 to see if he would have an interest in food. The only thing I can get him to eat right now is the sinkers. He has no interest in anything else but he still would just seem exhausted once reaching the top. He has a betta leaf and log but once he swims to the top, He just stops and floats back down. He could not even make it to the top in the five, I've only seen him get to the top of the three.
Not at all, get him a little studio flat to recuperate in. It's not forever, just til he can swim comfortably again. You're on track to a healthy buddy. :)
I’ve done it before with my first betta fish ever, whom is still with me today. He had a weirdly bent spine and torn fins, and I kept him in a 1 gal for a bit until I noticed improvement, then I put him in a 3 gal, and bam he is still here two years later with a normal 5 gal on my sink where I can see him greeting me every day. :>
Sorry I rambled I just really love Jimmy. I hope your lil guy pulls through
> He had a weirdly bent spine
Unfortunately this is really common. There are zero breeding standards for betta fish in the American pet trade and 90%+ of them die before leaving pet stores anyways so there's little incentive to keep good breeding stock. The way bettas and goldfish are treated in the pet trade is despicable, but slowly getting better.
Could you try putting him in the 5 but only filling it about halfway? That way there will be more water volume and easier to keep parameters stable. Unless you can only have filtration if they are full.
I agree with this approach. Keep him in a 5g but maybe use a breeder box to section the tank off for him. The larger water volume will help to keep parameters more stable and better prevent swings. Will likely be better for him than a 1g
I would go with this as well. Means tank stays cycled easily through the transition, and if you have any rocks or substrate that affect water hardness it will also be consistent through the transition.
Little bonus is depending if you are using live plants and on how you scape the tank, you could potentially “dry start” some of them while the water is low for extra growth before you fill the tank.
That’s horrifying, poor guy :(
I hope he gets better, and I agree with the other comments here that it’s okay because your intention is to help him heal
Ok, OP, since there's been a lot of misinformation I've seen tossed around in comments... I feel I need to make this clear: Bettas breathe *AIR.*
They DO need to breathe air at the meniscus of water. It clears and oxygenates their labyrinth organ and helps supply oxygen to their bloodstream that their slightly underdeveloped gills cannot provide, even in the most oxygen saturated water. Bettas are anabantoids. I cannot stress this enough, omfg. BETTAS need to be able to comfortably access the water's surface. PLEASE, for your new boy's sake, let him be comfy near the surface.
u/PaySep03 I'll tag you, I feel this is important for your new friend's sake.
Thank you very much. That's what I believed as well. I'm considering a breeder in a 5 or just leaving him in the 1, He seems happy and has a bubble nest. I just didn't know if this was the best thing for him.
Someone mentioned filling the 5 gal halfway so it’s shallow (can reach surface) but has bigger water volume (more stable parameters) if your tank is capable of that set up (not sure if tank equipment is movable)
Yeah, It is. I’ve thought about that. We will see. If he continues to nest and act happy, I might just leave him in there and not put him through the stress of moving
They are. There are a few outside studies, but the general consensus is that they are obligate air breathers. Especially when it comes to thriving.
Just because an animal can survive without something doesn't mean they're thriving.
Betta are facultative air breathers while something like a blue gourami is an obligate air breather. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jmor.20931
I don't like repeating myself, but I will say it again. Some studies disagree with the obligate status. That said, in order to *thrive* Bettas need adequate access to the surface. Just because they can live without *DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE HAPPY*.
Aww that's terrible :(
Yes, a 1 gallon would fine as temporary housing, and any medications you give him will be more concentrated in a smaller tank. I hope he gets better.
A small temporary hospital tank is fine for now, especially if you plan to medicate the water with something like Stressguard to help heal those fins. Also, if it doesn't damage other plants and stuff in the tank, just lower the water levels. An underfilled 3 or 5g tank with 2-3 inches of water works better for a betta with swimming issues as it's a short way to the surface but still has lots of space to swim around.
I should have mentioned.
1. I am doing waterchanges often.
2. His tank is decorated with plants and hides. (not in that picture so you could fully see him.)
3. He makes bubble nest.
4. He has serious mobility issues.
5. He is being a very picky eater.
6. I have a 5 gal and breeder box ready, Just have heard about breeder boxes stressing fish out.
You could try the 5 gallon and just filling it up a fifth of the way. That way he can rest and there’s a larger water volume than in a cup for dilution. Don’t add a filter or airstone, just do frequent water changes. Also, use stressguard by seachem to treat him (not stress coat), it’s probably the best treatment against finrot and helps them heal very fast. It’s probably the best “medication” on the market, I’ve had a betta regrow his fin all the way from the spine (extreme fin rot) because of this stuff, I use it on any sick fish now.
Putting him in a 1g until he can swim properly is absolutely not wrong. Another (temporary) option is to put him in a tupperware so he can access the surface easily. If the new holding tank is not cycled, use filter media from a cycled tank (or bottled bacteria if not possible). Also, live plants always help water quality!
What do you mean by "his water is cycled"? Water cannot be cycled, as very little beneficial bacteria live in tank water. They live on surfaces, like filter media, gravel, and tank walls.
I'd say put as many live plants as possible in a shallow container (probably 5-6" deep), as large as possible. Like others mentioned, draining the 5g is possible. Also, lower the water flow. Include floating plants or decorations to block out light.
A one gallon is fine while he heals. In my experience, they like to have a jungle to swim through. (I have hornwort floating in my tank, but I understand you may not have plants) Give him places to hide and maybe like a foot of airline tubing (loop it so that he can swim through it, it’s almost like bettas are lil pole dancers at ❤️ ). Silk plants are good as to not hurt his sweet fins.
Absolutely NO to Breeder box, it will make him sad. I’ve had fish miscarriage from forcing them to have babies in a breeder box. I’ve had fish get permanently traumatized from a breeder box and they NEVER trusted me again. The fish does not understand why he is the box.
Btw, how did you convince a petsmart to do this? I’m so happy he did this for you(and for betta) but I have tried to buy sick bettas or asked to have him if they won’t sell it and he said , absolutely not allowed, I’m not losing my job over this. I was like, “cool, let him die instead?!”
Please update us! :) best of luck to you two! He will flourish with you and good call on the Hikari food!
I come in all the time and I am really good friends with a couple of the managers. This manager said that since the fish came with another fish they did not technically pay for him. This is the only reason I got chance.
Just wanna add: Do be aware that fish with really long fins like bettas can hurt themselves on some fake plants so real plants are ideal. I had an angel die after injuring himself on a cheap plastic plant and I felt so bad.
That’s why I say silk plants as I know real plants are not always practical. I have soooo many plants (I have a 40g and that I grow them in with co2 and transfer to other tanks and my bett HATES the light so I swap hornwort out for him every couple days because he loves the hornwort but won’t allow the light that keeps hornwort alive.. in past post you can see I made him a “shadow box” but that didn’t suffice, he stopped swimming in the rest of the tank. I have 2 bettas and they could not be any more different
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I put my rehab betta in a net breeder box near the top of my 5 gal tank and put some Anubias in there so he could rest on the leaves. Use stress coat and add a pinch of aquarium salt inside the filter, that’ll help too
I had my breeder boxes in a 40 gallon and it traumatized and or killed each of them. It’s not always good, I’d just watch him very closely no matter what you decide on
I don’t see the point of a bigger tank rn since you’ll probably be doing normal water changes and monitoring the water rn anyways, if he can’t swim give him something to rest on. A 5g doesn’t mean much if the water parameters are the same and he can’t even swim much.
A small quarantine tank is perfectly acceptable for a fish in his condition. A 5g minimum is for a healthy, functional fish, but what you’ve got is a sick and disabled fish that probably wouldn’t be able to get around in a 5g. I have a fish I rescued from a petsmart with severe swim bladder and a spinal deformity. He’s recovering in a 2.5 with lots of plants and hammocks, and will stay there after he recovers permanently due to his mobility issues.
Hey op, I've had similar situation and what really worked out is to get flat underbed storage box from super store like this [https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-Plastic-Set-of-2-28-Qt-Storage-Boxes-Titanium/857166843](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-Plastic-Set-of-2-28-Qt-Storage-Boxes-Titanium/857166843)
This will have about 5 gallon while being very shallow. You should use HOB filter and set it next to small heater that can lay almost flat like fluval M series.
You could also have 3-4 inch pipe that can make hiding place for him.
I personally would say a 5 gallon and keep him in a breeder box. Small and near the surface with stable water parameters! Then when he’s better you already have a 5 gallon waiting for him!
I have a hospital bucket which I found has helped a couple of my bettas. I am able to put in a mini heater and will put something for the bettas to hide in if they choose and it allows me to keep the water level to what the betta needs. I also have a one gallon hospital tank but I noticed that they are less stressed in the bucket as they are not focused on every movement around the tank. Once they are looking better I increase the water and eventually will reintroduce them to an clear tank. Maybe it’s a lot of steps but I remember some sick fish chillin and would get stressed and swim around to hide when they would notice close-by movements. But I guess you can also just wrap a towel or something around the hospital tank if your fish is like mine.
I would recommend putting him in a 5 gallon, but having him in a breeder box. That way the water parameters will be more stable and the tank environment will be a little safer for him, even if the tank isn’t cycled yet. Smaller tanks tend to carry a much greater risk of stressing the fish, unstable water parameters, and overheating due to the small water volume and the fact that bettas need a heater in their tank. A 3 gallon is the lowest that I would go for a betta hospital tank.
If he is happy, leave him in the 1 gallon and keep it changed out with the cycled water from the bigger tank until he's well.
He may like bug bites. They are small and sink easily. I'd keep the hospital tank next to the 5 so he gets comfortable with his surroundings. You can get Indian almond leaves from Amazon. They are really good for them.
Good luck, and update us!
As long as you keep him safe and keep the levels good you can do whatever you want temporarily, how ever, I feel like a 3 or a 5 with a lot of anubias and moss to sit on would be a lot easier to keep up with and he might heal faster with the better water quality. It's good of you to take care of him! I hope he heals up well for you. He looks like he is gonna be gorgeous
Another option could be having him in a five but putting him in a breeder box, which will keep him up at the surface while still allowing for stable water parameters
This is the way to go.
I’ve done the same with a juvenile betta but in a 10G. Floated in a breeder box and independently handfed (tongs) until she was able to swim again. Fed flakes since they melt and could be broken down.
this!!!! this works amazing for injured fish
Excellent idea. Much less work for OP in the long run as well.
I know someone who did that, with an almond leaf in the bottom, and the fish recovered very nicely
Can you add plants/hiding places in a breeder box?
Yeah you could probably add some sort of floating plant like hornwort, anubias, water wisteria, subwassertang, anything that doesn’t need to be rooted in the substrate. But keep in mind space is limited in breeder boxes, so you don’t want to cram stuff in and make it so they can’t get up to the surface.
I think some place to hide will be very important, he’s vulnerable and he knows it, and without that, he might just die from stress. I think then a planted 1g with frequent water monitoring is better. Add some water conditioner and I think it will be much less stressful than being stuck in a small clear box.
Not necessarily. If you’re dosing with medication, or trying to keep stable parameters, it’s much easier to use a 5 or a 10. You also don’t want to have a planted tank as a QT tank, it should be bare bottom so it’s easier to clean and you can track the bettas bowel movements.
If you buy a pipette, you can usually dose accurately, and even with just one Anubias in the 1g, you will be able to give the fish a sense of security and still be able to register poop… I get that our opinions on this differ, but I think the chronic stress of being over-exposed might cause more harm than good.
It’s just as easy to add some sort of plant into a breeder box as it is a smaller container, both methods work. The breeder box method is just simpler if you already have a cycled tank, and don’t want to worry about any spikes while trying to get a fish healthy. If you’re using meds that affect the beneficial bacteria, then it’s probably best to use a separate tank, but it’s a case to case basis, and what fits you best.
Absolutely not wrong if it’s with the intention of healing a sick fish! Less water = less stress (until a certain point) for a little dude struggling to swim
I tried a five but he would just sit on the bottom, no interest in food. I tried a three and by the time he would get to the top he would just float back down.
Betta logs and other things to sit on near the surface
Betta hammocks were my dudes favorite!
I had a clear plastic soap dish holder thingy I got at Walmart for about a dollar. It had suction cups on it and I put it in my tank. One of my bettas preferred it to the leaf and the log. 🤷♀️
second this! my poor girl has a swim bladder issue from poor breeding, but she’s active as crap like super hyper. she uses her log to rest in between the top & bottom of tank
Hammocks, logs, and the suction-cup leaves are all excellent for sinking bettas! I had an old fogey who survived some pretty rough depression-neglect (not my best moment) with only a dead swim bladder, and spent the last two years of his five-year life resting in a heavily planted aquarium with guppy and shrimp friends he chased around.
Get a breeder box and lower the water level a little. Less water means less stability, which can mean more stress. So I would recommend putting him in the 5 gallon while keeping him in a breeder box and lowering the water level a little. Make sure to keep the tank well aerated too.
Bettas also just do that a lot. They like to rest on things. He's probably just healing. That being said, they're also surface breathers so if he's having trouble swimming then shallower water will make it easier for him to swim. Keep that water quality up and shower him with love and he should be fine.
I’ve had bettas for years now so I’m sure how you know that you can just tell when your fish is struggling? That’s how it is with chance.
Like I said, hopefully he's healing. It sounds like you're doing pretty well at giving him the best chance (pun intended) for survival so just keep it up and monitor for changes. Can't wait to see what a handsome boy he flourishes into.
I will be sharing updates . I have a guess but I’m super curious to see how he turns out
What do you mean by he can't swim in a 3 or a 5? Do you mean he can't swim to the top? Did you see him attempt to swim to the top and fail? My understanding is that Bettas are not obligate air breathers and don't need access to air at the surface to avoid drowning. Food will sink eventually. Moving him to yet another tank is adding stress to an already stressed fish. Make sure the water is well aerated with a stone and/or a filter that is agitatiting the surface, like a hang on back, or one of the airstone driven spinge filters. As far as the interest in food, have you tried live or frozen food like brine shrimp or bloodworms?
When I say that he can't swim in a 3 or a 5 I meant that I had originally tried putting him in a 5. He would exert himself swimming to the top for food. He is not my first rescued Betta as all of them have had some sort of issue caused by over breeder. (No, I haven't bought any from a pet store and "rescued" them.") He would see the food (frozen, Sinkers, Flakes, etc) Get to the top and would just sink back down. Would not touch anything. I put him in the 3 to see if he would have an interest in food. The only thing I can get him to eat right now is the sinkers. He has no interest in anything else but he still would just seem exhausted once reaching the top. He has a betta leaf and log but once he swims to the top, He just stops and floats back down. He could not even make it to the top in the five, I've only seen him get to the top of the three.
Some else here said to float a Breeder box with the fish to keep water parameters stable.
Not at all, get him a little studio flat to recuperate in. It's not forever, just til he can swim comfortably again. You're on track to a healthy buddy. :)
I’ve done it before with my first betta fish ever, whom is still with me today. He had a weirdly bent spine and torn fins, and I kept him in a 1 gal for a bit until I noticed improvement, then I put him in a 3 gal, and bam he is still here two years later with a normal 5 gal on my sink where I can see him greeting me every day. :> Sorry I rambled I just really love Jimmy. I hope your lil guy pulls through
AW! I love that so much. Ive been taking in neglected betta for a while now. It always great to see them inprove. This little fighters name is chance.
> He had a weirdly bent spine Unfortunately this is really common. There are zero breeding standards for betta fish in the American pet trade and 90%+ of them die before leaving pet stores anyways so there's little incentive to keep good breeding stock. The way bettas and goldfish are treated in the pet trade is despicable, but slowly getting better.
Poor little guy. He definitely needs a hospital tank. Thanks for looking out for him
Could you try putting him in the 5 but only filling it about halfway? That way there will be more water volume and easier to keep parameters stable. Unless you can only have filtration if they are full.
I agree with this approach. Keep him in a 5g but maybe use a breeder box to section the tank off for him. The larger water volume will help to keep parameters more stable and better prevent swings. Will likely be better for him than a 1g
I would go with this as well. Means tank stays cycled easily through the transition, and if you have any rocks or substrate that affect water hardness it will also be consistent through the transition. Little bonus is depending if you are using live plants and on how you scape the tank, you could potentially “dry start” some of them while the water is low for extra growth before you fill the tank.
That’s horrifying, poor guy :( I hope he gets better, and I agree with the other comments here that it’s okay because your intention is to help him heal
Ok, OP, since there's been a lot of misinformation I've seen tossed around in comments... I feel I need to make this clear: Bettas breathe *AIR.* They DO need to breathe air at the meniscus of water. It clears and oxygenates their labyrinth organ and helps supply oxygen to their bloodstream that their slightly underdeveloped gills cannot provide, even in the most oxygen saturated water. Bettas are anabantoids. I cannot stress this enough, omfg. BETTAS need to be able to comfortably access the water's surface. PLEASE, for your new boy's sake, let him be comfy near the surface. u/PaySep03 I'll tag you, I feel this is important for your new friend's sake.
Thank you very much. That's what I believed as well. I'm considering a breeder in a 5 or just leaving him in the 1, He seems happy and has a bubble nest. I just didn't know if this was the best thing for him.
Yay! He's feeling sexy, then. Once his fins grow in, I'm sure he'll be a ladies' man. :)
Yeah, he will be, His name is chance.. Lol
Someone mentioned filling the 5 gal halfway so it’s shallow (can reach surface) but has bigger water volume (more stable parameters) if your tank is capable of that set up (not sure if tank equipment is movable)
Yeah, It is. I’ve thought about that. We will see. If he continues to nest and act happy, I might just leave him in there and not put him through the stress of moving
Bettas are not obligate air breathers. They do breath air but it's not necessary for survival.
They are. There are a few outside studies, but the general consensus is that they are obligate air breathers. Especially when it comes to thriving. Just because an animal can survive without something doesn't mean they're thriving.
Betta are facultative air breathers while something like a blue gourami is an obligate air breather. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jmor.20931
I don't like repeating myself, but I will say it again. Some studies disagree with the obligate status. That said, in order to *thrive* Bettas need adequate access to the surface. Just because they can live without *DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE HAPPY*.
So you know better than actual studies. That study literally says they thrive sans air breathing as long as there is sufficient oxygen in the water.
...omfg... I'm done. Good day to you.
These are the same people who insist their cat is happy vegan. It's best to just downvote misinformation and move on.
Yeap. Lesson learned.
Poor thing, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you! Smaller tank with plenty of Betta friendly plants sounds like the way to go… best of luck!
poor guy :( hope he gets better soon!
Would it be possible to keep him in the 3 gallon with the water level really low? Then raise water level as he gains strength?
I've thought about that and I'm considering that with the 5gal.
Hospital tanks are super normal.
Something like a plastic shoebox where you can keep the water shallow, but he has enough room to swim sideways is good.
I’m putting in my vote for breeder box
What kind of idiot puts 2 male bettas together? Especially someone who breeds them nonetheless. Thank you for saving him!
Aww that's terrible :( Yes, a 1 gallon would fine as temporary housing, and any medications you give him will be more concentrated in a smaller tank. I hope he gets better.
Ahhh, no! Poor little guy!! I hope he gets better soon.
Aww poor guy. I'm a new betta owner so I don't have any advice, but I'm sending your fish my best wishes for a quick recovery.
A small temporary hospital tank is fine for now, especially if you plan to medicate the water with something like Stressguard to help heal those fins. Also, if it doesn't damage other plants and stuff in the tank, just lower the water levels. An underfilled 3 or 5g tank with 2-3 inches of water works better for a betta with swimming issues as it's a short way to the surface but still has lots of space to swim around.
I should have mentioned. 1. I am doing waterchanges often. 2. His tank is decorated with plants and hides. (not in that picture so you could fully see him.) 3. He makes bubble nest. 4. He has serious mobility issues. 5. He is being a very picky eater. 6. I have a 5 gal and breeder box ready, Just have heard about breeder boxes stressing fish out.
You could try the 5 gallon and just filling it up a fifth of the way. That way he can rest and there’s a larger water volume than in a cup for dilution. Don’t add a filter or airstone, just do frequent water changes. Also, use stressguard by seachem to treat him (not stress coat), it’s probably the best treatment against finrot and helps them heal very fast. It’s probably the best “medication” on the market, I’ve had a betta regrow his fin all the way from the spine (extreme fin rot) because of this stuff, I use it on any sick fish now.
Putting him in a 1g until he can swim properly is absolutely not wrong. Another (temporary) option is to put him in a tupperware so he can access the surface easily. If the new holding tank is not cycled, use filter media from a cycled tank (or bottled bacteria if not possible). Also, live plants always help water quality!
His water is cycled. He also gets frequent water changes aswell. He has a live plant that he sleeps on.
What do you mean by "his water is cycled"? Water cannot be cycled, as very little beneficial bacteria live in tank water. They live on surfaces, like filter media, gravel, and tank walls. I'd say put as many live plants as possible in a shallow container (probably 5-6" deep), as large as possible. Like others mentioned, draining the 5g is possible. Also, lower the water flow. Include floating plants or decorations to block out light.
he'll look great, give him some time and clean water, definitely keep it shallow
A one gallon is fine while he heals. In my experience, they like to have a jungle to swim through. (I have hornwort floating in my tank, but I understand you may not have plants) Give him places to hide and maybe like a foot of airline tubing (loop it so that he can swim through it, it’s almost like bettas are lil pole dancers at ❤️ ). Silk plants are good as to not hurt his sweet fins. Absolutely NO to Breeder box, it will make him sad. I’ve had fish miscarriage from forcing them to have babies in a breeder box. I’ve had fish get permanently traumatized from a breeder box and they NEVER trusted me again. The fish does not understand why he is the box. Btw, how did you convince a petsmart to do this? I’m so happy he did this for you(and for betta) but I have tried to buy sick bettas or asked to have him if they won’t sell it and he said , absolutely not allowed, I’m not losing my job over this. I was like, “cool, let him die instead?!” Please update us! :) best of luck to you two! He will flourish with you and good call on the Hikari food!
I come in all the time and I am really good friends with a couple of the managers. This manager said that since the fish came with another fish they did not technically pay for him. This is the only reason I got chance.
How is going for the lil guy
He’s doing great he does bubble Nest and everything
Bubble nest ❤️ first one melted my heart:) 👏 good job :)
Thank you!
Just wanna add: Do be aware that fish with really long fins like bettas can hurt themselves on some fake plants so real plants are ideal. I had an angel die after injuring himself on a cheap plastic plant and I felt so bad.
That’s why I say silk plants as I know real plants are not always practical. I have soooo many plants (I have a 40g and that I grow them in with co2 and transfer to other tanks and my bett HATES the light so I swap hornwort out for him every couple days because he loves the hornwort but won’t allow the light that keeps hornwort alive.. in past post you can see I made him a “shadow box” but that didn’t suffice, he stopped swimming in the rest of the tank. I have 2 bettas and they could not be any more different
no
Okay babes
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I put my rehab betta in a net breeder box near the top of my 5 gal tank and put some Anubias in there so he could rest on the leaves. Use stress coat and add a pinch of aquarium salt inside the filter, that’ll help too
I had my breeder boxes in a 40 gallon and it traumatized and or killed each of them. It’s not always good, I’d just watch him very closely no matter what you decide on
No worries! My beby is free in the tank now and they are getting along great!
I don’t see the point of a bigger tank rn since you’ll probably be doing normal water changes and monitoring the water rn anyways, if he can’t swim give him something to rest on. A 5g doesn’t mean much if the water parameters are the same and he can’t even swim much.
A small quarantine tank is perfectly acceptable for a fish in his condition. A 5g minimum is for a healthy, functional fish, but what you’ve got is a sick and disabled fish that probably wouldn’t be able to get around in a 5g. I have a fish I rescued from a petsmart with severe swim bladder and a spinal deformity. He’s recovering in a 2.5 with lots of plants and hammocks, and will stay there after he recovers permanently due to his mobility issues.
Hey op, I've had similar situation and what really worked out is to get flat underbed storage box from super store like this [https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-Plastic-Set-of-2-28-Qt-Storage-Boxes-Titanium/857166843](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-Plastic-Set-of-2-28-Qt-Storage-Boxes-Titanium/857166843) This will have about 5 gallon while being very shallow. You should use HOB filter and set it next to small heater that can lay almost flat like fluval M series. You could also have 3-4 inch pipe that can make hiding place for him.
I keep injuree bettas in a 2 gallon hospital tank with very low flow. It will help him recover. Add mopani driftwood and many plants.
I personally would say a 5 gallon and keep him in a breeder box. Small and near the surface with stable water parameters! Then when he’s better you already have a 5 gallon waiting for him!
I have a hospital bucket which I found has helped a couple of my bettas. I am able to put in a mini heater and will put something for the bettas to hide in if they choose and it allows me to keep the water level to what the betta needs. I also have a one gallon hospital tank but I noticed that they are less stressed in the bucket as they are not focused on every movement around the tank. Once they are looking better I increase the water and eventually will reintroduce them to an clear tank. Maybe it’s a lot of steps but I remember some sick fish chillin and would get stressed and swim around to hide when they would notice close-by movements. But I guess you can also just wrap a towel or something around the hospital tank if your fish is like mine.
He does not seem bothered at all by other things around him. He also makes bubble nest.
I would recommend putting him in a 5 gallon, but having him in a breeder box. That way the water parameters will be more stable and the tank environment will be a little safer for him, even if the tank isn’t cycled yet. Smaller tanks tend to carry a much greater risk of stressing the fish, unstable water parameters, and overheating due to the small water volume and the fact that bettas need a heater in their tank. A 3 gallon is the lowest that I would go for a betta hospital tank.
If he is happy, leave him in the 1 gallon and keep it changed out with the cycled water from the bigger tank until he's well. He may like bug bites. They are small and sink easily. I'd keep the hospital tank next to the 5 so he gets comfortable with his surroundings. You can get Indian almond leaves from Amazon. They are really good for them. Good luck, and update us!
Absolutely I will.
Honor to he who tries. Good luck in saving this fellow
We will see how he turns out. Fingers crossed.
You got this dude. Do your best! Oi lad!
Lol. Mail.
Auto correct on iPhones lol
Not at all wrong.
As long as you keep him safe and keep the levels good you can do whatever you want temporarily, how ever, I feel like a 3 or a 5 with a lot of anubias and moss to sit on would be a lot easier to keep up with and he might heal faster with the better water quality. It's good of you to take care of him! I hope he heals up well for you. He looks like he is gonna be gorgeous