FishProfiles.com Message Forums

	Sick or Stressed?
CeltGirl Enthusiast Posts: 170 Votes: 0 Registered: 08-May-2004	I rescued a female betta yesterday from a tank with an oscar (I wrote about it in my other thread here) and I noticed a couple of things that are worrying me a bit. First, she has vertical stripes, which I think mean stress, right? I can't remember what they mean. Also, her tail fin is usually clamped, coming to a point kind of like this <. She's in a one gallon Kritter Keeper with a water temp of 78 degrees. Decor is a broadleaf silk plant and some glass stones. Should I add some bettafix or melafix to the water?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:17
boil Enthusiast Posts: 201 Kudos: 420 Votes: 28 Registered: 19-Dec-2003	It could be shock
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:17
CeltGirl Enthusiast Posts: 170 Votes: 0 Registered: 08-May-2004	there anything I can do tp help her through it?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:17
Daniel Banned Posts: 600 Kudos: 524 Votes: 12 Registered: 25-Jul-2002	melafix wouldn't hurt. Verticle stripes mean she is ready to breed, which puzzles me because I doubt the other store would have been conditioning her...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:17
CeltGirl Enthusiast Posts: 170 Votes: 0 Registered: 08-May-2004	So she's both happy and stressed at the same time? I know she wasn't being conditioned at the shop (unless hiding in rockwork to avoid being eaten is a form of conditioning no one's ever heard of) so maybe she's just happy to finally be safe and well fed. I'll put a couple of drops of melafix in her tank and see if that helps. When she does fan out her tail (which is rare) it looks just a little bit ragged.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:17
garyroland ---Prime Fish--- Posts: 7878 Kudos: 4010 Votes: 103 Registered: 31-Dec-2001	Melafix is not required unless a fungus is present on the fish or fins... Some good food and clean water should improve the Betta's condition. Too many hobbyists are dosing Melafix, an anticeptic, for reasons unknown. The med is not a miracle producer with Bettas. --garyroland.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:17
CeltGirl Enthusiast Posts: 170 Votes: 0 Registered: 08-May-2004	Yeah, I think I'll skip the melafix. Would water changes every three to four days be about right to keep the WQ good? [span class="edited"][Edited by CeltGirl 2004-08-21 20:11][/span]
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:17
Shannen Banned Posts: 1160 Kudos: 1686 Votes: 98 Registered: 17-Feb-2004	First off I want to thank Gary for stepping into this forum! Second I would wait at least a week before treating with meds. You really want to make sure there is a problem other than stress before dosing with meds.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:17
CeltGirl Enthusiast Posts: 170 Votes: 0 Registered: 08-May-2004	Thanks everyone who helped me out here. My newest girl is finally settling in to her new home. I didn't dose any meds, per Gary's advice (THANKS!), and now she's starting to behave more like my other girl. I'm confident now that she's going to make it and live a long helthy life.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:17
Light_Bright Moderator Posts: 1156 Kudos: 1403 Votes: 351 Registered: 16-Jan-2002	I find that clean water and a quiet spot is the best thing for a stressed out betta. If I get a betta that had been kept in "less that ideal" conditions I treat with a round of Bettamax. Unfortunately the company who made Bettamax has gone out of business but you can still find some in lfs and online. ___________________________________________ If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:17
blackcloud Fingerling Posts: 26 Votes: 0 Registered: 13-Aug-2004	if she still has ragared or split fins after a week or more then you can add some melafix as it is the best for fixing split or torn fins. trust me it does work i have some females that after trying to sporn have had bad fins and know there good thanx to MELAFIX
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:17
CeltGirl Enthusiast Posts: 170 Votes: 0 Registered: 08-May-2004	Thanks for the advice everyone- she's doing very well now. Her colors are really brightening up and she's getting to be quite beautiful.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:17


	Jump to:

The views expressed on this page are the implied opinions of their respective authors.
Under no circumstances do the comments on this page represent the opinions of the staff of FishProfiles.com.

FishProfiles.com Forums, version 11.0
Mazeguy Smilies