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Three bettas live here at work, two are mine and one belongs to a coworker. As a bit of background, our company creates signs and such using thermal transfer, silk screening and engraving materials.

The past week or so, we've noticed that the water in the betta tanks (two gallon kritter keepers) has become dirty looking even shortly after cleaning. The surface of the water has the appearence of well... like an oil slick, though there's no color to the film. The water leaves a ring around the top of the tanks that feels slimy.

All three bettas are less active than normal (only one has a heater currently, so that could be part of the issue, as it's getting quite cool lately) and seem reluctant to go to the surface. Both of my bettas have some bubble nesting, but not as prolific as normal, but again, this could be due to the dropping temperatures.

Another new occurance in the strange looking algae in my tanks. It almost looks like brown algae on the sides of the tanks, but it also has green and even a reddish tinge to some of the areas. Now, my tanks are within, say, five feet of the overhead fluorescent lighting, but even so, don't get a huge amount of light. They've never had this odd algae before.

My concern is that this has never happened before and has just begun in the past week or so. We had the doors open for most of the summer and fall, but have just now been forced to keep things closed due to temperatures. Is this some kind of nasty floating around in the air? Because, like EWW if it is. Really big eww.

Anyway, what we're really concerned about is the health of our lil finned friends. Both of us would bring them home, but don't have much in the way of room to do so. Well, I COULD bring mine home and squeeze them in somewhere, but the 'rents would give me that "ANOTHER fish?!" look. *rolls eyes*

I'm going to go clean these tanks, though I doubt it will do too much... my coworker just cleaned her tank the other day and it's already gooped up. What we really want to know, I guess, is how on earth we'd figure out what is going on. There's nothing been sprayed lately, though the ventilation for silk screening and such is far less than stellar. Makes me feel sick to my stomach, gives me a headache, etc... why wouldn't it goop up tanks, hmm?

Help... we need advice!

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I could be off about this but I have somewhat of the same problem. the film you are seeing on the surface of the water is probably due to the food you are feeding. Most of the food I feed my Bettas leave that "oil slick" on the surface. As far as the algae goes, from my own expierience's I change all my Bettas water once a week. But in between really good cleanings (I just rinse things off quickly)I do notice sometimes some algae build up. Maybe try to take evrything out and give it a good cleaning. Also if you are concerned the temp. of the tanks is too cold, I would recommend purchasing a couple of small heaters.

It could also be cause by the water conditioner used in some cases. Since the fish aren't very active the top of the water doesn't get moved around much and the goop can build up. I would just try to skim it off the top with something on occasion.

I dunno... same food I've been using all along. Nothing's changed, really. The only thing I could think of was the stupid fumes and crap here. Ventilation isn't exactly great in the first place, and now we can't keep the doors/windows open.

I'll see if the problem comes back after cleaning the tanks. If so, I dunno what to do besides bring them home with me. *sigh*

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Just curious but how often is the water changed and do you run a filter or just depend on the WC for that?

if you are worried about fumes and the like, sandwich a sheet of plastic wrap in between the lid and the tank. doesn't have to be airtight, and if you leave 1" between the water surface and the wrap, you should be fine if you open daily for feeding.

Its not ideal, but it could be a good way to figure out what the exact problem is.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

maybe it isn't algea, maybe some kind of bacteria. my guess is the bettas are less active because that film interferes with the surface thrusts.
maybe more than a good cleaning is needed: a disinfection.
i wouldn't worry about that it's in the air. there are much, much worse things in the air for you

The water is changed once a week, no filters.

I wouldn't be terribly worried about this whole thing being a simple disinfection problem if my coworker hadn't just bought a new tank for her betta. The same issue continued through the change to the new tank, even through rinsing the gravel thoroughly in hot water, etc.

I did a water change and thorough cleaning Friday and even now, I can see the beginnings of a film on at least one of the tanks.

I just may take your suggestion to heart, Callatya... there's just something weird going on and maybe that will help me figure out what.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I was under the belief that any fish without filtration should have the water changed at the very least every second day. When I was keeping fry in a fish bowl with air and no filter, I did a full water change daily to prevent scum and poo build up.
Perhaps you guys just need to change the water more often?


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with a 2 gal tank, even if they left it for 2 weeks, you still shouldnt get that surface scum build-up, and you certainly shouldn't get it within the first few days.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

if there are any air conditioning filters close by, take a peek and see if there is any strange build up on them. if there is something new in the air (in concentrations enough to cause film on your tank in such a short period), the ac filter should contain some nasties.

if the cause is due to an airborne contaminate, think of your betta as the "canary in the mine". imagine what you are inhaling.

Is there any use of a spray of any kind in the room? I find that spray deodorant and furniture polish do this.