BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish New Betta - water transfer poisoning

Hi guys. I got Fred about a week and a half ago from Walmart. Needless to say, Fred wasn't in the best of shape when he got home; he's had white spots around his mouth and a grayish spot on the side of his head which I've been treating with Aquari-Sol...he's looking much better :-)

About 5 days ago, I did a full water change and it nearly killed him. I put him in one of those plastic gladware containers while I cleaned his half gallon tank. The container he was never used before and I washed out with tapwater (no soap). It was filled with the declorinated water that I kept right next to his bowl (to make sure it was the same temp). While I was cleaning out his tank I looked over at him and his color was basically drained from most of his body. All the spots that I thought the Aquari-Sol had cleared off of his face were back, his gills were flaring, his fins were clamped, and he was frantically swimming back and forth. I quickly got him back into his tank and luckily he survived that episode. I still have no idea what went wrong and I don't know what to do about changing his water again. He's been acting like himself lately, his color returned, his fins look normal again, and those spots around his face and clearing up nicely.

I'd really appreciate any advice you guys have on changing his water and taking care of him. Thanks a lot.

mandm, sounds to me like your little guy just got very upset about you changing his house around. each betta has their own lil' personality and most betta hate change. eventually he'll get used to you cleaning out his house and other stuff.
also, we usually only change a whole 100% of water once a month or longer, including a full clean. once a week (best if more often) only hcnage 25% water, leaving mostly his old water so your lil' guy won't get stressed form chemical change.
your guy though, sounds less like shock of checmical and more of a huffy-puffy fit. you sound like you're doing great with him, he'll just get used to regular cleanings and such.

Thanks Mel, I was such a wreck after the whole episode. This is my first fish and I'm completely obsessed with pampering him and making sure things are going ok.

He seems to be fine now, he's started making a bubble chain around his tank. I'm not sure if it'll turn into a bubble nest, but it if makes him happy.... :rolleyes:

yeah, mine do that bubble chain too. now n then i will see a HUGE nest in a corner and they want me to "ooh & aww" over it, then it goes away. some one the forum say it takes them a little pratice before they learn to make a great nest and keep it that way. please continue to share your fishy wonders on the forum, we all LOVE to hear about other's fishies!

Hi Mand. I was thinking about your incident and I think it was the new container. There is probably a residue in new plastics that are not made especially for fish, ie, tupperwares and the like. I think he was being poisoned. Everyone should remember this and try to transfer your fish into glass bowls, glass cups or plastic containers made for fish (like those cool specimen containers that hang on the sides of tanks - I use them for everything).

Welcome to the forum!

Geeze.

Thanks for the info Jilly.

Sure. it's just a guess, but if your fish got that pale it's some kind of poisoning, not stress. I am glad he's better now! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />