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Post by hpatacca on Mar 20, 2004 17:13:09 GMT -5
Hi. I have some experience with bettas but am at a complete loss. I just rescued two bettas from my neighbor who is moving. Both are in two gallon rectangle tanks without filters about half filled. My neighbor doesn't remember the last time she changed their water. The water is disgusting!!
How should I go about changing their water? I really don't want to put them in shock by going from nasty to clean water. Should I suck out some of the crap and add the clean water slowly?
Both are eating and swimming fine. I just can't believe how gross the water is.
Thanks for any help!
Holly
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Post by abm on Mar 20, 2004 21:38:35 GMT -5
Hi and thanks for posting, From personal experience I can tell you that a drastic change in water conditions, even for the better, can shock your fish nearly to death. So I'm glad you are going slow. Bettas and many fish are very hardy creatures - that's why they're still around despite their apparent lack of care. I''m so glad you want to help them! There are many threads/comments around this forum on the topic of water changes - I hope you've read some of them. Basically you need to get them into clean water very very gradually. You need dechlorinator/conditioner in the new water, maybe some aquarium salt. I think your lovely description  of "sucking out some of the crap" and adding clean water is a good idea. Remember to pack your patience during this transition! I would start very very slowly (i.e., suck out 1 cup, replace 1 cup) and let them get used to that for a couple of hours. If they are acting completely normal (which may be hard for you to know, since you just got them, but anyway ) then do a little bit more, and wait some more. Personally I would take the better part of a day to accomplish the change completely, more than that if they act oddly. When I brought my daughter's betta home for the Christmas holidays his water was nasty nasty NASTY. He was in a 1/2 gallon bowl and it smelled BAD. I immediately switched him into a bowl of clean conditioned water and spent the next two days thinking I'd killed him. He darted, jumped, swam frantically, basically looked like he was trying to get out of his skin. After a couple of days he calmed down, resumed normal eating and has been fine ever since (and my daughter has learned a lot about proper tank husbandry, along with getting him a larger tank). Post back and let us know how it goes. Good luck, and remember - PATIENCE. If you're like me you want to fix it all NOW. Fishkeeping has definitely taught me to be patient.  |
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Post by palepinkvase on Mar 22, 2004 13:39:06 GMT -5
How are things going with the Bettas? Were you able to transition them into cleaner waters smoothly?
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Post by ACKislander on Mar 22, 2004 13:59:00 GMT -5
Poor little guys. Good for you for saving them. Let us know how they're doing.
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Post by hpatacca on Mar 23, 2004 7:15:35 GMT -5
Hi ! Thanks for you help!!
They seem to be doing well! I was a little worried about Sullivan at first but he has pulled through. I am amazed at how much strength these little guys have!
Thanks again.
a very relieved Holly
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Post by Rachel on Mar 23, 2004 9:43:55 GMT -5
ABM offered you very sound advice. Glad to hear the little guys are headed towards a better life. |
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of "sucking out some of the crap" and adding clean water is a good idea. Remember to pack your patience during this transition! I would start very very slowly (i.e., suck out 1 cup, replace 1 cup) and let them get used to that for a couple of hours. If they are acting completely normal (which may be hard for you to know, since you just got them, but anyway ) then do a little bit more, and wait some more. Personally I would take the better part of a day to accomplish the change completely, more than that if they act oddly. 
