Zeus's new home

[Kirrie]

I've had my betta, Zeus, for over a year now, possibly two. I recently (5 days ago) moved him out of his little tank and into a 5.5 gallon tank. He has one fake plant (I will be getting live plants when I have the money) and he also has a floating log that he spends a lot of time in. Since I've moved him he doesn't seem to swim around as much. I often find him just sitting on the bottom of the tank. I just added a heater today to make his water a little warmer. If this doesn't help, what could be the problem and how do I fix it?

[Angelclown]

How long has this 5.5 gallon been running? Is it cycled? Check your ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, pH. He could be just getting used to his new environment, but not sure. I am hoping that this tank is cycled before you put your betta in it. If not, then you will have to watch your betta closely. They are hardy fish, but too much ammonia and it can kill them. Nitrite can kill them as well. Please check your water parameters and make sure they are normal.

[Kirrie]

I had the tank running for a little over a week before I moved him. I will check the water as soon as I can. After adding the heater last night though, I noticed that he started to move around a little more after a few hours. Hopefully he is just getting used to the tank.

[C. King]

A week is not nearly enough time to cycle a tank. If you haven't already taken down the old tank, I would put Zeus right back, so he doesn't have to live through the chemical ups and downs of a cycling tank. If you have a test kit, knowing the numbers angelclown mentioned would help alot. If you don't have a test kit, you need to get one. (not strips, but test tubes)

[Betta man]

Originally Posted by C. King A week is not nearly enough time to cycle a tank. If you haven't already taken down the old tank, I would put Zeus right back, so he doesn't have to live through the chemical ups and downs of a cycling tank. If you have a test kit, knowing the numbers angelclown mentioned would help alot. If you don't have a test kit, you need to get one. (not strips, but test tubes)

Mine cycled in under a week. I did take a sponge filter cartridge from another tank along with a bunch of plants and a little water. If the ammonia is too high, it will burn the fish's gills. Bettas can survive for months with burned gills. Check the water temp. It is best for bettas to have 80 degree water. When in doubt, do a water change.

[Kirrie]

Ah thank you. I've had my betta for almost 2 years but he has always been in the same tank so I haven't completely grasped the concept of cycling a tank. Although, when I brought Zeus home from the pet store, I had my dad set up the tank and he put him in the tank on the same day. Now that I know better, how long should a 5.5 gallon tank be cycled?

Also, silly question, but where does the ammonia in the water come from?

[Betta man]

The fish's urine. Sometimes it takes a month to cycle, sometimes it takes 3. I know almost nothing about cycling as I just put some of the old water and a filter cartridge in the new tank and throw fish in about a couple days.

[Angelclown]

It takes about 2 months to give it a good cycle. Yeah I would put Zeus back in the other tank while the 5.5 gallon is cycling, that way he will live longer than if he was in the tank that is cycling. After the 5.5 gallon is done cycling, then you can put Zeus in the tank. Your tank will be cycled when you have 0ppm's of ammonia and nitrite, some nitrate.

[Kirrie]

Ok, I knew ammonia came from the fish's urine but after just being moved into clean water, how can the ammonia be high enough to hurt him? I just want to have a better understanding of this so I don't make anymore mistakes like this in the future.

[Betta man]

It burns them while they're in the dirty water. If the tank isn't cycled, the ammonia is not turned in to nitrites or whatever they're turned into and it burns the fish.

[C. King]

kirrie, for some good info on cycling a tank, look under "beginners" at the stickies. One is titled "cycling.." and the other is "important! read this if your fish are dying!" (or something like that) These posts may help you understand it better. How is Zeus doing, now?

[Kirrie]

Oh I see. And for the rest of the weekend I won't be at my dads (where my fish are D so I asked my dad to check on him for me. Today he said that he was swimming around his log and moving around more like normal.

[Kirrie]

For anyone who sees this, Zeus died today :/ He was almost 2, according to how long I've had him. I haven't been home in a week and he apparently had a fungus infection that I didn't know about because it was all over when I got home. I can count on my dad to feed my fish and tell me what's up but other than that, he's too busy to really notice things like that so I didn't catch it fast enough. I think I'll take a break from having three tanks in my room and just work on my 29 gallon. Thanks for the advice though

[C. King]

So sorry about Zeus!

[Kirrie]

It's ok. It's probably better that I only work on one tank for now anyways since I am not home that often.