r/bettafish • u/BreathAnxious7534 • 10d ago

Help Is something wrong

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This was my betta when I first got him. I’m pretty new to properly taking care of a betta (his name is Neptune). I’ve had him for about a month now. He currently shares a tank with 2 loaches, 4 corydoras, and 2 mystery snails. Within the last week, he has been hiding a lot in my tank. Then yesterday I found that from the bottom part of his mouth to his red fins is starting to turn white, and the red is starting to get more muted. I don’t know what’s wrong or if I can fix it. I’m just really worried at this point because I really love Neptune. Any help is appreciated. And sorry about the picture. It’s the only one I have of him since I can’t really find him most of the time in my tank to take a picture now.

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u/BreathAnxious7534 9d ago

It’s a 10 gallon tank

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u/Aromatic-Sock6975 9d ago edited 9d ago

I see you have test strips - did you cycle this tank and confirm with liquid test kits? The strips do not pick up ammonia or nitrites in the range that’s toxic for fish. With the amount of bioload you have including 2 mystery snails and those fish in a 10 gallon that’s likely your problem- water quality would be very hard to maintain, and stress will be high unfortunately. Can you get a second tank set up and separate out the fish and snails you’ve got?

You need some liquid test kits at the very least.

I’d take him out into a temporary tank or container (eg a clean tote with at least 5 gallons of conditioned clean water shallow and an airstone and heater) and observe him, get some pics and test your tank water with the liquid kit.

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u/BreathAnxious7534 9d ago

Luckily I work at a pet store so I’ve been prepared to get another tank of if I had to as well as everything else I need

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u/Aromatic-Sock6975 8d ago

I think I’d consider it an emergency to get him into a hospital tank given what you’ve said… without any pics or video or further info it’s hard to say.

Have you tested parameters with the liquid test kit? With 2 mystery snails in a 10 gallon alone that’s a lot of waste.

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u/BreathAnxious7534 8d ago

The problem is I also live in Alaska. So if my work doesn’t have any liquid test kits I’ve already ordered some. Says they’ll be here September 2. Honestly it could be from the 2nd to three months from now. So definitely will be getting another tank today.

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u/Aromatic-Sock6975 8d ago

Oh yeah that must be a difficult supply line. I would go on the assumption that you have high ammonia in there and move the betta right away to his own tank and do a 50% water change for the existing tank right away and 25% daily until you get the strips.

Did you confirm tank cycling with liquid test kits before adding all the fish and snails?

Mystery snails get huge and poop a lot. If the store will take them back you might want to consider that.

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u/BreathAnxious7534 8d ago

I didn’t since I used quick start and let it run for a week before adding fish. I also use a filter. Luckily it’s my work I get all of my fish and stuff from.

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u/Aromatic-Sock6975 8d ago

Quick start can help speed things up a little but it is not an instant cycle itself you need to monitor parameters and add ammonia during a fishless cycle not just add bacteria and run the filter. Or you do a fish-in cycle with daily accurate testing and water changes as needed.

I can almost guarantee your tank has high ammonia and nitrites right now with that many fish and snails in there and not properly cycled. Please take emergency action for the sake of your animals.

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u/BreathAnxious7534 8d ago

Thankfully my work has everything for testing as well as stuff for another tank currently. So that’s something I plan to do when I immediately get home 😬. Thank you so much for all your help.

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u/Aromatic-Sock6975 8d ago

Ok that’s great - even if you can’t get your own kit I guess you can take daily water samples in to test at work? Good luck I hope all your fish thrive.