Hi, I'm now taking care of a relative's betta fish. They didn't read up on fish care so he developed chronic swim bladder disorder and fin rot. I've never had fish and am trying to learn as much as I can so I can help him! He's so sweet and is hanging in there while I'm cycling a 5 gallon for him but in the meantime I have him in a 1 gallon with a live anubias and doing daily 50% water changes and one 100% a week. Water is at 76 to 78 degrees. Tap water has .5 ammonia but I'm using Prime and have an API Master test kit. It looks like the anubias is keeping ammonia and nitrite both at 0ppm. He eats well but is still battling fin rot. It is getting worse even with great water parameters. I'm sure the SBD stresses him out and I read that stress can also cause fin rot. But while frantically reading as much as I could I just learned that if you have plants it can cause a ph crash in the morning. This morning I tested his water and our tap water. Tap was 8.3 and his was 7.2! Now I am panicking. Is there a way to keep the anubias, do water changes and keep a constant ph with no morning crashes? Is there a natural way without chemicals? What should I do? Thank you!
Posts by bsg
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Thank you for your kind reply Briz! It's wonderful you rescued your Sulu, he's very lucky to have you and he's really beautiful! I have never had a fish before (only dogs) and wish I could have advised those relatives to read and learn all they could before getting one 
He is SO sweet. Since the 5g is cycling he is in a 1 gallon and everything is good except for just now learning that there is a huge ph problem. I am still trying to catch up and learn as much as possible, my head is spinning! Thanks again
He is SO sweet. Since the 5g is cycling he is in a 1 gallon and everything is good except for just now learning that there is a huge ph problem. I am still trying to catch up and learn as much as possible, my head is spinning! Thanks again Forgot to mention he isn't biting his tail- I think the stress of having chronic SBD is lowering his immune system and causing the unrelenting fin rot. But now have learned that it can also be from stress of constantly changing ph and possible ph crash in the morning!
Hi Briz, tested ph before and after his daily water change and it went from 7.2 to 7.4/7.5 so only .2ppm! I was expecting a much bigger change using our 8.3 tap water. I guess our Gh/Kh of 53.7 is enough to buffer ph, thankfully! So looks like it is ok right now. I think I convinced my relatives not to get any more fish unless they learn all they can about their care. I am reading so much and still have a lot to learn. Bettas are intelligent, sweet, curious, active and funny- like the little puppy dogs of the fish world How sad then that it looks like almost all petstore bettas are treated no better than trash- kept in cruel ridiculously little cups, slowly dying from stress, neglect and disease, forgotten and disposable. To all the petstore companies and the people who own/run them- just a high volume, low cost item to sell to make a profit. I really don't know how they sleep at night. I have read that many very high achievers/ceo types would be diagnosed/fit the profile of psychopaths so that might explain the total lack of compassion. It doesn't excuse it though. I hope the absolutely heartbreaking situation of petstore bettas ends soon- they deserve better and we can do better. Thanks again for your advice/reply!
How sad then that it looks like almost all petstore bettas are treated no better than trash- kept in cruel ridiculously little cups, slowly dying from stress, neglect and disease, forgotten and disposable. To all the petstore companies and the people who own/run them- just a high volume, low cost item to sell to make a profit. I really don't know how they sleep at night. I have read that many very high achievers/ceo types would be diagnosed/fit the profile of psychopaths so that might explain the total lack of compassion. It doesn't excuse it though. I hope the absolutely heartbreaking situation of petstore bettas ends soon- they deserve better and we can do better. Thanks again for your advice/reply! Thank you wicca27! I pour his water from up high into a large container to remove the gases- there are no minuscule bubbles clinging to his bowl afterwards. Have not tested Ph after doing this, only straight from the tap so now I am curious to see if removing the gases this way lowers the ph. Do you know if that works as well as overnight in a bucket with an airstone? I have a routine that helps me stay consistent with his water changes but can change it if you think your suggestion would be better!
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