I was going to use an old stocking. But will the "gunk" be able to be sucked up? I ask because my yellow boy likes to hang out by the intake and his fins get sucked in. Starting to look ratty and I don't want it turn into finrot!
Suggestions?
Thanks,Erin

Hi Erin... I had that problem with a couple of my betta's,so I just did some "rearranging". I bought a taller bushy silk plant for one tank,and planted it deep right in front of the intake tube. In another tank-I have a rock ornament that my betta likes to hide under. That is placed in same corner as intake. I just basically block it from my betta's-if you know what I mean. As dumb as it sounds,it is working.

Hey, thanks Sharon. I tried blocking the tube, but he likes to "patrol" every inch of his tank! He squirms behind ornaments and plants and that's where he ends up, around the intake tube. I don't know, maybe it feels good to him. But it's not making his fins look good! <_< I started thinking about putting some filter floss up inside the tube to semi-block off some the vents. Or even the stocking thing because it's not like there's actual gunk to be sucked up and filtered, right?
Erin

I'd try the stocking before the floss. You may want to read back in old posts..I do remember other people having same probs-I just don't remember their solutions. Hey Erin,check the goldie section too. Alot of people have mentioned their more sensitive fish like bubble eyes,celestials,etc,and keeping them from getting stuck on the intake tube..I know if you search,you'll find good tips. Sorry I'm not more help!!

I remember reading about it too. I just can't seem to find the darn post! I'll try the stocking over the tube, see how it goes. I think maybe it would better to get a new pair though. Just in case there's any residue left over from the laundry. Thanks again, Sharon!
Erin

The filter sponge is very good, i would use that or an old net

Well I got a pair of knee highs and cut one to fit over the intake tube. Seems to be working great so far. But now I see Sunny has a whole in his dorsal fin! I know it's from being sucked into the intake tube. The tips of his fins are showing some red too. Should I treat this like finrot and add maracyn2 or just try to heal it with melafix?
Thanks, Erin

P.S. The rays of the fin are the parts that look like the "fingers" right? If that's what it is, those are still in tacked it's the "fleshy" part that's damaged. So he has the fingers with some webbing missing from being sucked into the intake tube. And the edges are where it's red. Where as my other 2 bettas with finrot look like 1/2 their tail is missing!

What is up with all of this fin rot lately???

IMHO I woldn't use Melafix - it actually increased the rot in my bettas & they got better only after I stopped it.

If your water is perfect - see if it heals on it's own. Especially as you're sure it's from an injury. Just watch it like a hawk!

Only if it continues to get worse would I treat it with meds.

Good Luck!!

Jenn

Thanks Jen! I just looked over and the whole has gotten bigger! In 15 minutes! It was about the size of a round toothpick now it's the size of a pencil and looking torn! This is rediculous. I'll watch it for a couple days. If there's no improvement, I have to do something. He's gonna lose half his dorsal fin! :angry: And I'm mad at myself. I just didn't realize how much damage this thing was doing to him till the other day. BAD MOM!

I've also been experiencing some intake problems. I just brought my first Betta home last night (see here for the whole sordid tale of my current tank) and he seemed to be doing fine.

When I checked on him this morning, he was motionless (except for his gills) and seemed to be pinned against the filter intake. Fortunately, the intake is covered with a grate and none of his fins were being drawn into it; when I opened the tank and gently tapped the water near him, he immediately snapped himself away from the intake and swam to another corner of the tank. I continued to observe him for another few minutes, and watched as he slowly drifted back toward the intake and his previous position.

The intake does not seem to be doing him any harm and (as previously stated) he seems to be able to get away from it, but I'm very concerned about his stress levels and the overall current in the tank. I shut the filtration system down roughly one hour ago and have been observing him carefully since: he seems to be actively exploring his new home now, whereas before he seemed to stay toward the side of the tank where the intake is located.

For those who didn't feel like wading through the thread referenced above, the tank is twelve-gallons with an integral filtration system. I have no way of regulating the intake short of actually blocking it with something (which sort of defeats the purpose). I do not have an issue shutting the system down for a few hours, but that seems like a very poor solution.

Would I be better off purchasing a smaller tank/filtration system for him? Do you think the current is a problem? How long (in twelve-gallons) can I go without the filtration system being active? Any ideas?

Suffice it to say that this is the last “all-in-one” tank system I'll ever purchase. At this point though, my primary concern is with the Betta's wellbeing...

yes IMHO - It could be the filter system & current.

In one of my tanks I had an ugf & that poor betta did so poorly I dismantled it & put a different filter in there. Pat did the exact same thing (would only move when I had the filter off) until I changed the filter

I like the whispers for my betta tanks because you can turn the current way down & they disturb the water surface less.

You'll have to do water changes with no filtration - I would base them upon your test strips until you can get a handle on how long you can go. I would make them 100% changes since the water wouldn't be moving around much OR make it a larger change with a gravel vac & see how it goes.

There are people who keep bettas in 1-2 gal bowls with no filter (strictly speaking they don't need them) But I think they stay healthier in a tank with some type of filtration.

Hope this helps!

Jenn

At this point, I'm on the verge of openly weeping where this tank is concerned (which would be extremely humorous for anyone who knows me, I'm sure).

[rant]While I'm certain the tank is good for something, I'm equally certain that something won't be anything that's actually useful to me.[/rant]

I tried engaging the filter again after an hour or so, and sure enough, the Betta's fins immedately swept backwards (like Cousin Itt in a wind tunnel) and he began struggling against an obvious current: ergo, the filter gets shut down once more. Despite the size of the tank, he likes to patrol against the glass and as such can't seem to find his way out of the current to the "eye" in the middle of the tank.

Again, this is an integral filter system: it's either on or it's off, and I have no options for replacing it. For the time being I'll leave the filter off and monitor the water quality carefully; hopefully I'll have the means for a replacement solution (smaller tank, kinder filter) in a couple weeks.

Thanks for your help...

Bummer. At least whith the tank I bought I could jury rig a whisper in there (the lid no longer fits properly but hey - the fish is much happier!

Good Luck!!!!!

Jenn

After a bit of online window-shopping, I found these tanks at PETsMART. Would something like this be better, or do you think I'd be letting myself in for further frustration? What would you recommend as an "ideal" setup for a single male Betta?

Sorry to be a bother, but I've basically given up on getting any sort of useful/correct/honest information out of any of the LPS in my area...

EDIT: And I also apologize for hijacking this thread...I realize what I'm asking is now outside the original topic, and will be happy to move this elsewhere (new topic, PM, etc.) if need be.

Were you thinking of the 1 gal or the 2 gal???

The only prob I 've had with ugf is the current. SOme bettas can handle it & some can't. (Mine was one of the ones who couldn't)

You can get a cheap 5 gal or so glass tank from your lps for like 9.99 or so (although it was the same price as the 10 gal - they said it was due to the unusual size) & a whisper mini is also about 9.99 or so. I think my tank cover was about 5.00 or so.

I know my local Petco had cheaper acrylic tank & the smallworld filters were only about 4 bucks. (Other members have used them before with success).

Dunno if this helps or not!

Jenn

I would be more inclined toward the two-gallon if I went with either of these, but from the sound of it I might simply be recreating my current problem (albeit on a smaller scale).

I sounds like my best bet is to invest in one of the smaller "traditional" tanks with the Whisper filter you mentioned. I'll do some more looking this weekend and see if I can't some up with something appropriate.

Thanks again for the advice.

I got my kids those 2.5 gal mini bows & their bettas seem to love them. They are 2.5 gallon acrylic tanks which include a divider a filter & light & some other stuff (like food, water conditioner etc - I never use it but it's there) THey come with whisper filters.

Jenn

Thanks for the tip! I'll have a look at those the next time I'm out and let you know how it goes...

I love the minibows. I have two 5 gal. and one 2.5 gal. I didn't have a problem cycling any of them either.
Erin

I wasn't able to locate any of the five-gallon Mini Bows when I went shopping last weekend; I finally decided to go with this little setup from PETsMART. It ended up being about ~$10 cheaper than the Mini Bow and also comes equipped with the Whisper Micro Filter. My Betta (Hiro) has been safely transferred to his new home and seems quite happy and active...I've got a slew of new questions now, but I'll post those elsewhere and quit taking up space in this thread.

Thanks again!