Last night I was doing a waterchange for Orchard so I put him in a cup. I came back once everything was ready to go, and he had jumped out of the cup. He could have ben out of water for as much as 10 minutes. I put him back in the tank and turned off the lights, with the tank lights next to him on (he likes them, and I can still watch him). The first few minutes he clamped his fins and swam funny, but then he was fine the the night and the morning. This evening he is huddled behind his tree cave and won't come out. Is there anything I can do for him?

His tank has a little over 1 teaspoon of salt in 2.7 gallons as a preventative for fin rot, and its been in there for about a week and a half.

Wow, he is really giving you the run around, isnt he! He sounds like a tough little fish, though.

I had a betta jump once, and he is pretty much fine now. Hopefully Orchard will heal up just fine.

Thanks Andy. I feel terrible...I finally cured him of fin rot (I think) and now this. I could have prevented the whole thing. He even made me a couple bubble nests this week

Oh no. How horrible. It sounds like he might just need a bit of recovery time. All you can do is wait it out. Just make him comfortable and let him heal.

Hey Kissy,sorry to hear about your Betta. They are known jumper's so maybe at least this post will show other's to not take a chance.I sure hope the little guy pulls through!

my guy jumped out a tiny little inch slit when the tank lid wasnt completely on once, no idea how he managed it first time, lukily i was there in the room watchin tv and heard a flop so i got him back quickly..

i hope Orchard get well as soon as

www i really hope he is ok he sounds like a tough little guy

How is he today ?

Aww, Kissy... I'm sorry, how is he doing?

Sorry to hear this, Kissy. Hope he is doing better today

Kissy!

I am hoping Orchard is better today.

Oh! I hope he will heal fast and well. I think he just hated that cup after being used to so much room! Let u s know how he is doing!

Sorry about Orchard, Kissy. I've never had a Betta jump before.

I hope he gets better.

Awww poor Orchard and Kissy. That little fishy has been through so much. I hope he feels better and makes a full recovery. And Kissy don't feel bad we all make mistakes like that just ask my poodle what happened when I tried to cut a mat off her back side (she has a scar and runs when I come near her with scissors)

Thanks everyone, Orchard's doing much better today!! He came out last night at about midnight. I was up packagine meds by closet light so I wouldn't disturb him. I was about to take out my contacts, and I saw him in the reflection of my mirror. He's good today too.

I do have a circular hole in the top of his tank about 2" in diameter...I'm thinking I need to do something about that. Can I make a "duct tape door? Like, stick duct tape to its self, and have a sticky end to have like a little hinge. Or better ideas?

I've heard Bettas can live a few hours in a moist paper towel just fine. Is this true?

After all they live in rice paddies.

Kissy, that sounds like a good idea. You can even cover the container you put him in during water changes with a paper towel. Maybe next time put something from his tank in the temporary container with him. I just had to take Baracus out if his tank for the first time so I could clean the glass beads at the bottom of his tank - I put two of his plants in the tub with him to calm him down while I was cleaning. It worked pretty well - he hid under them until it was time to go back in his tank.

Glad to hear he is doing better - he is so lucky to have you caring for him.

I am so glad he is doing OK.

Kissy,
I am so glad that Orchard has made a recovery.

The duct tape flap sounds like a good idea. I have used plastic canvas (the type used for needlework) to block off any openings in my tank hoods. I have to hold it in place with duct tape, though

I am so happy to hear he is ok You must feel such relief

You can use tin foil to cover also ... it forms to what you cover and if you crimp the edges down against the edges of the container it will stay pretty well!

Touchofsky, that is a great idea! The canvas would work well... but of course duct tape works well for everything too!

Yes, it works well and it is easy to cut to shape and to cut openings for heaters or filters. A lot of times you can just wedge it into place and it stays quite well. It comes in colours, too, and I use black on my tanks with black hoods. Blends right in

Glad to hear Orchard is doing fine!
THe duct tape flap sounds like a great idea!

Orchard is dieing now. I came home today and he was floating at the top with his head in the corner. He has absolutely no interest in food. He moved a couple of times, but now he's lying on the bottom of his tank on his side, not moving at all. He's very listless, and either not very aware of his surrounds or just to weak to care or reacty much. There aren't any visable signs of illness, so I'm guessing whatever is wrong is because he jumped a few days ago.

Ammonia-- .01
Nitrite--0
Nitrate--1 (same from tap)
pH--7.9

There is a little over 1 teaspoon of salt in his 2.7 gallons fo water, and it has been that way for about two weeks.


I hope everyone didn't decide to ditch this thread since at my last post said he was better....

Aw, I am so sorry. I guess the stress of the jump was just too much for him

I guess so.

Oh Kissy, I am so sorry!! You've done so much for him - poor little guy. I hope he hangs in there.

I added 3 times the dosage of prime an hour ago...maybe its something like chemicals in the new water?

Possibly. Betta's really need the most Pristene water possible in order to pull through any type of illness,so Ammonia/Nitrite has to be reading 0 of course.Is he doing any better? Ten minutes sounds like a long time for him to be out of the water. Sure hope he makes a recovery.

oh kissy m so sorry hes not doing so good
we've heard so much about this little guy, i feel kinda attached too!
i really hope he makes it

Kissy, how is he?

<<PLEASE, PLEASE say he is doing better>>

Awww Kissy I am so so so sorry! Gosh that is just awful. My thoughts are with you.

Aww man and just when we thought he was going to be ok.
sorry

update:

Orchard's doing better today! I swear..this little guy is the most detirmined little thing to live. I came home and I was so happy. I didn't see him, but he saw my and swam up and started wiggling!!!!!!!! He's not completely back to himself, but hes definately better. He even ate Hopefully, his condition will continue to improve instead of becoming worse again like the last time. Orchard's my miracle fish.

Do you guys think all of this was because of his extended time out of water? I mean, duh, that much time out of water would kill a lot of fish. But I think it is weird how he was fine after he recovered from the shock, got worse 24 hours later, got better the next day, and then the day after that nearly died. Do you think water quality had anything to do with it? .01 ammonia could probably throw him off if he was already in such a stressed condition...but I'm worried there could be chemicals in my water. I'm so scared to change the water for any of my tanks now. I did age Orchard's water from his water change for 24 hours plus a little over 1 dose of prime. Can his symptoms match up with exposure to chlorine/metals, or any disease? I'm not sure what to do next.

I came up with a good solution for waterchanges once Orchard pulls thru. I have a free coupon from petco since I just got a petco card. I get to choose one cheapie thing off the list, and they have this "aquatic Gardens Delux Mini-Habitat. It looks much too small for any fish, but its see thru and looks like it has a top, so it will do. If it has no top and can create one, but the important thing is that its see thru.

He's lucky you care about him. Most people (stupid people) would just leave him to suffer and die. He's a very lucky fishie, I hope he lives long past his "experation date". I can't remember the exact # of years a Betta lives.

Good luck with little Orchard!!!

Oh kissy I am so glad that Orchard is doing so much better! I hope he continues to get better. Man he's a fighter!

omg that is AWESOME!

I am so happy to hear he is ok!!

Oh Kissy, what a relief! I was holding my breath while I was waiting for the post to load. I'm so glad he's ok.

Does he have plants in his tank? Maybe when you change his water you can put a plant or an ornament from his tank into the container you are putting him in. I did that with my little guy and it calmed him down A LOT. Maybe something familiar would make him want to stay where he is?

He's a handful that fish, but he still has the fighter spirit.

I think maybe he's one of these fish that's been raised in highly medicated circumstances which is why his immune system's never been great. The fish shop you got him from may have a dodgy supplier.

If you could get hold of some Indian Almond Leaf and keep about a cm square of that in his water all the time (turns the water a little yellow), as well as keeping up the good water quality then it might be a good herbal remedy to his environmental weakness. I don't think Ketapang extract is on the shelves there yet.

You should be able to buy it from a breeder like Blue Bettas or Betty Splendens or maybe if you post a WTB post in the classifieds somewhere like International Betta Forums.

I'm definately giving the Ketapang leaves some thought. I found some here at majestic bettas: http://www.majesticbettas.com/supplyshop/almondleaf.htm

They have instructions at the bottom...does that sound about right? Do you know if the dry leaves have an expiration date or "best used by" date? Will carbon suck up ketapang? I want to get my sponge filter up and running before I give ketapang a shot, because I don't want to be having to use new leaves every three days or so. Also...under the description of what it does, the site says ketapang lowers pH. Is this really a good thing? I have a very high pH but an extremely high kH. Will this apply to me? I'd especially like some insight on the pH question. Thanks

Bettas like a low pH and the high KH will keep your pH from swinging so Ketapang leaves will be very safe to use and very beneficial in your case.

Just tear off a cm2 for every litre... hmmm... maybe an inch square for every USG? And just float it on top for a couple of weeks. Then change it for a new piece. The good tannins will leach into the water from there and slowly break down and shouldn't affect your filter at all.

Three leaves would probably last you six months if you sealed the bag up properly afterwards.

If the leaves are too dry and crumbly complain that they stuck you with old stock.

I use the boiled down extract and the bettas love it. It keeps crowntails tails from curling and since most of mine carry a marbling gene, all these beautiful blue and purple hues come out. My lavender red's eyes have turned lavender... it's kinda freaky.

How is he today? still looking good?

hope he is ok

Aww I'm glad he's doing OK

It's scary when they jump, so far I've only had my female betta jump and flop onto the counter then onto the floor =x Put her back in the tank, she was fine.. she's my hardiest fish so far.

I'm glad that Orchard is on the mend again, too. I hope he keeps improving

Maries, I have found my female bettas to be tough little things, also

im glad hes doing ok kissy

Orchard is about the same today, still good, but not quite himself yet.

I just want to reassure myself that there isn't a huge amount of chlorine or something in our water....I swear I can smell it x_X But I have a superhuman nose lol. Could I use a pool testing kit or will it not pick up small enough ppms?

Kissy I can smell the chlorine in my tap water too. It even tastes like pool water. I haven't had any troubles with it in my betta tank but Orchard seems to be a sensitve guy could you use distilled water and add some mineral stuff ( I have no idea if that's even possible but you could try!) Oh! or you could mix it half and half so you have less chlorine but still the good mineral stuff. I have no idea if that'll work but just an idea. I am keeping my fingers crossed for Orchard I hope he gets back to 100%.