Hello!
I was directed over from the BettaFish Forum so I hope you guys can help me out! You seem to have a lot more going on over here! I like it!
Here is some background info on my tank first.
I have a 10 Gallon that used to have platies and mollies. Obviously I went though lots and lots of babies but typically left them in the tank (this was after my first time thinking "Oh no! I have to same them!!" :roll: and spending too much time with my arm in the tank!) I did regular water changes and the tank was previously cycled. Later (no more platies or mollies), having kept the tank cycled and clean, I got a Betta. He's beautiful, but his dropsy is why I am here today. He flourished in the tank for months and months. I moved the tank from one apartment to another (which I know can be quite stressful) but he still did VERY well.
One day (a little over a month ago) I got a tank divider and brought home a beautiful female Betta.I didn't have her for very long before her temperment changed and she became very lethargic. I moved her to a hospital tank and before I knew it she was a big giant pinecone. She didn't die in my 10 gallon but she definitely became sick while she was in there.
I didn't do anything other than regular water changes and my guy was still the same fish as he always was. About a week ago he became very lethargic, stopped eating and started chillin at the bottom and only coming up for air. At first I suspected fin rot and there were signs that his fins weren't as beautiful as they had always been, but not enough to be fin rot. I did a huge water change and started treatment with Maracyn-2 and salts. Nothing :-(. His color wasn't as bright and eventually I could tell he didn't even want to come up for air. I figured it was dropsy and I just couldn't see it yet.
Right now he is in my 10 gallon in a floating breeding trap so that he doesn't have to go very far for air. He is quite pineconey but not as much as my female was when she died. I'm just keeping him comfortable for now since there isn't much I can do.
NOW: My question is, when he passes, and I clean out my tank, what is the best way to clean it and my (plastic) plants and gravel? Moreso, should I just start with a new filter media and re-cycle the tank? Even though it's lots of work, I feel like I would rather do this than be nursing another fish until it dies.
If I do start with new filter media and re-cycle my tank what fish should I cycle it with? (Keeping in mind I am still quite interested in getting another male Betta)
Who knows, I could go in a different direction but I really enjoyed my Betta.
Sorry for all the info but I wanted to lay it all out there! Anything will help and thanks in advance!
(Let me know if I need to post this question in a different area)
I was directed over from the BettaFish Forum so I hope you guys can help me out! You seem to have a lot more going on over here! I like it!
Here is some background info on my tank first.
I have a 10 Gallon that used to have platies and mollies. Obviously I went though lots and lots of babies but typically left them in the tank (this was after my first time thinking "Oh no! I have to same them!!" :roll: and spending too much time with my arm in the tank!) I did regular water changes and the tank was previously cycled. Later (no more platies or mollies), having kept the tank cycled and clean, I got a Betta. He's beautiful, but his dropsy is why I am here today. He flourished in the tank for months and months. I moved the tank from one apartment to another (which I know can be quite stressful) but he still did VERY well.
One day (a little over a month ago) I got a tank divider and brought home a beautiful female Betta.I didn't have her for very long before her temperment changed and she became very lethargic. I moved her to a hospital tank and before I knew it she was a big giant pinecone. She didn't die in my 10 gallon but she definitely became sick while she was in there.
I didn't do anything other than regular water changes and my guy was still the same fish as he always was. About a week ago he became very lethargic, stopped eating and started chillin at the bottom and only coming up for air. At first I suspected fin rot and there were signs that his fins weren't as beautiful as they had always been, but not enough to be fin rot. I did a huge water change and started treatment with Maracyn-2 and salts. Nothing :-(. His color wasn't as bright and eventually I could tell he didn't even want to come up for air. I figured it was dropsy and I just couldn't see it yet.
Right now he is in my 10 gallon in a floating breeding trap so that he doesn't have to go very far for air. He is quite pineconey but not as much as my female was when she died. I'm just keeping him comfortable for now since there isn't much I can do.
NOW: My question is, when he passes, and I clean out my tank, what is the best way to clean it and my (plastic) plants and gravel? Moreso, should I just start with a new filter media and re-cycle the tank? Even though it's lots of work, I feel like I would rather do this than be nursing another fish until it dies.
If I do start with new filter media and re-cycle my tank what fish should I cycle it with? (Keeping in mind I am still quite interested in getting another male Betta)
Who knows, I could go in a different direction but I really enjoyed my Betta.
Sorry for all the info but I wanted to lay it all out there! Anything will help and thanks in advance!
(Let me know if I need to post this question in a different area)