My betta, Crim Wike, has a translucent strip above his upper lip that was not there when I purchased him, when I introduced him to his fully cycled tank, or for the first three weeks in his new tank. In addition his fins have generally been deteriorating since he became a new family member. I researched and prepared to pamper him for months and am extremely disappointed at what appears to be a steady decline in his overall health.
Specs:
20 gallon glass tank, 1 5ga in tank filter, 1 30 ga power filter, 3 live plants (java fern, vallisneria, and cambomba {which I may ultimately get rid of the cambomba as I'm tired of cleaning miscellanous leafage out of the filter and the gravel}), 3 zebra danios, and 1 african dwarf frog. I should mention that the tank I inherited has three additional glass dividers that have been caulked (with a non-toxic, aquarium-safe caulk) in a manner that divides the tank into thirds, but does not completely close off any part of the tank. To minimize surface turbulence I've put the power filter in the third with the tallest divider. The tap water is not excessively hard, but I do treat with an API treatment that has additives to help the fish produce a healthy coat for their scales. According to the Jungle brand test strips I use, there is no longer ever a trace of nitrite, a minimal trace of nitrate, trace levels of ammonia, no chlorine, and a PH hovering between 6.8 and 7.3. To the fish I feed 6-10 pellets of betta bits every other day in the morning along with a tiny pinch of tropical medley flakes (the flakes distract the danios long enough for Crim to eat the bits). Every other week I throw in some blood worms for them. However, the frog gets blood worms every third or fourth day if I can catch him and set him in a little bowl (again so the danios won't eat all of his food). Though the tank gets ambient light from about 6am until 8pm, I set up a flourescent light as well. I'm not sure what specs are important here so let me list what I know - 975 Lumens; CRI: 93; two 20 watt bulbs. I do not use a CO2 system. The plants love it along with the occasional API root tabs I tuck near their roots (directions say six tabs for my tank size, but I've used two tabs in as many months). Activity-wise everyone seems happy and it's a young tank so I expect things to continue to settle over time.
Bottom line, I don't have deep pockets and believe I have made the most of the resources available and am hoping that I didn't screw up anything major (first tank ever!). Still, I'm at a loss (after hours of perusing sites on-line) when it comes to determining why my betta, while very lively, appears to be deteriorating. Specifically, I'm concerned that the transparent line above his upper lip is going to erode further until it's actually a gaping whole.
Thoughts, suggestions, concerns?
PS- have I overpopulated my tank?
Specs:
20 gallon glass tank, 1 5ga in tank filter, 1 30 ga power filter, 3 live plants (java fern, vallisneria, and cambomba {which I may ultimately get rid of the cambomba as I'm tired of cleaning miscellanous leafage out of the filter and the gravel}), 3 zebra danios, and 1 african dwarf frog. I should mention that the tank I inherited has three additional glass dividers that have been caulked (with a non-toxic, aquarium-safe caulk) in a manner that divides the tank into thirds, but does not completely close off any part of the tank. To minimize surface turbulence I've put the power filter in the third with the tallest divider. The tap water is not excessively hard, but I do treat with an API treatment that has additives to help the fish produce a healthy coat for their scales. According to the Jungle brand test strips I use, there is no longer ever a trace of nitrite, a minimal trace of nitrate, trace levels of ammonia, no chlorine, and a PH hovering between 6.8 and 7.3. To the fish I feed 6-10 pellets of betta bits every other day in the morning along with a tiny pinch of tropical medley flakes (the flakes distract the danios long enough for Crim to eat the bits). Every other week I throw in some blood worms for them. However, the frog gets blood worms every third or fourth day if I can catch him and set him in a little bowl (again so the danios won't eat all of his food). Though the tank gets ambient light from about 6am until 8pm, I set up a flourescent light as well. I'm not sure what specs are important here so let me list what I know - 975 Lumens; CRI: 93; two 20 watt bulbs. I do not use a CO2 system. The plants love it along with the occasional API root tabs I tuck near their roots (directions say six tabs for my tank size, but I've used two tabs in as many months). Activity-wise everyone seems happy and it's a young tank so I expect things to continue to settle over time.
Bottom line, I don't have deep pockets and believe I have made the most of the resources available and am hoping that I didn't screw up anything major (first tank ever!). Still, I'm at a loss (after hours of perusing sites on-line) when it comes to determining why my betta, while very lively, appears to be deteriorating. Specifically, I'm concerned that the transparent line above his upper lip is going to erode further until it's actually a gaping whole.
Thoughts, suggestions, concerns?
PS- have I overpopulated my tank?