Posts Tagged ‘Fish Pets’

How to Treat a Sick Betta Fish

betta fish

For the most part, betta fish are one of the easiest pets to own. There are no filters to mess with, they only eat once per day as well as able to live to their normal life expectancies with regular care. However, betta fish could get sick. Depending on what the ailment is, there are a few things you can do to treat a sick betta fish.

 Step 1
Recognize what’s wrong with your betta fish. Know when it’s healthy, and look for any signs or symptoms that may indicate a sick betta fish. Note modifies in appetite, color or behavior.

Step 2
Isolate the sick betta, if you have other fish. Place it in a separate bowl or jar. Use the same water so as not to shock the fish with an abrupt water temperature change. Isolating the sick betta fish makes it easier to administer its medication.

Step 3
Clean the fish bowl regularly. Many betta fish diseases are due to poor water conditions, e.g. bacteria in the water. Remove the betta with a fish net, thoroughly clean the bowl and any accessories you might have added, treat the new water with a neutralizer (such as AmOuel), refill the bowl and place the fish back into the clean bowl.

Step 4
Diagnose the illness. Consult books and websites such as Bettatalk that list common betta fish diseases, their symptoms and treatments. Choose the correct remedy for your fish.

Step 5
Administer proper doses of antibiotics, if necessary. These are obtainable at most pet stores. In several cases, other actions can help such as cleaning the tank, adding a small amount of salt to the water or raising the water temperature slightly to speed up treatment.