posted 02-10-2004 10:09 PM         

It used to be a friendly fish, now it sits on the bottom hiding, ocasionally moving to eat.

When she got it it was in a 1 gallon tak or so with an airater, and no filter. It shared the tank with a ghost catfish. We changed a bit too much water, didn't make sure it was the right temprature, and maybe a few more things before we put them back in the tank. Well the cat fish was fine but the beta started to sit on the bottom on it's side some times and just sit there.

Recently I got here a 5 gallon tank with a filter, heater, but no airater. The tank was running for about a day, and was up to about the same temp before we transfered over the fish to the new tank. The catfish is fine and seems to be enjoying the new tank alot more, but the beta still sits on the bottom and hides in the castle in the tank. he sometimes moves to get food, but has trouble swimming.

posted 02-11-2004 08:49 AM         

First of all, you really should get test kits for ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte. Since it doesn't sound like you cycled the 5 gallon before adding the fish, it's going to cycle with the fish in it which will expose them to toxic levels of ammonia and nitrIte. Since you already have the fish in there, the best thing you can do is to monitor the levels closely and do enough water changes to keep them at 0ppm ammonia and nitrIte, and <20ppm nitrAte. This will make the cycle go more slowly, but it will help prevent the fish from getting sick and possibly dying.

You could get a product called BioSpira (NOT Cycle or Stress Zyme, they're worthless). It is refrigerated bacteria-in-a-bottle and claims to instantly cycle an aquarium, but it is rather expensive. I've never personally used it, but I've heard that if you follow the instructions exactly, it does work. Normally I wouldn't suggest using it to skip the cycling process, but since you already have fish in the tank, it could be worth a try.

Also, you are using dechlorinator when you add new water right?

As for the problem with the betta, the 1 gallon was overstocked so unless you were doing 100% water changes every other day, chances are toxic levels of ammonia were building up and affecting the betta. He's probably still recovering from it. And since he's already weakened, it's even more important the you really keep a close eye on the water parameters while the 5 gallons cycles.

One last thing, what kind of catfish is it?

posted 02-11-2004 09:21 AM         

Oh and a note on your catfish, they can get up to 6" which, with the betta, will be pushing the limit of a 5 gallon tank. And to add to the problem, ghost catfish are social fish and prefer to be in groups of at least 4.