Want help from the experts? Here you can browse through questions that other fish enthusiasts have asked, or ask your own questions about products or problems you may be experiencing. If you don’t find the answer to your question here, you can e-mail us at TetraCare or call 1-800-423-6458. (Choose a category for a complete list of questions) Q. How do I safely clean an aquarium before setting it up? Q. Should I rinse my gravel before adding it to the aquarium? Q. How do I get rid of the white build-up on the tank, filters, etc.? Q. How many hours should I run the hood light? Q. What should I do if my new Tetra Whisper® Power Filter is not working? Q. My new Whisper® Power Filter starts to work, is noisy, or shuts off. What should I do? Q. Does my Whisper® Power Filter put oxygen in the water or do I need an air pump? Q. Is the Tetra In-Tank Filter submersible? Q. Do Tetra Air pumps come with airline tubing? Q. What should I do if my Whisper® Air Pump is not producing air or is very loud?

Q. What can I do if my Whisper® Power Filter has stopped working? Q. My aquarium heater is not working properly, what can I do? Q. What types of fish should I add to my aquarium? Q. When can I add fish to my new aquarium? Q. My water is cloudy. How can I clear the water? Q. My water is green! Q. My water has a very bad smell to it. How can I eliminate the smell? Q. How much Tetra AquaSafe® do I add per gallon of water? Q. Why should I test the water in my aquarium? Q. How often should I change the filter cartridge on a Power Filter? Q. How often should I change the water in my aquarium? Q. Can the Power Filter cartridge be rinsed off and reused? Q. Does the Whisper® Power Filter put oxygen into the tank? Q. How often do I feed my fish? Q. What do I feed my fish? Q. My fish has turned dark black or has its color washed out. Q. My fish has a cloudy looking eye. Q. My fish has torn or shredded fins.

What can I do? Q. My fish is covered in tiny white spots, like it has been sprinkled with salt. Q. My fish is darting around the tank and seems hyperactive. What is going on? Q. Why is my fish scratching against the rocks? Q. Why is my fish breathing rapidly?As a new betta owner, you may not yet be familiar with your fish and how it should look or behave. Since many new betta owners are honestly not aware that their fish may be sick or injured, here are common signs of both healthy and unhealthy fish to be aware of:Additional Notes About Energy LevelLarge-finned bettas may be less active than short-finned varieties. the fish tank san franciscoThis is because their fins often weigh them down and even make swimming difficult. wholesale fish tank plants

However, even if a large-finned fish is seen lounging often, a healthy fish will still be alert and eating well.If you have a fish that constantly hides instead of freely swimming around, it may be very stressed. Unfortunately, if a betta becomes too stressed, its immune system often becomes compromised. A betta may constantly try to hide if it feels it is too exposed (lack of plants or decorations) or is being harassed by more aggressive tank mates (such as some varieties of tetras). biorb 60 litre fish tank usedHiding can also be a sign of injury or illness.best way to clean fish tank filterA lot of people mistakenly believe that building bubble nests is a sign that a betta is happy and healthy. fish tank vacuum hose

However, this is a myth – building bubble nests is purely instinctual. Whether a betta does or does not build bubble nests does not indicate its current health. Unfortunately, even bettas that are extremely sick and near death build bubble nests.Whether they are healthy or unhealthy, some male (and even female) bettas make bubble nests all the time while others rarely do (or never will). The frequency of bubble nests may also decrease as a betta ages.With white or light-coloured bettas, it may be difficult to spot paling from stress. tropical fish for sale uk ebayFortunately, by keeping track of other signs of health, you’ll be able to keep on top of its overall condition. It’s also important to note that most fish display stress stripes when introduced to a new home and should go away in a few days if everything is in order. Fish may also show stress stripes and pale colours if a light is suddenly turned on (blinding them) or during water changes.

However, if everything’s ideal, the fish should be back to its normal colour in a short amount of time.If you see vertical bars along a female fish, it indicates that they are ready to breed. However, some males display similar markings that can confuse owners as well.Bettas, especially long-finned varieties, are notorious for experiencing torn fins because of how delicate they are. However, a betta with damaged fins doesn’t necessarily mean it’s unhealthy. For example, it may have just caught it on a decoration in its tank. Fortunately, as long as you keep up with your water changes and general care regime, you can potentially prevent infection. Just take note that it may take time for your betta’s fins to regrow and that, especially if they do experience infection, the fins may never look the same againSome bettas also have fins that curl. When you see a betta with curled fins, it means that they’ve been exposed to hard water (high pH). The curling itself does not indicate an unhealthy fish.

Some bettas additionally cause their owners grief by displaying tail-biting habits. Although no one seems to know for sure what causes tail-biting, the habit seems prominent in long-finned varieties. Many fishkeepers suspect that the bettas may be trimming their own fins (often the caudal) to lessen swimming difficulties caused by the weight and size of their fins. Other causes for tail-biting commonly discussed by fishkeepers include stress and boredom, although some believe that genetics may play a part as well.In some bettas, especially dragonscales, you may notice what looks like scales growing over one or both eyes. Once the pigment covers the eyes completely, you may have a blind betta in your care. Aside from scales forming over the eyes, milky eyes may also indicate blindness.A blind betta does not mean it’s an unhealthy betta – you will just need to learn how to properly take care of a special needs pet.When checking your betta’s gills, make sure to check the “beard” for any signs of tearing as well.

While male bettas have more noticeable beards, females have them as well (only smaller).Every now and then, a betta will yawn and/or flush out its gills. In moderate measure, these are normal behaviours. Healthy bettas draw oxygen from the surface as well as needed, especially when worked up while patrolling or flaring.Some poorly bred fish are born with defects that affect their body posture. Such defects may include hunched backs, “spoon” heads, short bodies (predominantly in doubletail varieties), and curved spines. They may still otherwise be healthy fish, but be aware that such body postures may cause problems later in a betta’s life. For example, a curved spine may cause difficulty swimming that can affect the quality of life.It’s important to know that what you feed your bettas plays a part in how much they will eat as well. For example, if the pellets are too large for your betta, they may not be able to consume their meals. Since bettas can be picky eaters, you may have to try different foods, feeding methods, and/or feeding schedules to encourage them to eat more.

A betta’s appetite may also depend on its activity level. For example, a betta that is always patrolling may eat more in one meal than a betta that lounges around in the plants all day. As you get to know your betta, you’ll be able to adjust the feeding routine regularly. Bettas are in their prime between 4 to 12 months of age. Fish that are sold by breeders tend to be around 4 months of age while fish from pet stores tend to be anywhere from 6 to 12 months old at time of purchase.Younger bettas are typically more healthy and active overall. As your betta leaves its prime, you may notice that it may seem less active and vibrant. However, most bettas don’t start to show more obvious signs of aging until they are over 2 years old. By 2 years of age, you may start to notice less activity and loss of colour. Older bettas also typically experience more illnesses, especially chronic fin rot, and may go blind or develop tumours.This article is not meant to serve as a definite guide to betta health.