Water parameters
Feeding
Live foods
Brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms: protein-rich, they boost colours.
Frozen foods
Convenient alternative to live foods, thaw before feeding.
Specific pellets
Premium Betta pellets, as a complement. Avoid overfeeding.
Care routine
Daily
- ✓Check water temperature
- ✓Observe behaviour and appetite
- ✓Feed (2 meals)
- ✓Remove uneaten food after 5 min
Weekly
- ✓Change 25–30% of water
- ✓Vacuum the substrate
- ✓Test NH₃, NO₂, pH, temp
- ✓Trim plants
Monthly
- ✓Rinse filter sponge in tank water
- ✓Test NO₃, GH, KH
- ✓Check equipment condition
Twice a year
- ✓Replace worn filter media
- ✓Test thermostat accuracy
- ✓Replace aging light tube
Common diseases
Recognise, understand and treat the main conditions.
| Disease | Symptoms | Cause | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velours (Oodinium) | Gold/rust dust, rubbing | Parasite, stress, cold water | Darkness + salt + copper |
| Ich (Point blanc) | White spots, scratching | Ichthyophthirius | 30°C + salt + anti-parasite |
| Fin rot | Ragged fins, blackened edges | Bacteria, poor water | Water changes + antibiotics |
| Dropsy | Bloated belly, raised scales | Kidney failure / bacteria | Antibiotics, isolation |
| Constipation | Bloated, lethargy | Overfeeding | Fast + cooked green pea |
Detailed sheets
Symptoms, causes and treatment protocol for each condition.
Velours / Oodinium
Symptoms
Fine gold or rust dust on the body, visible with a torch in a dark room. The fish rubs against décor, clamps its fins and breathes rapidly.
Cause
Piscinoodinium parasite, favoured by stress, cold water or a new fish added without quarantine.
Treatment
- Keep the tank in total darkness for several days: the parasite depends on light.
- Gradually raise to 28–29°C to speed up its cycle.
- Copper-based or aquarium salt treatment per the label, removing carbon and sensitive plants.
- 30% water changes every 2 days during treatment.
Ich / White spot disease
Symptoms
Distinct white spots the size of a salt grain on body and fins. Scratching against décor, accelerated breathing.
Cause
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis parasite, nearly always triggered by thermal shock or stress.
Treatment
- Raise temperature to 30°C over 24h: the parasite's cycle accelerates and it becomes vulnerable.
- Add aquarium salt (1 g/L) if no sensitive plants or corydoras.
- Commercial anti-parasite treatment for 7 to 10 days.
- Vacuum the substrate daily: the cysts settle there.
Fin rot
Symptoms
Fin edges frayed, blackened or whitish, receding day after day. In advanced cases, the fin melts back to the body.
Cause
Opportunistic bacteria taking advantage of water high in nitrites/nitrates, a small tank or an existing wound. It's nearly always a water quality problem.
Treatment
- Test the water immediately: NH₃ and NO₂ must be 0, NO₃ under 20 mg/L.
- 30% water changes every 2 days for 1–2 weeks.
- Remove any sharp décor that could worsen the lesions.
- If it keeps receding despite perfect water: specific antibacterial in a hospital tank.
Dropsy
Symptoms
Very bloated belly and raised scales giving a pinecone look from above. Sometimes bulging eyes, marked apathy.
Cause
Not a disease but a symptom: kidney failure or internal bacterial infection, often at a terminal stage.
Treatment
- Isolate immediately in a hospital tank, clean water at 27°C.
- Epsom salt bath (1–2 g/10 L) to reduce water retention.
- Broad-spectrum antibiotic on veterinary advice.
- Sadly the prognosis is very poor once the scales are raised.
Constipation & swim bladder disorder
Symptoms
Bloated belly without raised scales, difficulty swimming, fish floating sideways or sinking, no droppings.
Cause
Nearly always overfeeding, or dry pellets fed without pre-soaking that swell in the stomach.
Treatment
- Complete fast for 2 to 3 days.
- Then offer half a cooked, peeled green pea: gentle laxative effect.
- Soak pellets for 1–2 min before each feeding.
- Reduce portions: 1–2 small meals a day is plenty.