JillianGarcia05 Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 Happy Tuesday! Last Saturday I visited the co-op and got set up with a game plan for my betta. Currently treating the tank with Fritz Maracyn and dosed the tank with Zyme 7 bacteria (to get BB in the tank) on Saturday, and was instructed for no more water changes (and testing) until day 6 of using Maracyn (per instruction on the package). So basically just leave the tank alone and allow it to try and cycle. The one thing I completely forgot to ask is how often should I feed her while doing this. The idea is to get the tank cycled again and the fish back to health. She ate a little on Sunday night and I fed her a little yesterday around mid-afternoon. But before these new instructions, she was fasting for 2-3 days due to just not feeling well. Now she's feeling WAY better (acting like her normal self) and begging for food. But, I guess the fear is feeding her and having an ammonia spike again. So just curious should I feed her once a day? Or every other day? Just trying my best to get things balanced out. Thanks all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macready Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 (edited) As I understand it, generally when treating you are not supposed to feed. However, in practice, I can't do it! I usually feed a very little amount on day 3 or 4. My thought would be if she eats you can probably get away with a little food (emphasis on little). My hunch is leftover food rotting in the tank will give off more ammonia then output from the fish. Do you have a method of testing water parameters? strips or api water test kit? Edited December 5, 2023 by Macready 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tlindsey Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 @Macready agree with not feeding. On 12/5/2023 at 12:01 PM, Macready said: As I understand it, generally when treating you are not supposed to feed. However, in practice, I can't do it! I usually feed a very little amount on day 3 or 4. My thought would be if she eats you can probably get away with a little food (emphasis on little). My hunch is leftover food rotting in the tank will give off more ammonia then output from the fish. Do you have a method of testing water parameters? strips or api water test kit? @Macready agree with not feeding the fish. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flipper Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 I need some clarification. Why would someone recommend using medicine, Maracyn, after an ammonia spike? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillianGarcia05 Posted December 5, 2023 Author Share Posted December 5, 2023 On 12/5/2023 at 9:17 AM, Flipper said: I need some clarification. Why would someone recommend using medicine, Maracyn, after an ammonia spike? She got pop-eye/swollen eye and also an ammonia burn on the top of her head. So this is to help ease those issues. On 12/5/2023 at 9:01 AM, Macready said: My hunch is leftover food rotting in the tank will give off more ammonia then output from the fish. @Macready - yeah that's what I thought. So I only gave her a tiny bit of food. But I'll hold off on feeding her again until tomorrow/Thursday. On 12/5/2023 at 9:01 AM, Macready said: Do you have a method of testing water parameters? strips or api water test kit? I have the API water test kit that I've been using. Was instructed to wait to test until I do the 25% water change. Since i was babying the tank for almost two weeks with water changes and testing to help with the ammonia spike. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flipper Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 Oh, I understand now. I hope your fish fully recovers and that you face no more spikes. @JillianGarcia05 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillianGarcia05 Posted December 5, 2023 Author Share Posted December 5, 2023 On 12/5/2023 at 9:33 AM, Flipper said: Oh, I understand now. I hope your fish fully recovers and that you face no more spikes. @JillianGarcia05 Thank you - so far she's perked back up. So I'm hoping that's a good sign. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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