Who Gives A Fish Forums

My betta's been acting weird lately, scratching against the tank decor and looking kinda lethargic. I think it might be parasites. What's the best way to treat this without messing up my tank's balance? Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate, temp at 78F. Tank's a 5 gallon with a sponge filter.

Sounds like classic parasite behavior. I'd start with a salt bath, just a teaspoon of aquarium salt per gallon. Keep an eye on them though, some bettas don't take well to salt. Also, maybe bump the temp to 80F to speed up their metabolism.

fabletta wrote: ↑Tue Sep 09, 2025 9:55 am Sounds like classic parasite behavior. I'd start with a salt bath, just a teaspoon of aquarium salt per gallon. Keep an eye on them though, some bettas don't take well to salt. Also, maybe bump the temp to 80F to speed up their metabolism.

Yep, salt baths can work wonders. Just make sure you're using pure aquarium salt, not table salt. And do partial water changes every couple days to keep things clean.

fabletta wrote: ↑Tue Sep 09, 2025 9:55 am Sounds like classic parasite behavior. I'd start with a salt bath, just a teaspoon of aquarium salt per gallon. Keep an eye on them though, some bettas don't take well to salt. Also, maybe bump the temp to 80F to speed up their metabolism.

Yep, salt baths can work wonders. Just make sure you're using pure aquarium salt, not table salt. And do partial water changes every couple days to keep things clean.

I've had success with Paraguard for parasites. It's gentle on the fish but effective. Just follow the dosage instructions carefully. How often are you feeding your betta? Overfeeding can stress them out and make infections worse.

I've had success with Paraguard for parasites. It's gentle on the fish but effective. Just follow the dosage instructions carefully. How often are you feeding your betta? Overfeeding can stress them out and make infections worse.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll try the salt bath first and see how it goes. I feed him once a day, just a couple pellets, so I don't think overfeeding's the issue.

Good call starting with the salt bath. If that doesn't cut it, you might need meds like Paraguard or General Cure. Just avoid anything with copper if you've got shrimp or snails in there.

fabletta wrote: ↑Tue Sep 09, 2025 8:18 pm Good call starting with the salt bath. If that doesn't cut it, you might need meds like Paraguard or General Cure. Just avoid anything with copper if you've got shrimp or snails in there.

Exactly. Also, keep the tank dimly lit while treating. Parasites can be sensitive to light, and your betta will appreciate the chill vibe.

fabletta wrote: ↑Tue Sep 09, 2025 8:18 pm Good call starting with the salt bath. If that doesn't cut it, you might need meds like Paraguard or General Cure. Just avoid anything with copper if you've got shrimp or snails in there.

Exactly. Also, keep the tank dimly lit while treating. Parasites can be sensitive to light, and your betta will appreciate the chill vibe.