sick betta - help!

Question
OK, so here's the deal. I recently brought my betta home, and while his 7.5 tank is cycling he's in a one gallon bowl. When I moved him from the pet store jar to the bowl, the new bowl contained water treated with amquel and novaqua. The temperatures were the same. He seemed fine in his new bowl overnight, then today has seemed listless - floating tilted to the side, not swimming around, staying near the top, not eating (last nigth he ate right away in his new bowl). I tested the water and it appeared to be within safe limits...however he seemed like he was getting worse. So, I gradually switched him over to bottled betta water this afternoon, so that now he is in 100% bottled water with novaqua (appx. 1/2 gallon), stress coat, and a little salt. He still isn't interested in food, and not moving very much in his bowl. His current bowl is being floated in the tank (which has a heater), so the temp is about 80 degrees. I'm sure stress/shock are a factor - he's experienced several changes in the last few days. What else can/should I do? I'm very worried about him - please advise!! Also, his tank is cycling without any fish, and currently going through the cloudy phase - if there are no fish do I leave things alone or still do water changes? In his tank I put novaqua, amquel, salt, and Cycle - the tank has a penguin biowheel filter.

Answer
Hi Kelly
For the tank that's cycling, is there an ammonia source in there?  If not, it's not cycling.  There has to be a constant source of ammonia for the bacteria to start colonizing.  I usually recommend getting a cocktail shrimp or two, putting it in a pair of nylons/pantyhose with the leg cut off and knot it closed.  Toss it in the tank and just let it rot.  That will eventually put out ammonia to start everything.  

Also, you're using too many chemicals.  I've heard of most of those, don't use them myself.  I looked them up real quick, I wouldn't use the Amquel, the site I looked says it removes/detoxifies ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.  It's not very clear....  You do not want to remove ammonia or nitrites from the tank while it's cycling.  And, when a tank is done cycling, you still don't want those removed, because that's what the beneficial bacteria needs....All you want is a dechlorinator, that says it removes chlorine and chloramines.  I use Prime-it states that it detoxifies ammonia and nitrites, but it leaves them present so the tank can still cycle.   I've used Aqua Safe, Jungle Labs Start Right.  
Salt is fine to use, but not necessary when doing a fish less cycle.  It's beneficial to fish when nitrites are present in a tank, helps them to absorb oxygen into their blood stream.  The Cycle...pretty much any of the bacteria in a bottle products, the bacteria is most likely dead by the time you buy it.  The only product I've ever heard that really works is called BioSpira.  It's a bit expensive, and hard to find, because it needs to be kept refrigerated.  From what I've read from people that have used it, it pretty much cycles a tank in about a week.  You can continue to use the Cycle, but I doubt it will work any quicker. The Stress Coat is ok, but I believe that's also a dechlorinator as well.  Like I said, too many chemicals being used.  Try to stick with just one thing.

So, for the cycling tank, only use the Novaqua when you add fresh water to the tank.  And no, don't do water changes, just leave it be since you're doing a fishless cycle.  Just add fresh water as it evaporates.  I would use the amquel in the smaller tank with the betta.  And, with the Cycle, if you can return it, I would and get your money back.  If not, it won't hurt to use it, but don't rely on it.

For the sick little guy...you tested the water, what exactly were the readings?  I ask, because some  test kits and pet stores will say a small amount of ammonia or nitrites is safe.  In reality, that's not the case at all, any amounts of those are toxic to fish.  
Did you slowly acclimate him to the new bowl/water each time you moved him?
So for now, he's in about a 1/2 gallon of water correct?  I know it's temporary, but be sure you change out about 25% of that water daily, and only add a little bit of dechlorinator to the new water.  The water temperature sounds good.  For now, I would say it's just the stress of all the changing, and different water etc.  Give him a few days to see if he does any better.  
Is there a light in that tank where he's floating in?  And do you have it on?  If so, check the temperature in the bowl.  Those smaller tanks, the light bulbs will usually put out heat, and the water can get too hot fairly quick.  I just had that happen in my 10 gallon tank earlier today.

And, what kind of bottled water did you use?  Was it distilled?

Christy