Is water conditioner necessary for my betta's tap water changes?

Creek water would not be recommended as you would likely need to heat it and the risk of waterborne pathogens (even in fast moving water) would be greatly increased. Ordinary tap water can be "aged" by leaving it out in a wide mouthed container for 24-48 hours prior to use. A water conditioner would still be recommended to minimize stress after water changes.

Fresh tap water can be left sitting over night and any chlorine in the water will evaporate. It can then be used for your tank. Depending on the type of fish you have you should adjust pH and hardness of the water and of course temperature. Your local pet store can help you with that.

Hi there. Most water conditioners will state on the bottle how long to wait. However, most are pretty instantaneous. If the bottle does not state how long to wait, I would arbitrarily wait about 5-10 minutes. Hope this helps, and thank you for using Pet Coach.

When performing water changes it is recommended to change about 15-25 %of the water. His helps keep some of the good bacteria in the water as well as decreases dramatic temperature changes which can cause significant stress on the body. I suspect that it is the temp change that is hard in him, however if a dechlorinator was not used in the water then that could be problematic as well. If you feel that is the case please Add a dechlorinator. I hope he improves!

Hi I don't recommend using distilled water in your tank as the "osmolarity" of the water can cause problems for your fish. Either pick up a bottle of water conditioner from a pet store or draw a large bucket of tap water and let it sit for 4 or 5 days. Some of the chemicals will evaporate out when left to sit, but it's not such an ideal option.

As long as you maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes, he should heal up. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. Consider a product, such as Stress Coat, to promote healing. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/api-stress-coat-aquarium-water-conditioner

I would recommend to change his water again and make sure you have a water conditioner that is not expired. I would also recommend to upgrade Smitty to a 3-5 gallon aquarium with a filtration system and a light. These tanks tend to create a healthier environment because the water is moving. You could add in live plants to provide a little extra oxygen. I hope Smitty starts feeling better!