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There's a weird skin formation in my Betta tank. What is it?

I have washed changed the water, and the rocks in my Betta's tank multiple times, but within hours a skin forms over the water with bubbles in it. i have to rip a hole in the skin so that my fish can get to its food. it is NOT a bubble nest. I know what a bubble nest is. I can send picture if necessary. i cant find any answers online or anywhere else. Please help. I really hope my fish isnt sick.

Public Comments

1. you need to buy an air pump it will fix you problem
2. is there a filter in the tank? That should solve this problem very easily. The skin is from scum in your tank, which isn't being taken out by a filter, and the bubbles are probably from your betta breathing at the surface. A filter would stir all of this up and it wouldn't even be an issue.
3. Hi A - This doesn't sound good at all. Please remove your betta from his tank and place him in something else for the time being until you can get another tank for him. Just trash the original set up because it sounds like it has been contaminated with something, somehow. Start over and he should be just fine. Be sure your not using something other than chlor-out or safe-start to treat the tap water. (There are other brands of tap water treatments to remove the chlorine and other harmful metals etc. too.) There should never be any sort of foamy film or scummy residue in your aquarium. It's best to provide your betta with an aquarium of no less that 5 gallons with a heater and filter too. Your betta will thank you. Start over with another set up for your betta. There is no need to do something when you don't know what your dealing with in the first case.
4. There are oils and "skins" that will form on the top of stagnant tanks. Many times the foods are leaving behind oils, but it can be a number of things causing the excess proteins in the water. A filter, especially on with a surface skimming attachment, is the best bet. The skin is very bad for the betta or any fish as it limits the oxygen exchange in the tank and can deprive the water of the oxygen needed for the fish to survive. You NEED something to get that surface water moving at the very least, even an air stone will help. Also, you are doing a disservice to the tank by completely rinsing the rock and doing 100% water changes.
5. I agree with Water Logged but you are doing exactly the right thing by rinsing the rock and changing al the water if you don't have a cycled tank. If it's not cycled, keep doing what you're doing, and it if it, then (s)he's right.