I have a betta fish that I believe is sick. He is laying on the floor of the tank and eats very little only one or two pellets. What could be wrong with my fish?
A: Sluggishness and appetite loss can be a sign of many things ranging from something simple like water that is too cool to something more complex like a bacterial infection or parasites. Without more information, it’s really difficult to say. I would start by looking at his water parameters to determine if anything is off kilter. The tank should be warm and stable somewhere between 76*F [24.4*C] – 82*F [27.7*C] with very little temperature change throughout the day and night. A simple $2 aquarium thermometer will help you to keep an eye on the temperature if you don’t already have one. Testing the water for toxins will be helpful too. Ammonia and nitrite caused by fish waste seem to cause more betta illnesses then anything else.
You can either buy these test kits at your local fish store, or bring in a cup full of your tank water and have them test it for you. Most fish stores will test your water for free if you ask. Just give them a call beforehand to check. A simple pH test isn’t a bad idea either. Very low or high, or a fluctuating pH can cause a range of problems and high pH (also called Basic) will make even small amounts of ammonia quite toxic. If you find that ammonia or nitrite is present in your aquarium then more frequent water changes will be necessary. Also, keep an eye out for other signs of disease like fuzzy white or gray patches, red streaks under the scales or open wounds, tiny white spots or rust colored patches, bloating throughout the body including the abdomen or protruding scales or eyes. These are all additional signs of disease and may help to narrow down what is wrong with your betta.
Feel free to email me back with additional information about your fish and tank set up. Knowing more will help to make a diagnosis. Here’s a list of questions that will help a lot.
- 1. How long have you had your betta?
- 2. What is the water volume or tank size?
- 3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter?
- 4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results?
- 5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results?
- 6. What is the water temperature?
- 7. How often do you change your tank water? How much water do you replace at a time?
- 8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta? Which species and how many? When were they added?
- 9. How often do you feed your betta? What types of food are you using? How much are you feeding each time?
- 10. What water additives and medications are you using? Remember to include water conditioners or salt if you’re using them.
I know it seems like a lot of questions but Bettas can encounter a range of injuries and diseases so the more we know the easier it will be to identify the problem.
Best of luck and I hope he feels better soon.
I have just bought two males beta’s a few weeks ago(different tanks)and i believe one is sick..he is just staying at the bottom of the water and rarely moves, though it moves when i feed it and it eats all the food. i change the water about once a week and both fish have the same size bowl but the one i think is sick gets its water dirty quicker..and the other one is doing fine.do u think its sick?
Ya no, i have a betta fish, sadly, he died today, i went into my roon and the top of his body was cut off. i told my mom and then once i went back in there e was laying on huis side. but he had poop in his scales. in that case, i knew he was dead because of the dirtiness of his tank. i only cleaned probably twice in almost a year, but i did feed him.
watch out for any signs if hes dead such as
. laying on side
. upside down at either top or bottom of tank
. in pieces
..not moving even if tank is shook
thank you for listening/reading
-Laura
to Laura:
I have a betta and i dont mean to sound rude or anything but u probably should’ve cleaned once a week, that was pretty clueless
But my female betta is pregnant and my male betta bite her fin?And i bought 2 male betta and 8 female betta last week i of them have the give birth to a little fry!
Please i hope someone can tell me the ans fast
You need to put the pregnant one in a seperate tank…..
Lucky but I feel sooooooooo sorry p.s can I have one plz and thx
dude females dont give birth you male makes a nest and they “hug” then she drops eggs then the male picks them up then puts them into the bubblenest (he should be alone)
I luv to change the water for my fish. How often is to often? I am a clean freak sometimes. Can someone tell me how often they should be changed? Also can anyone tell me how long these guys live? Thanks!
Clean your bettas tank about once a week because bettas can be very sick from dirty water.
this is all to funny,,,,none of what you are ying makes sense,,,,,a female betta does not give birth,,,,the fry hatch from eggs that are put up in a bubble nest by the male and omg it is never one fry,,,,do us a favor and go play with your tonka toys or something to keep you entertained !!
yea i guess since you threw in clueless you were trying to be respectful
Wow, you’re lazy. Poor fishy 🙁
you are definately a moron and didnt deserve to care for a beautiful creature such as the betta, how would you feel if someone treated you like that,god hope you never own another fish or animal for that matter learn some responsibility you wanted the fish take care of it murder
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guys it’s hard caring for a betta fish give her a break
yup theres one sign that he might be dieing he is not moving at the bottom of his tank even if you shake it and his gilss look like he still might be still breathing i’m srry for your fish and i hope this dosent happens to mine i willllll cry all day and wont do any thing wish blum (the fish) luke i amm every singal mintue i cant even look at him pls pls pls pls wish him luke im begging plss i had him for only since 2011 to 2012 in arirl pls he is my lifeeeee
Someone help quick……. My Bettas is on the bottom of the tank laying on the gravel he won’t move or come to the top for air…… what do i do quick….. so he won’t die if he’s not already dead he was moving his gills n small fins now he’s not……. what can i do fast for him im getting very sad…
I know me to I love my betta today I cried whin i looked at him and he had a hole in his tail
Laura, I STRONGLY suggest you do some serious extensive research before you decide to buy anything else. I can’t believe you changed the water “probably twice in almost a year.” I REALLY hope you don’t have a any kids because you don’t have the slightest idea of how to take care of anything alive! If you’re a kid yourself, how would you feel if your parents kept you in a dirty and smelly closet, fed you your own poop and pee and bathed you “probably twice in almost a year”? You would most probably wind up like your poor betta.
Wow, that was harsh. Is this what people do to each other on this site?
well i do really want to sound rude! are you stupid?? how do you dare to change water only twice per year?! do you clean your toilet and the bath twice per year?? if you dont have time to take care of pets dont have them and make them suffer dying on their own poop, i just feel very sorry for the fish he died in a very disgusting bad way.
Yo Danny yo right twice per year what tha fu
I agree with everyone else… I didn’t wanna sound mean saying how I really feel but… You should of researched before ever owning that poor betta! Poor fish!
Yah I dont want to be mean either though so you should at least clean once a month
Dear Laura
Why in the world did you only change your tank water twice in one year? how would you enjoy living in a bathtub of your own filth? on top of this when your water gets older than a week (depending on tank size, mine is a three gallon) it starts to fill with Ammonia which if you have ever smelt it burns your eyes and nose. This is what your fish was swimming in for 6 months of the year no wonder he died
You’re a moron!
I agree with Savana, you can’t expect your fish to survive in a tank that haven’t been cleaned. Cleaning his tank only twice a year I’m suprise he survived as long as he did. No affiance or anything… To me that’s animal cruelty p
You cleaned the tank twice in one year? Wow, your fish has been dying for quite a long time. Poor thing.
Really!?!?…. Laura, you are not only stupid but illiterate as well! Poor fish!
thats pretty arrogant & disgusting of you laura and to even come on here & admit u changed his water only twice in one year & say it as if you’re proud at least you done that.
poor little mite. god rest his soul.must have suffered a great deal. shame on you lady.
Laura, you are an idiot. So for the good of the animal community, please don’t ever get another pet.
TRY. REG. SALT 100% SALT CANNOT. EAT. BECAUSE. TOO SALTY. PUT. 1 TSP OF. SALT. IN. HIS TANK. SEE. WHAT. HAPPENS. IT. MAY. WORK. TREAT. HIM. AS NORMAL. LIKE. OTHER FISH. GOOD. LUCK. EMAIL. ME. LET.ME KNOW.
HOW. HE. IS. DOING. MY. BETTA. HE. IS. DOING. THE SAMETHING. I. PUT. SALT. IN. HIS. TANK. HIS. NAME. IS. MERLYN. I. GOT. HIM. 1 YR. SINCE. 2010
DO NOT PUT REGULAR SALT IN ANY AQUARIUM!!! THE IODINE IN TABLE SALT WILL KILL YOUR LITTLE FRIENDS… USE APPROPRIATE AQUARIUM SALT!!….
yess srry about him or her
That is happening to my betta to I feel ur pain
well he probably is sick cause I had a betta with a similar condition. he will probably live IF you go to the store were u bought it and ask what he has and the proper treatment. he might also die cause my fish did. let me know if he becomes bloated, then I can give u more info.
Subject: Help, sick fishy!
Help! My betta is sick and I don’t know what it could be. His levels seem to be fine, safe in nitrates and nitrites, ph etc. The only thing that I see is the indicator stick says the water is hard. His temperature is 82 and I just changed his water (2/3rds) 2 days ago. His fins have been shredded for a while now and no matter what I do they stay that way. I’ve given him two rounds of jungle fungus eliminator to no avail. I also tried giving him doses of melafix and his fins are still shredded. But, he’s always been very active despite the fins until today. He’s in a 3 gallon filtered tank with a heater.
Please help, he’s my favorite little guy. Oh, and he’s a year old.
Thanks!
Samantha
go to ur local pet store were u got him or anywere elcs and buy these two things medicin for them trust me its real i have it and a pach of water clearing and fungis remover. if it doesnt work take it back to the pet tore and show the guy who sold you it and ask if he can tell u wat to do and put the temp at like 83 they dont need hot waters trust me i just got mine a day ago and the container was so cold.
I have a Betta fish that I bought June 2011, and he has always been swimming happily around his tank and making lots of bubble nest since I bought him, but last Monday on February.13,2012 when I went to do his weekly tank cleaning he was just laying on his side and only coming up to top to get air and food, I thought maybe he just needs his tank clean and he will be swimming around and happy again tomorrow, but it’s been a week now seeing as it is now February 22, and there has been no change, I am still doing his weekly water change with a little more than half of water I empty the rest is put in large clean glass cup with my Betta, I than clean the rocks, shell, and container/ tank, I make sure tap water is the same temperature as the water in the glass and than fill half the tank with the tap water than i put in 5mls( the recommend mls for 2 liter tanks which is what I have) of Nutrafin Betta Plus, and than stir it around and than put him in the tank, so this is the first he has gotten sick and i don’t know why seeing as I’m doing everything i looked up to do before I bought him, I think he has white spots on his tail fin but I’m not sure, I think it also looks like his fins are eaten away but I’m not sure if they were like that when I bought him so I’m not sure whats wrong with him, so I would really appreciate some help because I don’t want to loose him 🙁
i dont want to lose mine either
I’m cry to about my betta
I had a very sick two year old betta three days ago, never moved off the bottom of his 2 gallon bowl. But I followed another website direction. They said fast your fish for two days, then feed it a cooked frozen, peeled pea. I fed him this for 4 meals and tonight he is up and around again! I’ve learned over the years the more chemical/treatments you give fish the worse off you are. I rarely change the water (not more than every 2-3 weeks) and think he was suffering from overfeeding/constipation. Easy cure and it really worked. Keep in room temperature place and it should be fine. Good luck.
lukeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Grateful… I read the same type posts on the peas, but how did you feed it to your beta. My piece of smashed pea just fell to the bottom and my beta isn’t eating it.
Thank you, thank you than you. This was the first thing that made any sense
He/she could be a tail biter or someone nipped his fin or fin rot
well first u need to CALM DOWN it will be ok hes probably fine, his fins MIGHT be growing but there probably not. if its not growing there probably supposed to be that way. I need more information to tell u whats really wrong with him xoxo
I have this little, red, about 3 or 6 month old beta fish I got as a party favor from my friend on her birthday that seems to be sick! It has this patch of white on its body and I don’t know what to do! Please Help.
Monique
hmm… well surfmonkey,i hope your fish hasn’t died just yet,i believe the sickness of you fish is saprolegnia. it may be some other type of problem though, like columnaris which is a bacteria. you can search these and look for cures.
for sam, the fish may somehow be stressed or it may be fin rot, but since you already added some meds, im somewhat puzzled; you seem to be a very good fish caretaker, so i wouldn’t expect your fish to be stressed.. sorry i cannot help much in your case.
~michelle
HELP my beta is not moving from the bottom of his bowl he didn’t eat his one little pelet and I try to get him to move but he isnt budging.
PLEASE HELP !!!!!!
ok do this get a bowl a medium one and scoop him out kinda tap his side with the bowl and if he doesnt do anything take him out and get tongs and pik him up out and if he moves hes alive if he doesnt hes not. it isnt going to hert himit iwill just wipe some of his slime off hel be fine
This is happening with me too! I JUST BOUGHT a crown tail betta and he just lays at the bottom of his bowl. Won’t eat and it’s worrying me. He has a HUGE bowl all to himself. S.O.S. He is really lazy. He has come up to the middle of his bowl twice. But he didn’t eat. Got him at pets mart. All their bettas looked a bit odd. None were acting normal. Please Help!! -Dessie
If he’s new just wait a few days/ a week and a half he is probably just getting used to his new home if not go to the store were you got him / her and ask
my fish is not eating 🙁 he was fine this morning but when i came home from school he was acting soo odd and he isn’t eating a THING not a pebble of beta bites:( and this is my second beta
please help:’( if you can
Shmem
Same thing here. I’m getting worried. =(
My brother`s betta was like that but after a few days he’s back to normal
Can you help me- I am unsure what to do! My beta fish is acting weird this morning. He is usually happy to see me and swims to which ever side of the tank I am standing. This morning he stayed on the bottom of the tank. And when I went to feed him he seemed startled by the noise and swam crazy and quickly on the bottom of the tank. I have had him since New Years of this year. I fed him 2 pellets twice a day (for a total of 4 pellets). I have a small aquarium for him (he is my only fish) with a filter. I have not tested the water. The temperture has not changed, if anything it should be a few degrees warmer lately. I change the water every 6 weeks.
Hope this helps– I am unsure what to do, thanks
If you’re a kid he probably was replaced
I got my Betta about 2 weeks ago and I have noticed over the last week since I Did his first water change, that he has a white patch under his chin. Its not fuzzy just white. I did his second water change yesterday, and I notice how the white is also turning black. Also, near his tail I noticed that hes got some white dots…any ideas on what this could be or is it normal?
He’s a very happy fish, eats well and constantly swimming around. Please help!
he should be fine hes jsut changing color from heat change and he isnt used to be taken out so i wouldent worry
maybe the best thing you could do for your beta fish is well maybe just bring him to a local pet store and ask lots of uestions take lots of pics of him and the white spots and bring the pics into the petstore or even research it on the interent everyone knows the interenet is not always right so maybe just ask lots and lots of questions your not the only beta oner that this has happen too 🙂 even on this website ask people you see with the exact same problem i really hope your beta fish gets well soon! 🙂
I think he got ich illness…Use Contra ichyito
I have a betta and Ive had it for about 4 months. and he is sinking to the bottom of the tank. The water might be cold but every time i change his water i always let the water sit over night to make sure that its the same tempture as the old water in the tank. Also he had fin rot so i got him medicine for the fin rot. But not he is just laying at the bottom of the tank. Yes when i tap on the wall he will wake up but whats a way to warm up the water if that is the problem?
Hannah
You can buy a small heater the right size for the tank or bowl you’re keeping your betta in. When you go to the store, tell them the size of your tank, and they’ll show you the right heater(s). It will say right on the box what the range of size is (for example, 2-5 gallons or 5-10 gallons) Bettas really don’t like cold water. We found out when we used the air conditioner a lot early in the summer! Now he’s nice and cozy at a STEADY temperature. (That’s very important too.)
Yo right
their chins turn white with age. Never buy a fish with white under its chin, it means its usually at least 2 years old, and bettas only live to be like 4 at best.
When it turns black it could be a type of rot. Always make sure you are purifying the water.
PLEASE HELP ME!!! My betta fish is really sick and the pet store was no help. I had my water tested there and they said everything was ok with it. He’s listless and stays on the bottom of the tank. I think his fins are shredding and he has white under his chin and near his gills. I’ve only had him for a month. His water temperature is usually around 79 and I have a filter. He only comes up to breathe and sinks right back down. I use this betta basics water additive to control the chlorine and ammonia. Please help me i think he’s dying!!!
Well the white under his chin means he is getting old. The other stuff is quite odd. I can’t think of why that would be happening. Is your water to cold? My betta wont eat.
Well Hannah, my first betta did that too.I found out the problem, the problem was that the water was too cold.Bettas are not active in cold water, so go buy a heater and when the water is around 75 to 85 degrees warm turn off the heater,(butt allways keep it at the 75 to 85 degrees.then your betta will be more active and his fin rot will go away.
My Betta seems to be perfectly healthy but she just sits at the bottom of her tank. she comes up to eat and eats alot. she looks colorful and healthy but she just sits at the bottom. whats wrong with her? 🙁
~Sarah
i think maybe she is just a little tireed maybe she is just relaxing or sleeping! 🙂 when they are just sitting around in the water and not moving most of the time it means they are sleeping just tap the tank and she will wake up! there fins usly dont move when they are sleeping! but then again your beta may be sick so maybe bring the beta to the pet sore or take some pics and bring that in remember ask alot of different questions! even research it! that may help 🙂 i hope you find out what wrong and you beta is happy and healthy! 🙂
maybe bored try adding caves with no sharp edges or logs to swim through so they can explore
1. I have had my betta for one year. It’s a 1-inch female betta.
2. Tank size is 5 gallons.
3. I have an aquarium with a filter.
4. I haven’t tested yet.
5. I have not tested for pH.
6. I’m not sure what the water temperature is because it seems like my water heater doesn’t work quite right sometimes, but it should be around 75-80 degrees.
7. I change the tank water about once every other month since the tank has a filter. I don’t do full water changes; they’re a little more than half each time.
8. My betta is the only one in the tank, and there are no plants.
9. I feed my betta 2-3 times a day, 1 pellet each time. Any more than that and she gets fat.
10. I use Aquasafe water conditioner every time I change the water, and I’m currently using Bettafix as a medication.
I’m just really worried because she’s usually zipping around her tank all day and lately she’s been laying on the bottom and not coming up for food. Any information would be appreciated! Thanks!
– Heather
my email is [email protected].
I just got a betta,but it’s not exactly at the bottom or top of the bowl I put it in.It’s not moving,though the water is warm.What should I do!?!P.S.I had a bet with my dad that I could keep it for at least 4 days!!!!
my email:[email protected]
me and my brother own a betta we are worried because he just lays there unless he thinks theirs food but he sinks back down after hes done eating ive never really seen him through out waste but we moved him to a smaller bowl thinking it would help but nothing happened we just purchased a new betta i dont know why but i need helpp because we’re scared he might die what can we do?
Help! my betta fish named Rocky is sick! He lost his appitite all day, hes laying on the bottom of the tank, his eye is swollen and bleeding, his right flipper isn’n moving and his face looks like it has been torn! Help please!!!!!!
maybe if you have sharp fake plastic plants they are injuring your fish;try silk or even real plants they love to sleep in them
I put real plants in my betas tanks and they love them. The betas take a nap in them.
what do bettas like at the bottom of their tanks?
Hi, I’ve had my fish for since September 2009.. he also swim around the tank in the water.. yesterday I see him right at the bottom of the tank in an upright position.. meaning facing up !! I change the water every 10 days and give him food every 2 second .. and also gave him some tonic yesterday.. but there has been no changes today ! Could you plesae advise Many thanks – Gilda
Hi Gilda. Sometimes when a betta isn’t able to right himself and floats vertically it is caused by a problem with the swim bladder. See if you can find anything on our Swim Bladder Disorder page.
We bought a betta fish for my son 4 days ago. He never really eats very much and likes to lay on the bottom of the tank. I don’t see any white spots on him. He becomes active when there is action around his tank. We feed him Max Betta Colour Enhancing Flakes. My question is should I empty his tank to clean out all the food flakes that have gathered on the bottom of the tank. We feed him once a day and he eats 3-4 flakes at most – usually less. We usually put about 8 flakes into the tank, so quite a bit has gathered on the bottom…I guess the first thing would be to just give him 1 or 2 flakes at a time, but now that I have flakes on the bottom and he has already gone through so much stress with the move from the store to our house only 4 days ago, I’m reluctant to completely empty and clean out his tank…..Any advise would be appreciated.
Most betta fish keepers buy a cheap turkey baster that they use to suck out uneaten food and poo about a half hour after feeding. Food left to rot can quickly decay, turning to dangerous ammonia. Of course, you’ll still have to do full water changes on a regular basis if you have him in an unfiltered aquarium.
My betta has not been well for months. Generally he was rarely eating, moving and always lying at the top of the tank. Then she started lying on her side on the top of the tank. So, we first tried Beta Fix and it seemed to help but then he just got worse again. More recently Iam trying beta revive and he is now at the bottom of the tank and the white patchy things on his body are more prominent. He looks more sick than ever and I don’t know what else to do. I hate to think that he is suffering. Anyhelp appreciated. He is in a 4L tank. I change the water weekly with all fresh water that is de-clorinated. I wasn’t using the conditioner until more recently. I feed him daily the Beta fish flakes. He is alone inthe tank. The water could be a little colder recently because of the air conditioning but his condition has been going on for while.
Tammy,
It can be really difficult to choose the proper medication when you’re not sure what the disease is. A bacterial infection, fungus, parasite or virus could all have different treatment methods. BettaFix, for example is best used to prevent infection after an injury or open wound but isn’t terribly effective against bacterial infections. “White patchy things” may be an indication your betta has Fexibacter Columnaris (Commonly called Cotton Wool Disease). Check out our page for diagnosis and treatment.
1. How long have you had your betta? 4 months
2. What is the water volume or tank size?i dont know
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter?yes
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? no
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? no
6. What is the water temperature?83-84*
7. How often do you change your tank water? once a week How much water do you replace at a time?25%of his tank tank because its kinda small
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta?no
9. How often do you feed your betta?twice a day What types of food are you using?top fin betta bits How much are you feeding each time?
3 pellets
10. What water additives and medications are you using?none
Cera,
Are there any other symptoms besides laying on the tank bottom? You said you weren’t adding anything to the water. It’s very important that you treat his water with a water conditioner that neutralizes chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals. One or all of these could be present in city or well-water and can be very dangerous to aquarium fish. I also suggest you test your water for ammonia. Ammonia is caused when fish waste and other organic matter in the aquarium decay. It is extremely toxic and has no smell or color. It could be building in your tank if you are only doing 25% water changes and not monitoring it. You can buy an ammonia test kit at your local fish store. Check out our article Top 5 Must Have Betta Fish Care Supplies.
christie f.? when is a female betta has Eggs?
I just got my betta 6 days ago and he was acting fine but ever since this morning he has been on the tank floor paying no attention at all so I’ll think he’s dead and get really sad but right when I touch him with the net he moves across the floor I’ve been doing it for a long time to chek on him what do I do I don’t want my baby to die
Hi Bobby. I’m so sorry to hear about your betta. It does sound like he might have died. If you tap him with the net and he floats away without using any fins at all it is usually a sign that he has passed. To be completely sure, watch his mouth closely. A betta, no matter how sick, will still open and close his mouth (like he’s breathing). If you don’t see his mouth open and close at all then he has died. Again, I am so sorry to hear the sad news about your betta.
Thank you but yes iv drained him already I am really sad to see my baby go but I’m going to the store to buy another betta thanks again
My fish is turning pale and I don’t know what to do what is wrong with her
Do you have heater and light 4 it ? and toys ( plants,caves,etc)
well she either has the ick or some other illness
whats your word on Males and females living together in a 10G tank?
I have a fiesty male, and the petstore said it would be fine to add 2-3 females in the 10G, however now im seeing some split fins! SO. How long before I separate? (its been 3 days and everyday there are more splits) One female is fiesty, the other is laid back. He doesnt seem to bother too much with the laid back girl, so would it be ok to leave them together and separate the fiesty female as Ive noticed that she is having stand-offs with the laid back girl as well? Or should I find new homes for both females (I do like the laid back one, as well as the make and would love to keep both if I could), or is this out of the question?
I would love to upgrade my tank, but financially cant do it for a few months.
Could I remove the fiesty female and add a few white clouds or something? I dont want to leave the male and laid back female alone in the tank so that he just turns and picks on her!
What do you think?
Honestly, I wouldn’t ever put a male and female together in a 10 gal unless it was for a few hours for the purpose of breeding in a controlled situation. Way too much interaction happening in a tank that small. I think the pet store was pretty irresponsible to tell you it was ok. You could try to pull one out, but definitely watch closely to see what happens over several days. I’m worried that keeping any combination of these fish together could result in serious injury or death. I’ve seen males brutally killed by feisty females. I’ve seen females kill each other. Males killing females isn’t uncommon either. Personality is the driving factor. Anything can happen.
Do you know why my beta fish is lying down a lot because if i tap on the glass he move but his mouth is still moving. is this ok?
and he surfaces from time to time but he docent swim around a lot
Hi, I’ve had my male betta for about 4 months. He’s always been pretty active. I change his water about once every 11 days and add a water conditioner/dechlorinator. I changed his water last night like I always do and today he’s acting strange. He stays at the bottom of the bowl and his top fin (which is usually spread) looks all shriveled. He tries to get his food but his mouth opens up and the pellet falls out so he gives up. I don’t know what to do for him 🙁
Hi Nina, Is it possible there was a difference in the old water and the new water? A difference in temperature or pH? Also, how many gallons is the aquarium he’s in? If it is a small tank, 11 days may be too long between water changes and he could have been exposed to toxins.
Hi, just reading through the site. I have a male betta in a heated, unfiltered 10gal tank. I have only had him just under 1 week now and will be ready to change his water mid-week. Could you please recommend weither I should do a full or partial water change? I added his heater just this past saturday and it seems before that he was more active, now he kinda just hangs out at the surface most if the time..Any suggestions?? Thank you 🙂
You can do partial changes in between a full water changes but you’ll need to do a full water change eventually in an uncycled aquarium. If you don’t, ammonia will build over time. The other option is to cycle your aquarium and then you’ll only have to do partial water changes.
if it’s toxins, how do you fix him once they’ve been exposed?
Hi, Just bought female betta, put her in bowl with male. She stays on the bottom on bowl. I have plants in bowl. She does come up to eat and then goes right back down. I think her tail fin is looking like it’s being nipped. Is this possible.
I’m new at this and appreciate any info.
Debora
Hi Debora,
Male and female bettas should not be housed together in the same tank. There can be severe aggression between them, sometimes to the point of injury or death. It is not at all surprising that your female is being nipped by the male and is hiding on the tank bottom. When bettas are brought together to breed it is done in a carefully controlled environment. Both fish are “conditioned” for weeks beforehand (fed highly nutritious foods to get them strong so they can survive what is often a violent courtship). Once they both show signs that they are ready to breed they are put together for a matter of hours and watched closely by the breeder, who will separate them if there is too much aggression. Once they have finished breeding they are separated again. They are almost never kept together for any longer than necessary because they are simply too territorial to be kept safely together. You’ll want to get a second betta bowl (a filtered aquarium would be better) right away for your new female.
My usually active betta, kurt is now not swimming at all, he lays on this little leaf bed i bought him. And on top of that his fins look shriveled. I just tested the water and it said that all the levels are right so i don’t know that the problem is. can any one help?
Thanks,
Tyler
What did you test for exactly? Can you share the results?
When I first got him he was constantly swimming and devoured all his food. For the last few weeks he has been sitting on the tank bottom or in the branches of his aquarium plants. At first glance he looks dead, but when you look closer he looks like he’s hyperventilating. He is my first fish and I really don’t want him to die within the first few months of getting him. Can you help? He’s a Veil Tale male betta.
1. How long have you had your betta?–a couple months
2. What is the water volume or tank size?–three gallons
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter?–aquarium w/ air filter
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results?–no
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results?–no
6. What is the water temperature?–do not have access to a thermometer currently
7. How often do you change your tank water? How much water do you replace at a time?–i change the whole tank once a week
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta? Which species and how many? When were they added?–no
9. How often do you feed your betta? What types of food are you using? How much are you feeding each time?–i feed my betta a pinch of TetraMix twice a day
10. What water additives and medications are you using? Remember to include water conditioners or salt if you’re using them.–I use a brand of water conditioner called Kent Marine
Actually he doesn’t have a filter, he has an air stone
What is an air stone? I have a “whisper quiet” filter that hums & is annoying, my fish tank is in my bedroom!
For all of the people with fish that just lay at the bottom and don’t really do anything except come up and eat, or swim up slowly to the top to get a breath of fresh air, you need to put some Epsom Salt in their water. I did this with my fish twice when she was just lying at the bottom and had a hard time swimming up to get a breath of fresh air. Once I put it in, about two hours later she was swimming around happily and contently. I think this will really help. I recommend this site {http://www.squidoo.com/bettafishdiseases} To help you figure out what disease(s) your betta fish(es) Might have. Then once you know for sure, look it up on google asking what the cause for so and so is and then try to find out how you can help if you can help at all.
My email is [email protected] Email me if you have any questions.
Ive had my betta for about 8 months now. He doesnt have a filter but I clean his bowl every week. Ive noticed for several days its been staying at the bottom of the tank and has lost appettite. Now today I see one of his eyes popping out. What should I do?
Carolina, If you haven’t already take a look at our Popeye treatment page.
Hello,
I have had my betta Nix for four days, and he keeps going towards the bottom of the tank and looks like he’s sleeping, though he does so more than I believe is normal. The tank is 1 gallon, and though it doesn’t have a water filter, it has an air pump. I haven’t tested for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, and the pH was 7. The water temperature is between 70 and 85, and I took out some water today and replaced it with a bit of new slightly-warm water, which made him perk up a bit. I fed him a bit of betta flakes, but he doesn’t seem to like them so I am planning on going to the fish store tomorrow and asking for good betta food. I am concerned about the water temperature being too low, and am wondering how I can keep the water temperature constant without having to buy a $10 water filter.
Thank you!
My betta fish is new an hes fine he eats well an everything but i alwaus see him sitting at thr bottom of his bowl is there a reason for that or is somethinh wrong ??
My betta Pinkly has been usually pretty spunky and is the type to go to the top of his tank to get “petted” in which he rubs the tip of his fins on my finger. He now doesn’t seem to eat nor swim anymore, he lays on the bottom of the tank and appears to be dead often scaring me. His mouth and gills are moving though and he seems to have “popeye”.
1. How long have you had your betta? 3-4 months
2. What is the water volume or tank size? I think it’s a 15 gallon.
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter? Aquarium with a filter.
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results? Nope
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results? Nope
6. What is the water temperature? About 78-81F
7. How often do you change your tank water? How much water do you replace at a time? I change the entire tank water and wipe any slime off the plants and I fill it a little below half inch from the top.
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta? Which species and how many? When were they added? There are no other fish other than Pinkly, I’m not sure what types are able to be with him.
9. How often do you feed your betta? What types of food are you using? How much are you feeding each time? I feed him every other day with BetaMin flakes. I give a little pinch
10. What water additives and medications are you using? Water conditioner (yellow bottle.)
I have had my fish since february 2011 and ever since yesterday he has been laying down sideways like hes dead at the bottom of his tank. he only comes up and moves around rapidly when i give him food. He has a rock in his water and it almost looks like hes trying to kill himself by buring his head (trying) under the rock its very unusuall and it sound like a joke but i’m serious….
I just got my betta fish like a week ago…there is two of them in different tanks. But the problem is one of them, a purple male will rarely come to the top of the tank…much less move around and swim. The other one a blue male, swims around freely and happily. I’m confused on why this is happening. What’s wrong with my purple betta fish? Is it sick?
More Questions-
How many times do I feed my fish in a day?
How often do you clean out the tank?
Please help me!!
1. How long have you had your betta? 1 year, 3 months
2. What is the water volume or tank size? a large fish bowl
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter? No
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results? No
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results? No
6. What is the water temperature? 72 degrees
7. How often do you change your tank water? How much water do you replace at a time? every 2 weeks, all of the water is replaced
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta? No
9. How often do you feed your betta? What types of food are you using? How much are you feeding each time? 2-3 times a week, a round pellet type betta fish food, about 5-6 pellets
10. What water additives and medications are you using? Remember to include water conditioners or salt if you’re using them… Just a additive to get rid of the chlorine
Geish (my betta) is just staying at the bottom of her bowl and only coming up for brief seconds to get water. She is moving rapidly when she comes up and doesn’t seem to be eating. She looks kind of skinny and less vibrant in color. This really bothers me because honestly, she has always been a really active, full of personality fish and doesn’t seem like her normal self. Please help me!!! I don’t want to lose my fishy 🙁
Christie,
I have a sick beta that is two years old. We are treating for ick, and he is now not swimming much and not eating much. We feed him betta pellets and frozen blood worms. Question: if he only lays at the bottom, how can I get food to him?
Thanks for your help, Sue Abbott
Hi i have a male betta who i have had for about two years now. He developed fin rot shortly after i brought him home and he has not been able to make a full recovery. I clean his water every two days and and his water is always perfect. He is perky and full of life but i cannot seem to clear up his fin rot. I have tried daily water changes maracyn two. Sulfa medicine from api and a food that is supposed to treat bacteria infection. Please help me! I feel so bad i haven’t been able to help him.
I have had my betta fish, Ibi, for about a year-and-a-half now. I keep him in a 3 gallon tank with an air filter and one live plant. Lately he has been acting sick. I used to feed him twice a day, when he would eat; but now I feed him rarely.
Symptoms:
1. Does not eat (he is normally a pig!)
2. Stays at the bottom of the tank
3. Swims on his side (I realized that he does this to RUB HIMSELF AGAINST THE ROCKS)
4. Breathing hard
5. Rapid fin movement without going anywhere
I thought I saw little white dots all over him one day, but now I can’t see any.
Yesterday when I was cleaning his tank I found a small piece of his fin. I looked and cannot find where it came from. He is not as bright as he normally is, but he still has a lot of color. He does not spread his fins out as much not, but from what I can tell they do not look too tattered.
I always test the water for chemicals (with a 5-in-1 test kit and I treat the water with Easy Balance and Start Right) and keep the water at around 72 degrees.
I treated him with REVIVE, but recently I switched to LIFEGUARD-All in One Treatment, because it is supposed to be stronger.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD BE DOING FOR HIM! I HATE TO SEE HIM ACTING LIKE THIS AND I WISH I COULD CURE HIM INSTANDLY. I KNOW THAT IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME BUT I
(A) DON’T WANT TO NOT DO SOMTHING THAT I SHOULD BE TO HELP HIM
And
(B) DON’T WANT TO OVER MEDICATE HIM OR OVER STRESS HIM BY DOING TOO MUCH!
Sorry for the long post! I am really worried about him! Any advice would help a lot!
THANKS!
From what you described it sounds like ich. I don’t claim to be any kind of authority but i do believe you could benefit from looking into that possibility. I have found that the more chemicals i used with my bettas the did much worse. Try easing off the chemicals and research ich. Whatever you do make sure you do your research before you treat your little friend. I have had Huge success with jungles bacteria infection food. It can be a pain to feed to finiky eaters. Try breaking it up mine ate it when i did that. They made a
Complete recovery after i fed them with it. Also try to make keep the water as clean as possible but keep the stress to a minimum. I hope this helps you!!
I forgot to mention the same brand makes a parasite food to. Good luck!
I have a MALE steel blue veil tail. Ive had him 6 months now (the longest living betta ever in MY history) he appears healthy in attitude. Eats well, active, friendly. I’ve been searching the net, but have found NOTHING that looks like his condition. It’s not ich cuz its only one one part of his side (bot both sides), it’s not fuzzy, but its almost like he is fading in patches. But he’s not marbling either. Like I’ve said I’ve searched EVERYTHING.
Closest I’ve come is a fungal infection, but he has has this over 2 months now and its not getting any worse. Nor is he acting sick. At first it looked to me like bubbles were stuck to his scales, but it also kind of looks like he is about to shed (like a snake). It is only on his side scales, his fins, gills and head are completely normal.
I have introduced Nutrafin aquarium salt in the last 2 weeks, but its not make any difference. I have also tried nox-ich since it started but nothing either. I don’t want to spend more money dosing my fish up if he’s not even sick, I don’t want him to die from being over treated with medications that aren’t for his diagnosis. But then again- I don’t even know his diagnosis. LOL.
I haven’t changed anything and he was fine for the first 4 months. So why now? And if he WAS sick, wouldn’t he have died by now? What gives? He is in a 2.5gal tank with a filtration system but no filter (just used to circulate water). I would rather do normal water changes than deal with a yucky filter change.
I have not tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate- or tested for pH, kh and gh. I don’t really plan to either. Nothing has changed. I live in the same place, and he was fine for 4 months.
His water temp is at 81 degrees right now. I use a thermometer when doing changes so it’s always the same give or take 1-2 degrees, never higher than 81.
I do 50% water changes every Friday. I use a water Nutrafin tap water conditioner with almond extract.
He lives alone and eats both Nutrafin betta flakes and Nutrafin dried blood worms. I rotate the food on a daily basis for “variety”, feeding in the mornings before I go to work.
Nothing in the past 6 months has changed except for the salt and nox ich in the past 2 weeks, but this “sickness” has lasted the past 4 months.
I have tried to take pictures but he really won’t sit still for auto focus too well. This is the best I got. The lighting sucks for my camera, but it shows his “white” patch (sort of). you can click to enlarge it.
ok well I got a halfmoon betta yesterday for mybirthday and I put him in his new tank and all I fed him 2 hrs later and he ate 2 flakes. Durring my birthday party he would hold hisbreath and let himself float up until his face touched the top of the water then hed hold his breath for a long time let go swim back to the bottom and do he samething over and over.does that mean hes stressed out? Then later once everyone left he “stood” on his bottom tailand just stayed like that for most of the night. (How do you know that your betta is asleep??)anywho this orning when i woke up i lookedat him and he was laying on is side very pale and notmoving at all. I got scared so just to make sure I dropped 2 flakes of fishfood but stil he did nothing. there has beenno chang to his conditition he hasa lost most of his color and hi mouth isn’tmoving at all. (does that mean hes dead??) please help
1. How long have you had your betta?
Almost two years
2. What is the water volume or tank size?
2.5 Gallon
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter?
No
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results?
Haven’t tested, but he’s never had this issue the past few months.
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results? Haven’t tested
6. What is the water temperature?
~80F
7. How often do you change your tank water? How much water do you replace at a time?
Twice a week, almost all of the water 80%
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta? Which species and how many? When were they added?
No other fish in the tank.
9. How often do you feed your betta? What types of food are you using? How much are you feeding each time?
Usually twice a day 2-4 pellets.
10. What water additives and medications are you using? Remember to include water conditioners or salt if you’re using them.
Water conditioner for bettas and 5 small rocks of aquarium salt.
Now he kinda just lays on the bottom of the tank and doesn’t do anything.
He used to swim to the front of the tank whenever we passed by and would flare, but now he doesn’t. =/
i bought a new betta earlier today and he seemed fine. but when i tried feeding him after 5 or 6 hours he didnt seem to want any food. could this just be the fact that he is settling in?
thanks,
adriana
Hi, I have a little male betta fish named Feather. He was in a 1.5 gallon tank and I just transported him to a 5 gallon tank. His last tank did not have a filter and this one does. When the filter was off he was swimming around the tank and checking everything out. Now I turned it back on and he just stays at the bottom… Is it because he’s not used to it yet? Will he eventually start swimming around again? I also put african drawf frog’s in the tank with him… and he was fine with them. But this is why I need the filter in there… Very worried betta mom!
Hi,
I own a male crowntail betta fish for just over 2 weeks. He is showing a symptom which I am unable to categorise. His abdomen is swollen but only a little bit and I did not see his poop in last 2 days. There is no coning of scales or anything else. He is behaving normally. Can this be dropsy or just constipation?? How to treat him? PLEASE HELP as I am a novice!!!!!!
FYI,
My fish tank is around 4 Gallon and does not have a filter. The water temp is around 74-78 F and I change his water 90% every week. I do not have tested the water and I don’t add any kind of salt in his tank. Please Help!
Thanks,
Hello I don’t know what is wrong with my 2 Betta fish. I have a male named Kiwi and a female named Banana. I notice after I changed their water, Banana started getting this weird white thread in between her from little fins. It came off but now she has 2 or 3 white spots on her face. And stupid me used the same net on both of them. And now Kiwi is laying at the bottom of his bowl. Only comes up to eat and get air. His stomach area looks swollen and I don’t know what to do D’:
Could they have fish TB or or Cotton Wool Disease. I’m scared its Fish TB because I have various cuts on my hands due to office work and I’m the only one who can clean them. I’m also a paranoid person who thinks I’ll die if I touch them while they have TB. UGH!!! But since I don’t want my babies to die I’ll do what I can for them. So first I need help determining what they have. So please help me!! I don’t want to lose my birthday gift babies!
***SYMPTOMS:
*Banana female Betta
few white spots
white long string on bottom of fins
*Kiwi male Betta
swollen stomach
maybe one or 2 white spots
clamped fins though, they’re not clamped anymore
BOTH FISH
laying on bottom of bowl
both still eat thankfully
they kinda struggle to swim. they drift a bit sideways.
both still poop. Both still seem a bit feisty.
Its as much as I can give now. They are in unfiltered bowls. Please help, its the first time I’ve had sick fish before. :[
I just bought a male betta crown tail. He lives in a 1 gallon fish bowl. I think his water might be too cold so I have been warming it up for him.
-Sits at bottom of tank
-Never eats
-Only swims when his bowl gets picked up
-Bought him at Petsmart
-Only species in bowl
Any reason of this? HELP
-Dessie
My betta is has been laying at the bottom of the tank for a few days now. I already changed the water and he also won’t eat anything. I have had him for almost two years, he is in a bowl that is average size, I haven’t tested the water, the water is room temperature which would be around 76, I change the tank water every week and a half but I recently went on vacation for three weeks and I don’t think the person feeding the fish changed the water… I change the whole bowl water when I clean it, my betta is alone in it’s bowl, I feed my betta around 5 pebbles of betta bio-gold baby pellets I have fed him this since I have had him, and I don’t use any water additives or medications….. Please tell me if there is anything I can do.
Thank you,
Nicole Samarin
Dear Christie F,
I am so worried about my male veil-tail betta fish….I need help! First of all, I bought him from a PetCo and he was the most active one there, swimming in his little cup. It has been a little over 6mos. now and I recently noticed he has been VERY lethargic. He won’t swim around, never flares his fins. Only if I tap on his glass or shake the bowl will he stir. But after a few seconds of swimming, he’ll just float to the top or stay at the bottom, motionless. He lives in a 1gal fishbowl with no filtration, some fake plants, fake mini coral reef, and a heater. Twice I have found him floating on his side on a plant, and on one occasion he was at a diagonal angle at the top of his bowl. Other than that, he seems fine. I haven’t tested his Ammonia and pH levels, but I do use Betta Water Conditioners and I have always assumed that it would soak up all the bad stuff.
So what worries me most is his behavior:
-Never Flares Fins.
-Never Swims Around Unless I Shake The Bowl Or Tap The Glass
How do I fix it? I really want him active and flaring and showy again, just like he used to be. I am so worried right now and praying its nothing serious. . . . . . .WHAT SHOULD I DO??????
Other Info: I clean his unfiltered fishbowl once a week. Sometimes I let it sit for two weeks. I feed him Wardley’s Betta Pellets, six pellets a day, three days a week. ALSO: I am only 10 years old and I am worrying my head off.
From,
Ita
******
Here’s some extra info:
1. How long have you had your betta? 3-4 months
2. What is the water volume or tank size? I think it’s a 15 gallon.
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter? Aquarium with a filter.
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results? Nope
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results? Nope
6. What is the water temperature? About 78-81F
7. How often do you change your tank water? How much water do you replace at a time? I change the entire tank water and wipe any slime off the plants and I fill it a little below half inch from the top.
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta? Which species and how many? When were they added? There are no other fish other than Pinkly, I’m not sure what types are able to be with him.
9. How often do you feed your betta? What types of food are you using? How much are you feeding each time? I feed him every other day with BetaMin flakes. I give a little pinch
10. What water additives and medications are you using? Water conditioner (yellow bottle.)
Dear Christie F,
I am so worried about my male veil-tail betta fish….I need help! First of all, I bought him from a PetCo and he was the most active one there, swimming in his little cup. It has been a little over 6mos. now and I recently noticed he has been VERY lethargic. He won’t swim around, never flares his fins. Only if I tap on his glass or shake the bowl will he stir. But after a few seconds of swimming, he’ll just float to the top or stay at the bottom, motionless. He lives in a 1gal fishbowl with no filtration, some fake plants, fake mini coral reef, and a heater. Twice I have found him floating on his side on a plant, and on one occasion he was at a diagonal angle at the top of his bowl. Other than that, he seems fine. I haven’t tested his Ammonia and pH levels, but I do use Betta Water Conditioners and I have always assumed that it would soak up all the bad stuff.
So what worries me most is his behavior:
-Never Flares Fins.
-Never Swims Around Unless I Shake The Bowl Or Tap The Glass
How do I fix it? I really want him active and flaring and showy again, just like he used to be. I am so worried right now and praying its nothing serious. . . . . . .WHAT SHOULD I DO??????
Other Info: I clean his unfiltered fishbowl once a week. Sometimes I let it sit for two weeks. I feed him Wardley’s Betta Pellets, six pellets a day, three days a week. ALSO: I am only 10 years old and I am worrying my head off.
From,
Ita
*******
Here’s some extra info:
1. How long have you had your betta? 5-6 months
2. What is the water volume or tank size? I believe its 1/2 gallon. Might be 1 gal. Not sure. I think it is 1 gallon though.
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter? Betta Bowl with small heater and a couple of artificial plants
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results? Haven’t tested.
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results?
Have Not Tested
6. What is the water temperature? About 78-81F
7. How often do you change your tank water? How much water do you replace at a time? I change the entire fishbowl water every week, sometimes I dont change until 2 wks. I fill up to the 3/4 mark. And to get the right temp we just hand-feel it.
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta? Which species and how many? When were they added?There are no other fish with Clowny. He is all alone in his fish bowl
9. How often do you feed your betta? What types of food are you using? How much are you feeding each time? I feed him every other day with Wardley’s Betta Pellets. He gets 6 pellets a day.
10. What water additives and medications are you using? Water conditioner.
I am serious, I will do ANYTHING to cure little Clowny!
I just want him back to normal.
And to be a happy fish for the rest of his years.
PLEASE HELP!!!!!!
Please help! I got a new betta named Gizmo and he lays on the bottem of the tank. I always feed him i clean his tank 2 a week And it looks like hi might be losing his color! Im really worried and i love this fish to pieces! i would break down into tears if this fish dies help me i domt know what to do and i really love him!
Help! My Betta is sick. He swims up for air and then sinks to the bottom of the tank, he has trouble swimming lately like it is a struggle for him, and his abdomen is a little big. His abdomen has been big before, but after fasting him for a day or two he is usually fine. I tried this already this time but it has helped. I want to do whatever I can to keep him alive but I’m starting to lose hope! He is getting less and less active. Please help!
Desperately need help! My Royal Blue Male Veil Tail, George, is like the family dog. We love him so much. He used to be incredibly active and happy, always building bubble nests from the day we brought him home, but about 2 months ago, he developed fin rot on his top fin and his bottom fin. We tried Bettafix to treat it, but we have had to deal with several relapses during the healing process. Despite this, he seems incredibly active still, HOWEVER, during this time, he started pushing himself off one artificial plant to get to the other in a sort-of spastic display, almost as if he were an Olympic swimmer pushing off the wall doing laps. Does this sound like Gill Parasites? Like he’s scratching himself against things in his tank?
Anyway, this past week, he is suffering from another relapse of fin rot, as well as a case of extreme fatigue. He lays at the bottom of the tank and only moves occasionally to swim to the top for a breath of air. When we go to feed him, he either acts disinterested or he will attempt to eat the food and miss altogether, like he can’t see it clearly. He looks so skinny and discolored right now. His breathing seems labored, as well.
Here’s some info:
1. How long have you had your betta?
5-6 months
2. What is the water volume or tank size?
2 gallon tank. It has glass, smooth stones on the bottom and two artificial plants.
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter?
Don’t know what a betta bowl is. It’s a standard Petco 2 gallon tank. No filter.
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results?
Yes. 0 for Nitrate and Nitrite.
75 on the soft side of the Hardness test.
Between 40 – 80 for alkalinity.
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results?
Tested for pH. Was at 6.5.
6. What is the water temperature?
It fluxuates a little between 72 – low 80s. We really try to keep it at 80. I’m wondering if this is the problem. During the day, it’s a constant 80 degrees. It’s a cold apartment naturally so we keep him close to the window for warm with the blinds entirely shut. When we want up in the morning, the temp can fall to lower 70s.
7. How often do you change your tank water? How much water do you replace at a time?
I change the entire fishbowl water every week, but now it’s typically two times a week or more because
A. the water develops a ‘film’ at the top
B. a green liquid (I assume algae?) sometimes forms in the corners of the tank
C. His fin rot acts up
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta?
He is alone in his fish bowl
9. How often do you feed your betta? What types of food are you using? How much are you feeding each time?
He gets fed once a day with one day off. We switch every other day between frozen blood worms and dried brine shrimp.
10. What water additives and medications are you using? Water conditioner.
I’m considering buying/using PIMAFIX and MELAFIX in combination just to see if it will do anything. We don’t use aquarium salt or Epsom salt. Should we do that?
Please. I could really use advice. I don’t want to lose this little guy.
Thank you
My Betta is just lying at the bottom of his tank, not eating and I clean his tank and check the temp (75 degrees) … He doesn’t have yulk, he still has his full color. What is wrong?
I always thouht that the water needs to be from 70-75 degrees franehieght
Gabrielle, your betta is suffering from fin rot, I think. For more info look up fin rot at the top page. Poor fishy 🙁
My betta fish has lost its tail and we claen the tank once a week but she still isnt doing anything we even gave her treats to be nice she ate them all the swam to the bottom of the tank and sh ealso was breathing heavily and aadvice from professoinals out there?
I have a betta 1 year, 4 months &19 days old. Her name is Arial. What should I do if she doesn’t eat? She stays in one place then moves around if she sees someone. But, i gave her a little part of a warm pea and she chewed it and spit it out! WHAT WILL I I have a betta 1 year, 4 months &19 days old. Her name is Arial. What should I do if she doesn’t eat? She stays in one place then moves around if she sees someone. But, i gave her a little part of a warm pea and she chewed it and spit it out! WHAT WILL I DO?
Hi, can someone please help. I went to the pet store yesterday to purchase my betta. he keeps sitting at the bottom of my 2 quart bowl and when i shake him he just sits for awhile and then moves. i keep thinkin hes dead and i am really scared, but then he eventully moves. he wont eat the betta pellets either. im going back to the petsmart to get a bigger bowl and maybe a cheap water heater. any suggestions what i should do? he looks healthy but maybe he just deosnt like me! PLEASE HELP?!?!!!
hi, i got a male betta fish two days ago, and now i just got a female betta fish and i want them to breed. Any ideas on what to do?
Its very difficult to breed them
My betta fish what first flipping over on its side for the last month then i stopped feeding him for a few days because thats what a website told me to do and he was ok then a few days ago he started just sinking to the bottom of his tank but he’d swim up again and now he’s on the bottom of his tank i know he’s alive but he does not move what do i do i love him so much me and y friend share him and she’ll be so sad to find out he’s dead ahhhh what do i do??????
Hi I am twelve and i love betta’s I have successfully breed six betta and now I have another two this time they don’s seem to like each other and I recently changed my bettas’ water but the male, dragon’s aqarium water turned yellow I don’t know if is affected by the new wood like thing that I have added in can you help me! I don’t want both of them to die, dragon and phoenix are my most beloved fish.:(
Oh yah can I add aqarium salt into their tank?
Will female fighting fishes kill male fighting fishes?
ppl who cal ppl murders and such and tell them they do not deserve animals or pets are following an occult spirit from satan that desires to elevate animals fish and birds over humans when God made them for us to steward yes but, to have dominion over…let go of your demons u will get what u reap…someon will false accuse u and ride u regarding your pets ALL THE TIME…that is how eveil worls my friends I am a minister and know how it goes w/ the spirit realmn around us!!
I have a female beta fish she keeps going into her rocks and hiding is this normal she is in a 1 gallon tank with and air rador her water is the right temp.I clean her tank every two weeks. I have a male in another tank he seems to be fine with the same set up??
I need help with my fish, please!
1. How long have you had your betta?
– he is about 1 1/2 yr old
2. What is the water volume or tank size?
2 1/2 gallons
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquariu1. How long have you had your betta? Aquarium
2. What is the water volume or tank size?
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter? No filter
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results? Not yet
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results?
6. What is the water temperature? About 72F
7. How often do you change your tank water? About every 2 weeks. How much water do you replace at a time? All of it.
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta? Which species and how many? When were they added?
9. How often do you feed your betta? What types of food are you using? How much are you feeding each time?
10. What water additives and medications are you using? Remember to include water conditioners or salt if you’re using them.m with a filter?
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results?
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results?
6. What is the water temperature?
7. How often do you change your tank water? How much water do you replace at a time?
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta? Yes. Which species and how many? Plecto. And one but he died a few days ago and i was not home to change the water, could there be a bacteria from the dead fish that made my beta sick? When were they added? 6 months ago.
9. How often do you feed your betta? Once a day. What types of food are you using? Basic beta food. How much are you feeding each time? Few pieces.
10. What water additives and medications are you using? None. Remember to include water conditioners or salt if you’re using them. I do use insta Chlor so the water is cleaned from chlorine, etc.
Please help, I wanna see my fishy back to normal!
I saw this website, they say that you should just give about two. Beta pellets as they usually expands when in contact with water by giving them a few pieces, they will either get liver failure or kidney disorder, I am not quite sure you can check out this website. http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/Betta_splendens_-_variations
Hi!please help me!,i had just brought 2 betta fish on March 18,2012 and i think one of them got sick now,he’s a blue greenish betta,Lucky.I had him about 1 month now and it’s betta bowl not sure the size i think about half a gallon?And no i haven’t tested for ammonia and others,by the way how do you test?And what are ph,gh,and kh are they some kinds of diesase?I don’t know the temperature because the therometer is broken and i couldn’t one now but i know that the water is kinda cold.the food i feed him is Wardley’s fish pellets and i feed him about almost everyday about 4-6 pellets 3 times a day.the water addictives and medications?,yes i use a water conditioner.they aren’t any fish with him since Lucky is aggressive.and i clean his water about each time a week,i clean the bowl and then i pour new water to the half of his bowl and carefully pour him with half of his old water in his bowl. i don’t know whats wrong with my fish,he had been not eating for about a week it’s worrying me that he been getting skinner and skinner each day and mostly all day long he would lay on his side on the bottom of the bowl.Also his color is fainting.He wasn’t like this about a week ago.i tried feeding him the tiniest pellets i could find in the cup,very rarely he would eat one of them then just ignores it.another problem is that when he doesn’t eat the pellets the pellets will pollute the water and i can’t find a way to remove them,when i tried to remove them they just sinks down and also Lucky would get scared everytime i get close and do a sort of weird swimming dive.He also don’t swim right these days.The other fish Flash next to him in his own bowl is doing very well and healthy.Sorry for this long message but if you happen to know what could be wrong with Lucky i really would appreciate it,anyone can help me!Thank you!
help me, my female fighting fish started laying eggs and making bubble nests for them i tried to introduce her to my male but she attacked him. She is currently laying ang eating her eggs!!!!!!!!!
help i got a crowntail betta and it keeps going to the bottom of the tank it is 3.5 gal. it also gets into one of the plants i dont know if he is getting stuck or going in there on perpose and i move the plant for him if he looks stuck i look at him everyday he is always in the same plant and i change his tank every week please tell me why
I got a Betta Fish 2 days ago I fed him I think quite too much and I cleaned his bowl today and he swam fine but like 2 hours later he stopped swimming and he is in the top corner breathing but not moving I shake it a little and he just swims back. Also he has something white coming out of him 🙁
Im worried
1. How long have you had your betta? about a week
2. What is the water volume or tank size? 1 gal
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter? bowl no filter
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results? no
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results?
6. What is the water temperature? no
7. How often do you change your tank water? How much water do you replace at a time? changing it today about half the bowl full of water
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta? Which species and how many? no other fish When were they added?
9. How often do you feed your betta? everyday but from what i see it does not eat What types of food are you using? tried flakes and pellats How much are you feeding each time? pinch of flakes and 2 pellats
10. What water additives and medications are you using? Remember to include water conditioners or salt if you’re using them. i use regular tap water with a solution that kills the toxins in the water
my fish just stays in the corner of the bowl or the bottom and looks very and unhappy and i havent seen him even touch or smell his food:/
My Betta fish’s scales are turning white and his tail is getting white streaks. He’s originally red though. Any advice?
My betta appear to be hiding in his house all the time on the rocks at the bottom. He swims around sometimes but he just seems depressed. I change his water about every week to 2 weeks and his water is at about 83. I don’t know if hes just bored. Every time i change his water he is a lot more active the first day but i think that’s just because of all the commotion. Any thoughts?
I am very worried about my betta fish, Alpha. I adopted him after my friend neglected him. Due to being a broke college student I did not have enough money to house him like I would have liked to for many weeks. One day as I was cleaning my poor fish he fell from my bookshelf. I felt horrible. I quickly got the little guy in some water and then bought him a new 5 gallon tank with all the bells and whistles. It took a while to get everything set up so he has only been in his new tank for about 3 hours now. I am worried about him though. Around his mouth and spreading to his left eye he has an iridescent silver coloring. Is that a fungal infection or am I losing my mind? Please help!
I’ve had my male betta fish for about a year now. He has a 5 gallon aquarium, a heater (which I recently took out because of the hot weather), and a filter. He doesn’t like the filter, so I change his water once a week and only keep the filter on about an hour per day. I use a water conditioner, and feed him about 3 pellets every day.
I did a full water change today. He was fine before that, but now he is laying at the bottom of the tank, only coming up for air. I also just noticed today that his fins are curling at the ends and becoming transparent. He also went from a vibrant red, to a faded red, almost orange. I thought it could be fin rot, so I put some aquarium salt in, along with some betta medication a lady at Petco recommended. He is very lethargic and won’t eat. I typically keep his water at about 76-78 degrees, but lately the weather has been hot, so his water has been over 80, even with me trying to control it.
Could the warmer water be a reason for this, or maybe the full water change? Nothing I’ve read online has really matched up to my fish’s problems. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I really like this fish, and want to do what I can to make him better.
If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thank you.
Hey everyone! My Betta has fin rot, how do I help him?
1. How long have you had your betta? 6 months
2. What is the water volume or tank size? 2.5 gallons
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter? tank with filter, heater (barely use it; don’t really need to), hood and light.
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results? No
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results? No
6. What is the water temperature? 81 degrees Fahrenheit
7. How often do you change your tank water? How much water do you replace at a time? Once every 2 weeks or so. 75-100%
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta? Which species and how many? When were they added? No
9. How often do you feed your betta? What types of food are you using? How much are you feeding each time? I feed him Aqueon Tropical Flakes 4 flakes a day
10. What water additives and medications are you using? Water conditioner
Remember to include water conditioners or salt if you’re using them.
My betta I had got and it has been hiding in its new decorations is the usual ? I need help it seems like it eats I just want it to get better and it’s fin was bitten of when I had bought it but didn’t notice until I put him in the water , and he’s / her had been hiding what should I do ?
Alfonso( betta) also folds to his side i notice this when i look up at him or at night if i wake up is this normal? but when i turn on a light or tap the glass very lightly he goes back to normal… is he just sleeping?
can anyone help me
Hello can i have some advice my betta fish looks like his teail fin is injured but is he just growing he is active he has smooth plastic plants and gravel
Hi, I just recently got a betta in the past week, and he goes up tp the top for air but wont eat his food unless its on the bottom of the tank. I have smooth rocks and soft plants and a soft side rock think that lays againt the side of the tank in the corner. I also have an air stone that he usualy loves to play in. My tank is a 45 gallon tank at 74 degrees, and my betta (Storm is his name) lives with 3 ghost shrimp, 2 small goldfish, and 3 neons. It has been a long time since Ive had fish, but Ive never had a betta who ate and mainly stayed neer the bottom.
hi i have a male fighting fish , iv had him for a few months now and usually hes very active and gets excited when ever someone is near his bowl but the last few weeks hes been laying on the bottom , i do a water change probly once every two weeks but have been doing it a bit more frequently recently about once a week because when i change the water he seems to perk up be his usual self agian for a day or two than goes back to laying on the bottom someone please help me a really dont want to loose him he is all black and really quite beautiful , he seems to still be eating but he will swin to the top grab some food than go back down agian, he is in a bowl a rather big one compared to what iv seen them be kept in in pet shops , he has no air bubbler or heater beacuse iv always been told they didnt need one but everytime without failure he perks up when i change the water , i havent tested the water ph or anything yet but im thinking that may be my next step ? help pleeaasseee
I have a blue Beta she wont eat at all , she is so scared suddenly. She buried her head in to the gravel , her body is almost upside down. i don’t know what to do. She was fine and suddenly when i come in to the room she runs swimming and bouncing her body all over. I see like one of her eye lead is sticking out more. i don’t know what to do she do not eat only laying down in the gravel. I get this Beta from my brother and she was in the 2 and a half glass ball she look happy there, but i was feeling sorry for her so i buy 5 gallon aquarium with a Aqua clear filter. she was happy in her new tank. But recently shes like tossing her body right and left look like scratching but i don’t see anything on her body her color is fine and fins. Please help me i don’t want to loose her.
Search on http://www.bettatalk.com/ but from here I think it is velvet to be sure get flashlight shine it on its body and tail avoid its head just incase the light blinds it.It should be scratching on decorations too.
I have a veiltale male who swims around the tank but doesn’t eat. This is my first betta and i don’t want to lose him. does someone know how to help?
Can you please help!
I have a 1.5 gal tank with two bettas and a seperator,
And one of th is very depressed, has white scaly stuff near its gills and has fin rot and will not eat.
But I don’t know how this is possible because dish can survive whith out food for a couple of days
But mine hasn’t eaten for over 3 months!!
Is it because it cannot reach food or it spits out or ignores it
maybe doesn`t like food you gave it. You can research finrot on bettatalk too! I know this won’t help alot Poor betta/bettas
I hope they survive
Thank you I will try but he can’t swim is the problem though and at the bottom of the tank
Oh my I think your fish is dieing with disease go to a vet for fish and get it some treat ment and put the two betas in diffrent tanks ok
I really need help!
What’s wroung with your betta
I just got my betta fish. its a male. and it keeps on going up every 7 seconds. im really worried. its my second fish. the first one died just in 1 and a half!!!!! please i really dont want to lose him :’(
My 2 male beta fish are lying at the bottoms of their separate bowls both do swim around occasionally and both eat the 4 fish pellets i give them but i am really worried because they usually are more active, could it be they they need to be cleaned? could the water be to cold? please help i love them and don’t want them to die. Not sure how old they are a year i think.
GO EAT FISH POO
I just bought a betta two days ago. I prepared the tank (1 gallon) for him with the proper temp and water conditioner. He was fine the first night and all the next day. He was swimming and eating. When I woke up this morning, he was dead. What did I do wrong?
I got a Dragonscale Betta a few days ago and put him in his new tank 2-5 days ago. I am afraid that the water is too cold (its only like 68-70*) but my mom won’t let me get a heater because my mom thinks that Bettas don’t need a heater or filter. I think they do, but if i don’t manage to get one, is this temp. ok? It will get warmer in the summer.
. How long have you had your betta?- since last summer
2. What is the water volume or tank size? its a rather small tank
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter? its more of a bowl
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results? no
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results? no
6. What is the water temperature? i havnt checked
7. How often do you change your tank water? How much water do you replace at a time? every week then put in the fish fixer (for the water thats suppose to take that away)
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta? Which species and how many? When were they added? no
9. How often do you feed your betta? What types of food are you using? How much are you feeding each time? every day- every other day sometimes pellets sometimes flakes
10. What water additives and medications are you using? Remember to include water conditioners or salt if you’re using them.
it really seems like my fish has changed since the fish in the other tank beside it has passed away :I
hi
i have a Betta fish its a blue i think its a blueberry well i have had it for 2 years its a male Betta and just recently i have notices its not flaring it not eating and it just sits around on the rocks and when i tap it to get food it just moves its fin and this makes me really and its a family pet please reply as soon as possible i need help quick
thank you very much
everyone is worried and my 8 year old sister is crying it was hers i just change the tank and things even brought flowers and worms and conditioner and brought new food i even give him tablets but he still wouldn’t eat he would like eat
thanks in advance
that dose not help at all my beata may die these people dont know what there talking about.
yes you are correct
Help me with my fish he is allways at the bottom of his tank and not eating much and doesn’t move in less I move is tank he does not swim right
My betta fish is almost 4 years old…this week we had a power outage and his water got colder than usual. Thursday we had power today is Sunday I just changed his water but he keeps lying at the bottom of his bowl. I try and exercise him but I’m worried it might stress him more. He seems more sluggish than usual. Also he does NOT take the freeze dried blood worms I feed him 2-3 pellets twice a day and fast him one day…I hope I don’t sound crazy but I love this fish. I do 100% water changes, and I just upgraded his bowl size. I’m just worried about him and I use a blue droplet of betta stuff as well as de-contamination what not when I change his water and let it sit an hour before putting him inside. Ugh I don’t know what his problem is…any advice?! I really don’t want him to die. He is slightly gray and has a beard from age….Help? I guess I’m just worried about him and don’t know fish people that can help me or would care.
xoxoJustine
Does you fish have any cuts and does it eat right and swim up right like swims normal if not chances are your fish is getting to old and may die
Need Help
I have a half moon with a beautiful tail but for the past month his tail has been getting slits and kind of rotting.
I have tried treating him with salt and some blue liquid I bought from the pet store but it is not helping him much.
He used to be very active but from last week he just sits at the bottom of the tank.
Kindly suggest something to make him get back to normal
We’ll he might have a disease how long had you had him
I just got a male betta about a week ago and since the day i got him he is not active until i feed him and he will only eat one pellet, other than that he is just sitting at the bottom.his tank is clean and water levels normal. Whats wrong with him?
do you make ripples. those are bad and they killed my first betta or is there sunlight or a bright light those are bad for bettas. or he is scared because my betta goes to the bottom or if there is a mirror and sees his reflection they hide
I don’t know my betta has lived for 2years and I think it’s bad to put them in sun light it makes there water to hot also my betta has been not eating and don’t swim right and at the bottom of his tank
If his fin is bad and not swimming right he could be getting old and dieing I hope yours is ok
my female is laying in the bottom of her tank. i have a male in with her.the female always stays away from him and chases her. when i point my finger at him he goes away to hide. they had babys but we didnt know they needed clean water. know all he does since the babys died is chase the female.the babys were born in the morning and died over night and the female lies at the bottom of tank we cleaned tank. male wont let female eat or breath ): what should i do
You should buy another tank for the female.
Get them diffrent tanks males do that after baby’s are born and don’t ever putt two betas in the same tank they fight
I have 1 for 2 days and it’s been staying at the bottom of my little tank and I think it is a 1 gallon
Is it BAD if my Betas tank is cloudy?????????!!!!!!!!!!???!!!
Yes maybe it might need to be cleaned.?
Yes it is bad I had my betta for two years and now it at the bottom of the tank and not swimming right
My betta fish is kind of lethargic acting, laying on the bottom of the tank. I’ve been out of town for four days and my mom said in the last two days it has started acting like that. om getting a PH test tomorrow to see if thats the problem. ive had it for almost 9 months now. It’s in a 10 gallon aquarium starter tank with a filter and a heater. (Does a PH test show the nitrate/nitrite levels too?) the water temperature is at 80, it does not fluctuate. I change out my tank water about every week to week and a half. I only change about 50-60% of the water. It’s just my one beta fish in there. I feed him once when I wake up, just a pinch, and once before I go to bed. I feed him the Bettamin tropical crisps (they are flakes) should I be feeding him something else too? I use the Top Fin water conditioner to treat the water. Please help me, thank you!
Hi! I bought Triton, male Betta 10 days the most ago. He seems ok. Now he swims with a lot of work to get air and then just let go to fall to the bottom of the tank. He stopped eating 3 days ago. He shares the Tank with 2 Tetras and 1 Apple Snail. They don’t fight. I have a 3 Gal Planted tank and all is healthy. I test the water constantly. All is good so far. I could isolate him and treat but I dont know what to treat???
Please, get back to me ASAP.
Thank you,
Lissie
1. How long have you had your betta? 10 days the most
2. What is the water volume or tank size? 3 galons
3. Is this a betta bowl or an aquarium with a filter? yes
4. Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? What were the results? yes all good 2 days ago
5. Have you tested for pH, kh and gh? What were the results? Is ok. Reverse Osmosis neutral.
6. What is the water temperature? has heater. stays between 78-80
7. How often do you change your tank water? How much water do you replace at a time? 20% once or twice week
8. Are there other fish in the tank with your betta? Which species and how many? When were they added? 2 Tetras 1 Mistery/Apple snail. All came home same day.
9. How often do you feed your betta? What types of food are you using? How much are you feeding each time? morning and afternoon. Tetra Betta Min, API micro pellets, Top fin Betta bits
10. What water additives and medications are you using? I added live cultures for Bio filter.. But he is being actig from before that. Remember to include water conditioners or salt if you’re using them. …. no salt nothing else.
your tank is way to small for 3 fish and a snail. Bettas should have at least 5 gallons.
My baby betta fish won’t eat the pellets that I have for adult betta fish. What should I do ? Please help me
Thanks
Cristal Thibault
help my beta fish is lying down on the bottom of the tank but when i tap the glass he swims up. is this normal?
My betta has been livening for 2years and now won’t swim right and sinks to the bottom and can’t eat right what is going on?
Hello ! I just bought a crowntail betta from walmart (probably not the smartest place) and I’ve had Sushi about a week an a half . At first he was fine but I’ve notice the last couple days he hasn’t been that active and today I came home form the store and he was at the bottom of the tank kind of sideways . He’s been at the bottom of his tank a lot lately or hiding under his plant and I haven’t seen him eat since I got him . He has a one gallon filtered tank , I’m waiting for his time adjusting heater and thermometer in the mail , he eats pellets but I have tried flakes . Just wondering if you could give me a few pointers and hopefully save Sushi , I love my new beautiful buddy .
i have a male crown tail betta he is 1 years old as of last dec 27 (at lest that when i got him he could be older i dont know) he is highly active and i have him in a half gallon tank and say what you want about it being to small but he loves it and for a half gallon he has room i do use a heater but have taking it out as the weather where i am is getting hotter and i clean hes tank once every week to two weeks i have moved from where i was living so there was a change in water and he was fine for the first 4 months but as of the last 5 days he lays at the bottom of his tank i can get him to eat but it takes effort to get him to and i have seen he is swollen on both side of the abdomen i tired giving him peas cuz i seen that can help sometimes but he seem to poop just fine but now even when i go to play with him he runs from me or anyone that came near the tank this isn’t like him at all i was wondering if someone could give me suggestion as to something i can do for him I’m not sure if hes sick or if hes old (cuz i have no idea how old he was when i got him) hope someone can help
thank you
its stess maby have the heater on low or have it on for 1 hour a per day
my fish is grey and it at the bottom of my fish boll i treid to cach it but will NOT MOVE plz help.
So I bought a betta for a pet on Friday…. He was dead Monday morning with a bad case of ich…. Talk about a trial fish. He had a name and everything…. We didn’t see it coming. We saw that he was sluggish, hanging out at the top of the bowl, spitting out his food, and he was acting like he had narcolepsy….. my daughter thought that part was funny…. I did too at first, but then I got worried…. I didn’t know… I never had a betta before…. The pet store told us to just give him bloodworms, and his water h20 conditioner. The next morning he died, with white stuff all over him…. They sold us a sick fish! So we took everything back and started over… I looked up the signs for ich, and Got a new betta! This one was energetic. We got him home. I set up his fish bowl. I added his h20 conditioner. I put him in the fish bowl…. He was energetic still checking out his new home…. and then he spit out his food….. Got him Monday, Tuesday he stayed at the bottom of the tank, not eating, not swimming, Now its Wednesday….. Hes at the top of the bowl, blowing bubbles, not moving, and not eating…. Ive treating his bowl for ich!!! But what else can I do for him! What am I doing wrong?
Hello! I’ve had my Paradise Betta, Hotch, for about 2 weeks. I bought him from PetCo. I’m writing to you because I want to know if some of his behaviors are normal.
Hotch is blue with a big yellow and black tail. Within his first day or two of being in his new tank, however, his color faded, and it hasn’t returned. Part of his head and back have turned darker, like a brownish black color. I’ve read that blue bettas in particular can lose color easily, but this seemed weird to me because it happened so quickly. Any guesses on what might cause that? He has no red streaking that would indicate high ammonia, no white spots on his body that would indicate ich, no obvious fungal or bacterial infection on his exterior.
Also, sometimes he nose dives the marbles and rocks at the bottom of his tank. He’ll do it a few times in a row and then dart around his tank once or twice, and then go back to chilling on a plant or just calmly swimming around. I don’t know if this is normal. I’m a first-time betta owner.
For reference: He’s in a 10 gallon tank all by himself. Plenty of silk plant decorations, a Squidward house figurine, one live java fern, and a marimo ball. The tank has a heater that keeps it around 76 degrees-78 degrees Fahrenheit. The tank also has an effective filter that I baffled to reduce the current because it was a bit too strong for Hotch’s liking. I used Tetra test strips to test for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, and pH, and all of it came back in the “safe” range. I do a 25% water change every 4 days (50% change per week) and just did one 3 days ago. All of the water has been treated with Prime water conditioner and all of the water I put in the tank when I do water changes is also treated with Prime before I put it in the tank. I feed Hotch once a day, 6 days per week with one fasting day. I rotate pellets and bloodworms, and I give him very little food at a time (2-3 pellets max) because I know his stomach is so small. I put some dissolved aquarium salt (1/2 TBSP) in his tank a few days ago because he seemed to have a tiny bit of fin rot (PetCo probs), and some of my friends who have previously taken care of bettas recommended it to help the fin rot go away and stay away.
Hotch does occasionally blow bubbles and he really enjoys hiding in his plants or in his Squidward house. He flares if he sees his reflection. He tends to hang out at the bottom of the tank and surfaces for air and feeding times. He has his tank light on about 8 hours a day, and I turn it off when I get home from work every day so that he has a pretty defined day and night cycle. At night he sleeps/rests in his silk plants near the surface of the water, which I’ve heard is normal behavior for bettas.
Any ideas about if he’s all good or if I should be worried about him or treating him for anything? Any good suggestions on betta care would be appreciated.