Firefly, originally uploaded by BettaBerries. Q: CBN wrote, ,/b> Hey Chistie, I need your urgent advice again. After a great recovery, Titan made a bubble nest and all (his 1st one) I was really happy. 4 days after that, he suddenly stopped eating and became a bit lethargic, less active. He now seems to have a particular way of swimming around, and kinda curves his body. … [Read more...] about Betta with a Curved Body
Behavior
Hot Hot Hot! Betta Bowl Temperature Spikes
betta femmina, originally uploaded by altiebassi. Q: AC wrote, I just got a betta fish a few days ago and have been keeping him on a heating pad to make sure he doesn’t get too cold. However, I think someone may have bumped the control accidentally, heating my poor fish to about 10 degrees higher than the bowl have been before. I immediately took the bowl off the pad to let … [Read more...] about Hot Hot Hot! Betta Bowl Temperature Spikes
Common Signs of Stress in Betta Fish
Full glory 2, originally uploaded by littlerottenrobin. Q: G wrote, I found your web site to be most informative and that is why I am contacting you. Attached please find a picture of sparky, my 8 year old helped to name it. Here is the set up that I have in place right now. It is a 2 gallon hex tank and I populated it with plastic plants and a couple of caves which … [Read more...] about Common Signs of Stress in Betta Fish
New Male Bettas Have a Difficult Adjustment
Q: KW wrote, Your website and blog are very useful to a first time betta owner, but I am having trouble deciding whether or not my betta is sick. I bough two bettas five days ago and have noticed some changes. When I first got them, Redfish was very active, swimming around a lot and flaring at himself. Bluefish, on the other hand, kept his fins tightly pulled in and sat … [Read more...] about New Male Bettas Have a Difficult Adjustment
Betta Gulping Underwater (Yawning)
Photo of Phoenix submitted by SS Q: SS wrote, Hi Christie, As somebody new to bettas, I just wanted to say that your site is one of the best built, most comprehensible and user-friendly that I’ve found! Keep up the good work! I have a (hopefully) quick question for you about what appears to be ‘gulping’ by my betta. I haven’t had him very long (it’s my first one) and I … [Read more...] about Betta Gulping Underwater (Yawning)
Betta Won’t Blow Bubble Nest
Blush, originally uploaded by Gankaku. Q: Anon wrote, I have had my betta for almost 6 weeks now and he still hasn’t blown a bubble nest. He is in a 5 gal with a filter but the filter is set very low and it doesn’t create much current at all. My understanding is that males will blow bubble nests when they are healthy. Mine has good color, eats well and is pretty active. Why … [Read more...] about Betta Won’t Blow Bubble Nest
Betta Fish Just Laying Around
betta_01, originally uploaded by james_b_b. Q: B wrote,I have been all over trying to get help for my betta, Fritz. He has been sick for over a week now. Color is dim and he just lays on the bottom, rarely tries to swim or eat. I have changed the water, even tried lowering the water level so he wouldn’t have to swim far to eat. Nothing is helping. I don’t see marks on him or … [Read more...] about Betta Fish Just Laying Around
Bettas and Ich Parasites
Q: JK wrote, I am a new Betta owner and I have a dilemma. I have one very healthy Betta in a Biorb (do you think he hates the bubbles?) and one that is very sick. The sick guy was in a group tank with mollies and a cory catfish. He is (I think) suffering from ammonia poisoning (new tank syndrome) and then came down with ich. I have moved him from the big tank to a 2 gallon … [Read more...] about Bettas and Ich Parasites
Lethargic Betta Floating Vertically
siamese fighting fish, originally uploaded by davidhartstone. Though it may seem counterintuitive, smaller aquariums require a great deal more vigilance and maintenance. If you are a casual aquarist you and your fish will benefit from a larger tank. Q: RF Wrote, Hello, I have a betta that I’ve had for 2 months. He is only my second betta – the first one I had for 3.5 years. … [Read more...] about Lethargic Betta Floating Vertically
Chronic Betta Illnesses
portrait of a fish, originally uploaded by olya. Q: SF wrote, I have a betta who is about 2 years old. He’s not well. He is quite lethargic, sits at the bottom regularly, has just developed a few white patches and has had popeye in one eye only for about 7 months. I have tried EM, Marycin, MarycinII, Betta Remedy and have just started him on QuICK Cure. I have never mixed … [Read more...] about Chronic Betta Illnesses