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
Sluggish Betta
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 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
Oops! You Forgot to Change Your Betta’s Water… (when serious time lapses)
Angry stick training one, originally uploaded by revs45. Q: J&J wrote, Christie, [We] have a beautiful dark blue and radiant red Beta Splenden (or at least I think that is what it is called) He has long flowing fins. His name is Earl. Two weeks after my parents gave him to me I received orders and deployed to Iraq. I am back now and can’t wait to help Earl. HISTORY: … [Read more...] about Oops! You Forgot to Change Your Betta’s Water… (when serious time lapses)
Betta Laying on Tank Bottom
Q: B wrote, 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 … [Read more...] about Betta Laying on Tank Bottom