Worried about my betta... Please help!!!

[Gemstar]

I guys, I wonder if anyone could help me?

I have never owned a betta before and as a result I am not sure how they usually behave, hopefully your knowledge can help...

My betta just swims back and forth at the lower part of the tank all day. He hardly moves anywhere else at all, he just swims the same path constantly. If I approach the glass, he will happily follow my finger around, as long as it stays near the bottom of the tank.

Is this Normal behaviour or is there something up with my tank?

I have only fed him once since I got him last Friday and I plan to feed him twice a week like my existing fish tank. Should I be feeding him more? Is this why he is behaving like that?

Any help would be appreciated as he really is beautiful and I wud like to make sure he is happy. Thanks a lot xx

 

[blert]

Give him time to get used to his new home. Also, he might appreciate some taller plants so he doesn't feel so exposed in the upper half of the tank.

Check the tanks toxin levels.

The tank looks really nice BTW.

 

[Gemstar]

Thanks very much

I will get him some new taller plants tomorrow and test the water at the same time the tank had fish in before him so im hoping the levels should all be ok.

I have read that they like to hide occasionally, especially to sleep so I will make a cave out of slate that I have in my other tank so hopefully that should make him a bit happier.

 

[Walkbreathe]

My betta stays quite low usually but that's because of the flow of the water so could that be happening with yours 2?

 

[ashleynicole]

I feed all of my fish 1-2 times a day. And I usually fast one day a week and just skip feeding on that day. Think about it. In the wild fish are always grazing constantly looking for food. It makes sense to feed small amounts 1-2 times a day instead of large feedings only twice a week.

 

[ashleynicole]

My betta stays quite low usually but that's because of the flow of the water so could that be happening with yours 2?

Oh yes, water flow can def be an issue with bettas. I had to rig up some sponge on the output of my HOB filters to keep my bettas happy.

 

[GodFan]

Beautiful tank! I wanna try a betta tank but my house is tanked out lol

 

[Gemstar]

Hey guys, I'm still really worried about my betta. He seems to go to the top of the tank a bit More but he is still not eating and a lot of the time he either lays on the plants or on the filter. he has also dug a hole and seems to just sit in there. I have tried to take a picture of my tank and him hiding for you to see.

I changed the flow from the filter so most of it hits the back of the tank so as to not cause a current.

I have checked the temperature and it's currently 26.8 C. Is this ok?

He also has a small white mark on his left bottom fin which I have tried to show in the last of the pictures, not sure if this has anything to do with him not eating??

Please any help would be great. I really don't know what to do!!

 

[aqua_chem]

He might be developing finrot. Clean water is about the best cure short of antibiotics. Is the tank cycled and have you been checking water stats?

 

[Gemstar]

All the params seem fine but I will do a 50% pwc tomorrow to. If that perks him up a bit.

I've never had a betta before so I'm not sure what their normal behaviour is but he just seems weird and I don't know what to do to help him!!

 

[Mumma.of.two]

He might be developing finrot. Clean water is about the best cure short of antibiotics. Is the tank cycled and have you been checking water stats?

+1
How long has the tank been set up?
What are your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH?
How often are you doing water changes and how much?

 

[Gemstar]

I have had the tank a good few months and it had other fish in before I moved them to a larger tank and added the betta so I know it's defiantly cycled.

Checked all the readings yesterday and they looked ok. I have only had him a week so I'm planning on doing a pwc tomorrow and I will retake the readings then.

Anything else I should check or is it really just a pwc?

Thanks again guys xx

 

[Mumma.of.two]

So ammonia and nitrite are 0? And nitrate is under 20? Those would be the only acceptable readings IMO.
Very clean water and maybe the addition of a small amount of salt will help heal any fin rot he may have. Try doing PWC 2-3 times a week at 50% each time.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

The white mark on the bottom fin sounds like part of his coloring. 3 out of my last 5 bettas have had the same markings. Keep an eye on it if it's worrying you and if it changes let us know.
The temp you have him at is perfect for bettas.
How big is the tank?

 

[Gemstar]

Thanks a lot. I will start the pwc's tomorrow and carry on every other day changing 50% for a week or do and see how he goes. I will order a new test kit so it will arrive in time for me to check the levels again in a week.

How much salt do I add? Does it have to be special aquarium salt or will sea salt be ok?

I think the tank is about 8 gallons and he is the only fish in there.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Thanks a lot. I will start the pwc's tomorrow and carry on every other day changing 50% for a week or do and see how he goes. I will order a new test kit so it will arrive in time for me to check the levels again in a week.

How much salt do I add? Does it have to be special aquarium salt or will sea salt be ok?

I think the tank is about 8 gallons and he is the only fish in there.

Don't worry too much about the salt to begin with. Usually just clean water will do the job. from the pictures he looks fine to me but I'm on my phone. There are some salts you can use (i dont know what kinds sorry) but I stick to aquarium salt.

8 gals is good! Easier to keep stable than a 2.5 or 5.

Keep offering him food and remove any uneaten. He might just be shy and still getting use to his new home. Keep him somewhere quiet and avoid startling him.

 

[Gemstar]

Ok excellent.

I will get rid of all the bits of old food on the gravel when I start the pwc's tomorrow and I'll leave the salt for the minute!

I'll let you know how we get on. Thanks again for your help x

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Ok excellent.

I will get rid of all the bits of old food on the gravel when I start the pwc's tomorrow and I'll leave the salt for the minute!

I'll let you know how we get on. Thanks again for your help x

Your welcome

Removing the old food prevents excess ammonia build up.