My Betta is just laying on the bottom. I'm in the process of doing a "fish in cycle". Everything has checked out ok with water. Not perfect because I'm in the cycle but my fish is just sorta laying on the bottom. Any advice?
Lowryder said:One thing abouut bettas is that they often "lay" around. Mine ofteen lay on the bottom and in and under plants. Water quality doesn't effect bettas as much as other fish. Unlike most fish they breath air from the surface.
Mumma.of.two said:False. A Betta will be very active if provided a heater an a cycled tank. They suffer from the same issues as other fish in poor water conditions. They should not be treated any different just because they can withstand poor water longer than other fish. It is true that they breathe air from the surface but they also use their gills like every other fish and they can receive ammonia and nitrite buns just as easily.
I was refering to a betta in a heated tank compared to one that is not (i"m not refering to one in a heated house either). Of course they rest, all fish do.I disagree that bettas will be active as a rule. I have one that's a loon like you describe, and have had two that will chill out on or against flat objects. Bettas have such a range of personalities that it can be hard to identify unnatural behavior sometimes.
I agree with water conditions though. They need generally the same conditions as normal fish, more so in some capacities. I have one betta with scars from severe ammonia burns.