My Betta fish has been acting really weird lately. Staying toward the top of the water. Fins are clammed together. He is still eating. He is swimming around still a little bit, but not as much. He keeps hanging out by the heater and on top of the water surface don’t mind those white pebbles in the video they keep floating up. Don’t know why could use some help with that too, but I’ve been picking them ones out that are floating up and throwing them out. I just haven’t gotten to those ones yet in that picture but please help me. This is like my fourth post now posting about my beta fish and nobody has reached out or help me I use prime and stability each day until the ammonia and nitrates reads zero I use the bug bite pellets in my tank is at 80 and it’s a 3 gallon. I have a five on the way, but will need to be cycled so it will be a while. Please help me.
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1r7749m
Posted by Recommendationsshow
10 Comments
I’m new to keeping bettas so don’t really know what to advise about why he’s acting weird. You said a 5 gallon tank is on the way which is great, to get him moved in as soon as possible you can just put the filter from the old tank plus all the decor and it should be cycled really quickly, that way you don’t have to wait to move him. Hopefully a bigger tank will help him! If he’s still eating and swimming around it doesn’t sound too bad, but like I said I don’t have much experience so I hope someone who knows more can help you out!
hi! do u have a filter? he might be at the top as there is not enough oxygen in the water. try to add some tannins in the water. it helps my betta with fin clamps. for feeding just give him a fill pellets and if uneaten, throw it away. try to leave the dechlorinated water overnight so that the temperature will be the same and any remaining chlorine would be evaporated
Can you answer the automod questions and make sure to detail your process of changing water and conditioning it? I’d also like more detail on your usage of prime and stability.
Prime and stability are not enough for poor water parameters. You need to do a water change with dechlorinated water. Also, I don’t see clamped fins in these pictures, but if you are concerned, my best advice is 25% water change to start. This will also aerate the water for a short time.
Could you give the information that the automod is asking for? It would be good to know the water parameters without the prime and stability. Also, bettas have a labyrinth organ (can breath air) which means they can survive (but not thrive in) low oxygen conditions, but surface agitation for aeration is still good (most filters achieve this).
> I use prime and stability each day until the ammonia and nitrates reads zero
You mean nitrites? Nitrates don’t have to read zero, especially if you have plants.
I personally would change the water, instead of dosing chemicals to reduce the ammonia and nitrite.
could you try to take better pictures? I know its hard using a phone, but perhaps take it from further away, make sure its focusing on him, and take in in a dark room with no reflections, its hard to see if he has any skin issues or fin issues…
I don’t really like the petulant tone in your post but I’ll answer anyway. You’re woefully unprepared and as a result your betta is suffering.
– Your tank size is inadequate (and for arguments sake, the tank you’ve ordered is also inadequate).
– Your water quality is inadequate (fish in-cycle isn’t for newbies and you’re clearly not doing it well, hence his clamped fins).
– The decor you have is inadequate (fake plants and rocks often release poisonous paint chemicals and slice fins versus releasing beneficial oxygen and removing toxins).
– The lack of hiding spaces/shady surface area at the top of the water is inadequate (Bettas feel happier and safer with hiding space or coverage from above predators, which also serves to act as a resting place for them to breathe air when tired).
– The pictures you’ve used are inadequate (it’s hard to judge when the fish is blurry and you can barely see the tank).
Hope that helps.
Unfortunately bettas have become very inbred and are extremely prone to getting sick or dying very young. Sometimes the genetic lottery just ends bad. But if you do regular water changes and keep checking paramaters youll give it the best chance. Feeding frozen foods like bloodworms or brine shrimp will also be helpful! Fish do a lot better on frozen food. Id shoot for a 10 gallon tank as well, it can be difficult to maintain a cycle in a 3 or a 5.
People have already given you good answers on your first post.
Tank not cycled, 10 gallons is much better than 5