Im going to preface this with, I am new and still learning.
I recently changed his water out and completely cleaned the tank as it was getting gross.
After each time ive changed water before, he's always made a bubble nest.
Hes normally always there to greet me and gets excited when I play around with him.
Recently since the water change, he lays on the bottom wedged between the wood like he's dead and hates his life. He hasnt made a bubble nest at all and doesnt seem interested in saying hi to me anymore. I recently also switched him from flakes to pellets and since I changed his water won't eat in front of me (though it seems it gets eaten later as I cant see the pellets.)
He use to wedge himself between the glass and his heater and he never hides there anymore.
I feel like I messed something up or he's mad at me. (Which sounds absolutely wild saying about a fish i might add haha) Also to add, I got a 10 gallon tank for him but will move him in after we move houses.
Help me make him happy again!
Also meet Bubba.
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1rs4npl
Posted by emptyexplorer13
7 Comments
Maybe he is understimulated, try moving his furniture around
One of mine was like this. I added tannins to the water and he perked right up
What do you mean by changed the water and cleaned the tank? Did you change all of the water and how did you clean the tank?
water parameters? you may have cleaned the tank too well, depending on how you cleaned it, and gotten rid of a significant portion of the bacteria necessary for a complete nitrogen cycle
He may be stressed from a total water change. I wouldn’t advise doing any water change over 50% unless there’s danger(like ammonia spike etc), big changes can be stressful. Beneficial bacteria and fungus live in the substrate, in the filter and on/in decorations, so unless there’s an illness going around in the tank, I’d really leave the substrate and decor be and wouldn’t change that much water. Those bacteria help prevent dangerous water parameters. He could be in shock from the water change maybe?
If you don’t have a water testing kit(the api liquid kit is good don’t get test strips) already you definitely should get that, and those can be a good indicator of how much water to change based on if there’s ammonia, nitrites or high nitrates. a tank looking gross isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and sometimes is a good sign if you’re actively cycling since depending on what makes it look “gross” it may be the bacteria.
You can help reduce stress in a betta with tannins(from wood, catappa leaves etc) and making sure there’s many spots to hide in the meantime while you learn about the cycle
I highly recommend watching videos on aquarium cycling
He’s a man now and has his own friends that are his peers . Buy another one and socialize him like you did to this young man . I have a brown anole who recently did the same thing . He’s grown up & pulses his neck at me to let me know he has his own territory and Harem . Nothing I can do about it he lives on my lanai .
My betta is having the same problems. I am gonna try some Indian almond leaves in 2 days when they come in. My betta won’t eat and acts like hes dead until I double check. My ammonia is at 1 but even when doing a 33% water change (its a 3 gall half moon upgrading to 10 this weekend) the ammonia is the same. What else can I do to help?