This is new behavior, in the 3 weeks we've had her, she's usually hanging around the top and is very active and seemed very healthy. She now will come up for air but then sink/swim back to the bottom. This started yesterday and she keeps doing it today, hanging out down on the rocks at the very bottom. We recently removed rotten bulbs and will do a complete water change today. 20% changes have been done in the past, every week. There are also tetras and catfish, but she's been leaving them alone. Tank was cycled before adding fish and water conditioner is used every time. Is she sick? Just resting? Overfed?
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1oq6r00
Posted by criskris_
3 Comments
20 gallon tank with heater and filter. 9 tetras and 5 catfish, both artificial and silk plants
She’s just resting or exploring. They can breathe at the top of the water and also have gills. I wouldn’t be concerned. My betta loves to steal my Cories/ snail food.
FYI, the Java fern in your picture is a rhizome plant, so you want to make sure you don’t bury the rhizome or it will rot! You can glue it to a rock or hold it in place by wedging it in place or tying it to something.
Looks like she’s just resting! I would not do a total water change by the way, multiple smaller water changes are much better than large ones that can cause parameters to swing out of whack!