We have had him for 1 1/2 years at hollywood video. He is in a small bowl, in which he has lived in since the beginning. He doesn't have any signs of tail rot or fin rot (whichever it is). He doesn't swim around and he spends most of his time at the bottom of the bowl. He also hasn't been eating. Is it just old age for a betta, or is there anything we can do? thanks for any help.
2006-06-13 07:28:15 · 10 answers · asked by sweetheart 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Good answers, but all the right info is mixed.
the cure for the Betta is this...
-Larger tank out of direct sunlight and not possitioned under a drafty vent.
-high quality flake or pelleted food fed in small amounts (5-6 pellets) 2x daily. Supplimented with brine shrimp, blood worms, or black worms.
-mental stimulation. Bettas like all fish are animals too, and believe it or not they do get bored. That is why 'fish are boring' to many people who do not know how to properly care for them.
- once in a five gallon or larger tank that has filtration you can add three small tetra, danio, a corycatfish, or even a dwarf african frog. Be carefull not to overcrowd your fish or they will all die, or suffer from continuous health issues. Only stock your tank to this ratio.,.1in per gallon. and DO NOT add guppies or GOLDFISH.
-goldfish will eat off the bettas delicate fins, and create so much waste that both the fish will die...And if you have guppies..the Betta will be very much obliged to KILL every last one of them. Neons are your best choice.
2006-06-13 09:24:52 · answer #1 · answered by reinagawen 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
One and a half isn't very old for a Betta (I've heard of them living up to 6 years) Most of the answers on here have been pretty good. One other thing you could check is the water temperature. Bettas are technically tropical fish (meaning they like their water between 74 and 78 degrees). If the bowl is in a drafty area he may just be cold! Fish cannot regulate their body temperature and their metabolic rate is directly proportionate to the temperature of the water. Put him in a two or five gallon tank and pop a 25 watt heater in there to keep the temperature at a stable 76 degrees and he should perk up (well, as much as a betta can "perk up").
Hope that helps!
2006-06-13 08:04:31 · answer #2 · answered by metalchick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If kept in a small bowl, a bettas lifespan is much shorter. 1.5-2 years max. People also have a tendancy to overfeed bettas in small bowls. Since they don't move around much, they don't need that much food, and it might even be a good idea to fast them on the weekend. only 3-4 pellets a day is what is reccomended.
2006-06-13 08:12:20 · answer #3 · answered by theblackmiata 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's probably getting old, Or you should get a bigger bowl, But whatever you do, Don't!! I mean don't give him a partner, There just gonna fight untill someone dies, Pretty funny, but don't do it. But Betta fishes always like to be in the bottom of the bowl...That's all i can tell you.
2006-06-13 07:34:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a myth that betas like small bowls. I transferred mine to a 5 gallon aquarium and mine swims around. Its not that big but its bigger than a bowl.
I also feed it live worms, but since you work in retail, give the beta the freeze dried ones.
Betas are like any pets. some are lively some are duds. Yours just may be really calm and don't want to do much.
I would suggest going to Walmart and get a bigger aquarium.
2006-06-13 07:34:11 · answer #5 · answered by anaheimsportsfan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have mine in a 5 gallon tank and he swims all over the place. You should move him to a bigger tank, make sure his water is clean and put a mirror up to his tank for a few minutes every day. Maybe try a different food too.
2006-06-13 07:51:07 · answer #6 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most betas I've had don't do anything, they just like to sit and flloat. he might just be getting old but the betas I've owned lasted for about three years. you might want to get him a bigger set up or a small starter aquarium kit about a one gallon, there small and fit just about anywhere. definately don't get him a friend, there's a reason they're kept in seperate containers at the fish store!
2006-06-13 07:41:15 · answer #7 · answered by Summer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
amazingly, the answers so far here are pretty good...yes, he may be getting old, but more than likely, he is depressed - move him to a bigger tank, make sure he is in clean water, and (in reference to the other answers) if you get him a friend (once you put him in a larger tank), make sure it's a small, docile fish such as a guppy or a neon...
2006-06-13 07:45:50 · answer #8 · answered by sammarlowe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
is he turning gray-ish because then hes close to death, but i belive these fish dont reallly do anything except sit in a bowl, but if hes gray he will die pretty soon,
2006-06-13 07:32:51 · answer #9 · answered by apples 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
SWEETHEART, I KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO GET STAINED .... IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION THEN DON'T TRY!
2006-06-13 09:32:55 · answer #10 · answered by tell 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋