My beta is always lazy .?

Question

It just stands still in the middle of the tank . help

Answer 1

Is his tank filtered? Does he have plenty of room to swim? If not, consider getting him a filtered, heated, ten-gallon tank (altogether, it shouldn't cost you any more than $50 for the tank, filter, heater, gravel and decorations).

When was his last water change? If he's in a bowl, you should be doing a 50% water change two or three times a week. If he's in a tank, you should be doing 20% every week.

Have you had your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH levels tested lately? Ammonia and nitrite should always be at 0ppm, and your nitrates should measure no more than 40ppm (though less than 20ppm is best). Your pH should be around 7.0, though bettas are tolerant to some high and low pH levels, as long as they're steady. If your ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate is high, do a 20-30% water change daily until it comes back down.

Does he have any growths, frayed fins, or white patches growing anywhere? He may be sick, and you may have to treat him with medications.

Lethargy is not normal for any fish. Make sure you check your water parameters, keep an eye out for growths, and keep up on your water changes. You want a healthy, active fish, not a tired, lazy fish.

And please don't simulate him with a mirror constantly. This just is not healthy and adds undue stress to his environment, as he thinks there is another betta in his territory.

Good luck!

EDIT: For the person who says that they don't swim much even when in a 30-gallon tank, I have my betta in a 55-gallon tank with 2 silver dollars, 3 guppies, 3 zebra danios, 5 cory cats, 7 neon tetras, and 3 African dwarf frogs, and he is always swimming and exploring, especially if we move the decorations around (or if the silver dollars come onto his side of the tank). So normally, they are active and lively. It is far from normal for them to be lethargic and lazy.

Answer 2

I had my beta in a small bowl and he was really lazy too. I got a bigger goldfish bowl and he started swimming around more, had a better appetite, and he started changing colors sometimes! I also got some little rocks and plants to put in the bowl and I change them around once in a while because I would think it would get boring living in a bowl that small all the time. If you keep them in a bigger bowl then they will grow bigger too. My friend had a beta and she kept it in a small tank and after a few years it grew to be about five inches long!

I also put him in the tank with my goldfish for a day and he seemed really happy and he didn't bother them. If anything the goldfish bothered him! He would only go after the goldfish because they kept picking at his fins. They couldn't be kept in the same tank long because the goldfish kept eating his food. As far as I know betas can get along with goldfish and other small fish.

Answer 3

This is normal behaviour for Siamese Fighting Fish. If you place a small mirror beside the tank, a male fighting fish will usually be more active and display more colour. It sees it's own reflection as a rival male fish.

Answer 4

beta's a re naturally lazy, hense the small cups in pet stores... they never move around too much even if you put them in a 30 gal tank

Answer 5

I use a bubble wand attached to an air pump to circulate water. This effect (which is controlled) my betta loves because he loves to swim through the bubbles during the day. Bettas are more active during the night time anyways.

Answer 6

Mirror - Will trick the betta and carry out shadow boxing

Female betta - will entice your male betta (if yours is a male) into courting mode. If female, may get her into fighting mode.

Male betta - will get your male betta into fighting mode or entice your female in spawing mode.

Answer 7

get a better fish next time

Answer 8

wat u want him to do? jump outta the bowl n start playin the piano? i used to have one of those (his name was mike) n all he did was stand still too.