I think my male betta fish is depressed. What kind of toys can I put in his tank so he is having fun and is occupied?
2006-08-27 12:47:52 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
he's fairly young so I know he has a long life ahead of him, I just don't want him to stay depressed
2006-08-27 12:49:01 · update #1
Bettas don't actually get depressed in the sense that they feel sadness or emotion like humans do but they may become lethargic for a number of reasons. The most common cause for sluggishness is poor water quality. Make sure there are no toxins in the water by testing for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Be sure the pH is stable and in a suitable range between 6.0 and 8.0. If you haven't yet bought the test kits you need to keep your fish tank is proper order, you can bring a cup full of your tank water to most aquarium stores (PetCo and PetSmart too) to have it tested for free.
Water temperatures that are too cool are also a major contributor to listless bettas. Unfortunately, many betta keepers don't realize that these fish are tropical and require a tank heater to keep their water the proper temperature. If you haven't already, you can pick up a thermometer for between $1 - $3 at any fish store. Be sure to check the temperature everyday to make sure it is stable and around 78F. Because bettas are cold blooded they will often become sluggish when temperatures fall below 75F. Slowly warming the tank up over a few days will often do the trick.
A healthy betta should be quite active, swimming and exploring his tank.
2006-08-27 13:29:22 · answer #1 · answered by Nippyfish.net 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dont listen to the guy who said to put another male betta in the tank. They will kill each other. Bettas can live with larger docile fish if you want to do that. You may want to place a mirror next to the tank a few times a day, he will try to attack his reflection, but the exercise will keep him active and less depressed.
2006-08-27 19:51:34 · answer #2 · answered by Alice S 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What ever you do DON'T put in another male !! They will fight till the death of the weakest :( I find they enjoy floating plants to hide in, but be carefull not to cover the entire water surface. Also a small hollow log ornament from the pet shop for him to swim through. They are a placid little fish and will live for many years as long as the water is warmish and they are given the right type of food. (i use a mixture of dried blood worms and pellets for variety) Try a couple of marbles on the bottom instead of gravel as they can scratch themselves easily.
2006-08-27 19:58:28 · answer #3 · answered by blahblahblah 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No toys needed. These are very solitary fish that don't need anything but clean water and occassional foodies.
2006-08-31 02:14:47 · answer #4 · answered by sly2kusa 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
try to give him some sort of live food so he has something to Chase that might help him
2006-08-27 21:20:22 · answer #5 · answered by Josey 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
MALE BETTAS ARE NEVER TO BE PUT WITH OTHER MALES, YOU COULD BUY ANOTHER SMALL TANK AND PUT IT NEXT TO HIM SO HE COULD SEE THE OTHER AND THAT SHOULD PURK HIM UP A BIT. YOU COULD ALSO GET HIM A GIRL BETTA, THEY AREN'T AS PRETTY THOUGH---THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO BET MORE TANKS.
2006-08-27 19:54:44 · answer #6 · answered by Work-N-Hrd-2-Mk-It 4 · 1⤊ 9⤋
why toys? He needs a companion. Get him a buddy male betta.
2006-08-27 19:49:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 11⤋
Yes, put two male bettas together!!
2006-08-27 19:50:12 · answer #8 · answered by Wai 5 · 0⤊ 11⤋