My betta is like 2 1/2 yrs. old. My question is...would it be unusual for a 2 1/2 yr. old betta to just stay at the bottom of the bowl all the time? It's like he can't swim and he look's out to shape. He has been this way for about 4 mths. At first I thought he was dying and that was 4 mths. ago. He does eat because when he see's me put food in the bowl he make's his way to the top, but I keep the water level low so he can get his food. Thanks for all you answers!!
2006-09-03 19:46:04 · 7 answers · asked by allyson 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
He's not that old and no it's not normal for a fish to never swim and lay on it's side. He is just over 2 and they can live to be 3.
2006-09-03 19:53:58 · update #1
It sounds as if your fish is getting old. A few years ago, properlly cared for bettas lived for 5+ years, but unfortunately, their popularity has caused them to be inbred (unscrupulous breeders trying to make money the fastest way possible) and the life expectancy is now closer to two to three years.
I'm assuming that you have high water quality in your tank or bowl. At this point, the best that you can do is to make sure that the water temperature is between 80 and 82 degrees and to keep providing him with excellant care. I think that you're doing your best.
2006-09-03 20:23:09 · answer #1 · answered by stormy 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you got him from a pet store there's no telling how old he really was when you got him, so old age is a possibility. Other factors to consider are temperature and diet. Cold water can make bettas lethargic and sickly as can over-feeding.
What are the conditions of his tank? I had a betta that I had to move from a 2.5 gallon tank to a jar for a summer and he didn't react well to the change, but once he got back in his larger tank with all of his hidey holes and plants he recovered. One of the best ways to keep a betta healthy is to give him enough room and keep his tank clean.
If none of those make sense then you might want to check and see if he has any other symptoms. Look for unusual spots or discolored patches on his skin and fins. Are his eyes clear and do his scales lie flat and smooth? Are his fins kept clamped and close to his body? Does he have a potbelly? Any of those can be symptoms of disease. Sites like bettatalk.com can help you with diagnosis and treatment.
2006-09-04 16:29:09 · answer #2 · answered by MacT 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a betta fish some years ago and discovered that they are very resilient. When I got him he was bright blue/purple and relatively active although he did just sit there in the water most of the time. I had him for about 3 years. I was told by the pet store owner that they do not require much room (they keep them in plastic cups at the store).
I hardly ever fed this guy and allowed the water level to get very low and dirty most of the time. Over time he lost most of his colour and turned grey. He also just hung out at the bottom of the bowl in weird positions without moving. I lived in a basement apartment at the time and it gets very cold in the winter when the heat is not on. I would frequently be away for days at a time and upon returning I'd find him laying on his side or bellyup. At first I assumed he was dead but bringing the heat up and changing the water revived him. Then I moved to an apartment building. I transported the fish in a gatorade bottle in the dash of my car in the middle of summer and left him there in the heat accidentally for most of the day. Same thing. Belly up at the top. But once moving it back to the bowl with fresh water it started swimming again. I finally took him to work one day where someone else offered to take care of him. A few months later it died.
So, no, it is not unusual for your fish to appear lethargic or even dead, especially not at 2.5 years of age. I was a very poor fish owner and my fish still managed to live 3 years. I suspect with proper care yours will live even longer. They seem to be very low maintenance fish, although I would advise taking much better care of it than I did.
2006-09-04 03:03:44 · answer #3 · answered by narcissisticguy 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
as long as you keep his water bowl clean, his water clean and the temp right in the room, and give him just the right amount of food and not too much he is healthy, even at old age. and i wouldnt lower the water level too much, because he needs the air from the water to breath. also i would get a water plant to put in his bowl with him to give him oxygen since he is old and all. he needs that anyways really. he should be fine if you just take care of him. other wise dont make him suffer, just flush him. good luck.
2006-09-04 02:56:50 · answer #4 · answered by succubus_angel_666_777 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
all bettas usally stay at the bottom of the bowl, mine does ,you got your self a pretty old fish there buddy
2006-09-04 02:49:25 · answer #5 · answered by Kagome S. 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Your probably caring for it wrong. My bettas live to be 4 or 5 years old. http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_care.htm
2006-09-04 09:29:15 · answer #6 · answered by bettachick6721 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
no idea sorry
2006-09-04 02:49:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋