got a new betta?

Question

2 of my room mates have some betta fish and i thought they were pretty cool so i got one too. But theyre fish just kind of swim around all slow and boring and mine will go from that to out of no where going crazy and swimming all over the tank. One of my roomates said she thinks it has epilepsy and the other said its taking advantage of his new found freedom. Niether of them i dont think know what theyre talking about. I thought he might just se his reflection in the side iof his tank, but he doesnt flare up he just got crazy and looks kamikaze. Also, when i try and feed it a little food pellett it wont eat it. the food will just sink to the bottom of the tank. He hasnt eaten sisnce i got him. is there a way to get him to eat? i dont want him to starve to death :S

any info on these little guys would be much appreciated, thank ya!

the tank is just a little half gallon one, but therres plenty of room for him to swim around and theres a little cove for him to hide in. Hes roughly the same size as the others as well.

the tank is just a little half gallon one, but therres plenty of room for him to swim around and theres a little cove for him to hide in. Hes roughly the same size as the others. I mixed in a water conditioner to make the water from the tap safe as well.

Answer 1

I can't give help on how to get the fella to eat unfortunately. My gf's eats about every other day at best and is healthy. :shrug: About it going schizo, my gf's does that. Sometimes flared up, sometimes not. Perhaps just personality or as you said seeing his reflection. Good luck with him!

Ken.

Answer 2

Most bettas I have gotten won't eat the first day or 2, they just stress out over the new environment and many have to be taught that the action of putting your fingers over the bowl means you are feeding them.

The betta I have now is very frankly an extremely picky eater. He won't touch betta bits of any kind. He will only eat Bio-Blend (which I tried in desperation), blood worms, and live brine shrimp.

And don't worry about him starving. Fish can live for a lot longer than 2 or 3 days without food. I routinely go on vacation for 10 days, and my fish are fine without being fed during that time. Sure, ya FEEL bad, but truly, they are fine. It takes several weeks for a cold blooded animal to starve to death.

Also, if he is going from a little cup to a half gallon, he is enjoying the added space (tho personally, I don't think 1/2 gallon is "plenty" of space for a betta or ANY fish).

Do check the water as recommended by others, but if the water is fine, he is simply active and acclimating. To keep him active, give him MORE SPACE. Bettas are far more interesting when they're not just hanging there in a tiny space waiting to be fed.

Answer 3

I think there's a problem with the water too. Use a dechlorinator like Stress Coat and be sure the water you use to change has been sitting around for a day or so. Be sure to remove all of that uneaten food from his tank. If you can, get back to the pet store and ask for a heater that will fit in his tank - Bettas do best in heated water (75-82). Good luck!

Answer 4

He wont starve to death...its just that he's been moved into a new tank w ith new water and all of this is probably is a huge change for him..You should actually wait for at least a day before trying to feed him again...Just to make u a little less worried fish can live easily 2 to 3 days without food they wont die..but im not saying you should wait that long before feeding him...Just try again 2morrow.

I was just wondering how big is the tank that your keeping him in and how big are the ones that ur roomates have??

Answer 5

Sounds like he might be suffering from ammonia burn.

I'm guessing your bettas aren't in actual fishtanks right? WIth real filters and heaters?

In a bowl, the rotting food and fish waste adds up, and the resulting toxic ammonia is quite uncomfortable for your fish. They call it ammonia burn and affected fish can try to jump out of their tanks when it gets severe enough.

Also, are you dechlorinating your water? If you aren't the betta is being burnt by the chlorine found in your tap water.

Frankly, the best thing you can do if you want a happy, healthy active betta, is to get a real tank (5gallons is good) with a real filter and a real heater.

He will eat once he has settled down, if he does.

Answer 6

hnm... the other people could be right with something being wrong with the water, try rinsing the tank real well again and putting stuff in the water to make it safe for him, something like bowl buddies for bettas. after it dissolves it's safe put the water in the tank and a little of the new water in with him now. then in 10 mins add a little more in with him. after another 10 mins put him in the bowl.

if he doesn't seem better after that try treating him for external. parasites, do a water change and add something like betta max or anything for tropical fish that treats external parasites, there's a wide variety at pet stores. (still treat the water so it's safe for him with something like bowl buddies) and do the same thing where you add a bit of the new water to the old water he is in. then add him.

hope that helps!

Answer 7

Betta's eat about twice a week. They eat 5 pellets per feeding. Think about these questions:

~Is the water purified? (like spring water or betta water)

~Are there bubble makers in it (common air stones are good because the bubbles don't disturb the fish so much as a air powered pump would)

~Is there a heater in the tank (good idea to get a cheap one for winter at least.)

~Is it being bothered by someone or people around it constantly (good idea to keep away for awhile.)

If worst comes to worse, it might be sick but I'm sure you didn't get too attached to it. Bettas are normaly $3. I'd probably get another.

Good luck
-JZ

Answer 8

Give your betta floating food and don't over feed. Bettas are bottom feeders. He's probably starving.