I just noticed her laying on the bottom of the aquarium, I thought she was dead at first but I tried to grab her and she tried to swim away. She is just laying there, I really want to try to help her!
2006-12-05 08:13:13 · 7 answers · asked by jazzflute09 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
how long have you had the fish? sometime Berta's do just lay there but a possibility that something could be wrong. also how big is the tank? do u have a filter? maybe the Betta doesnt want to get swished around.
2006-12-05 08:22:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you give us some more details? What size tank? Is it cycled? Do you clean the water regularly?
The biggest problem with keeping bettas is that people think they can put them in small bowls (anything under 3 gallons I consider too small), change the water when it gets dirty-looking, and that their betta will live just fine. That's not the case- it's like you trying to live in a small closet, cold, with no toilet, and someone only cleaning your closet when the smell gets unbearable.
Bettas and all fish produce ammonia, and so does any rotting uneaten food. In a small jar (or a new tank) that hasn't been cycled, there are no nitrifying bacteria present to break down the toxic ammonia into less toxic nitrates. Ammonia is poisonous, and will eventually kill fish.
Also, bettas are from Thailand, where their water is in the high 70's to low 80's. In captivity, without a heater, their water is usually around 65-70F. They can live like that, but not for long.
Eventually they will get lethargic, as your's seems to be, and will eventually succomb to some disease.
The best thing you can do for her is to put her in a real tank. At least 5 gallons, with a filter and a heater. Be sure to cycle, first:
http://www.worldcichlids.com/faqs/cycling.html
If she IS in such a tank already, she may be constipated? Is she eating? Try feeding her small pieces of a pea without the outer casing, and don't feed her anything else for a day or two.
If you can absolutely not get a larger tank for her, increase the frequency of water changes (replace 50% of the water daily - be sure to use dechlorinator) to keep the ammonia levels as low as possible, and move the tank closer to a lamp or into a warmer room.
Good luck with her! I hope she gets better soon.
2006-12-05 16:25:32 · answer #2 · answered by Zoe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is also what my betta is doing too. Does your fish have like white things on her if she does then thats fungus if its like a salty type thing it is called ich. So you should give more detail. I hope your fish is ok because if it is fungus or ich your fish can die if you don't get meds and quick
2006-12-05 17:46:43 · answer #3 · answered by Stupid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my betta does that and he's just sleeping. it's ok. and try to regulate the temperature because it could also meant that the water can be to cold.
2006-12-05 19:32:38 · answer #4 · answered by crimsonstrings_05 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
she might have been sleeping... my fish usually lay like they are dead, and it freaks me out!!! but then i talk to some fish pros and they say that the fish is sleeping.
2006-12-05 16:57:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
did you do a drastic water change?Is the room too cold?Is he old?
2006-12-05 16:20:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They sometimes do that. It's nothing to worry about.
2006-12-05 16:17:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋