I have had my male betta fish for a while now and he was always very active and enjoyable. But recently he has not been swimming around as much, or responding to me. Is there something wrong with him? What can I do? I have not noticed any other signs of sickness i.e. spots, bloating, etc.
2006-12-18 13:34:52 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
The problem is the bowl. Bettas need filtration and warm water. They come from Thailand and 80F waters and contrary to popular belief, they do not like in tiny, mucky puddles.
A betta should have a minimum of 3 gallons, with a small filter (the AZOO palm filter is great) and heat.
With the filter, ammonia builds up fairly quickly. Doing water changes 2-4 times per week will help, but filtration is the only way to eliminiate any ammonia poisoning.
Bettas kept in small, unheated and unfiltered bowls can only be expected to live for a year, maybe 1.5 at most. Bettas in proper tanks can live over 3 years.
I suggest you get a nice 3-5 gallon tank, with lots of nice plants, and your betta will be happy as a clam.
For example, if you look here:
http://petcetera.ca/?p2=modules/petcetera/flyers.jsp&animal=3&beg=6
The first thing on the page is a 5 gal with filter etc wouldbe perfect. Just get a small heater.
2006-12-18 14:29:29 · answer #1 · answered by Zoe 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have 4 bettas and 2 of them are lazy little bottom dwellers and the other 2 are totally active- They all have similar bowls and are at the same temp and get the same food and get their water changed every week. My one little guy doesn't want to move at all he sits on his tail vertically so his tails at the bottom and his head's near the top- he only wants to move if he's getting food. So I think it's just a personality thing- I thought my 2 were dying but they've just been lazy little buggers for almost a year now so I know it's not illness.
2006-12-19 04:14:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This means its very sick, Not because it is old. you can give him less food than you usually would if less pot the glad seal and wrap on the food than puncture some wholes in it not so big. if in a tank put it in a bowl he should start getting more active when this is happening put him in the tank again and check him out every five minutes when putting him in the tank put your filter away and don't put the filter in there it will make him tired and stressed out and probably that's why your Betta is all ways on the bottom
2006-12-22 10:50:21 · answer #3 · answered by robert g 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is his bowl heated? How big is his bowl? When's the last time you did a water change?
2006-12-18 13:48:05 · answer #4 · answered by birdistasty 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
How old is he? Their life span is 2 - 3 years.
2006-12-18 13:44:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
He could be lonely,so if you don't have a girl you could buy one and see if hat makes him happy.Or he may just be getting old.Good luck either way.
2006-12-18 14:19:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
he is getting old, thats what happened to mine and it died, sorry..... :(
2006-12-18 13:38:50 · answer #7 · answered by tinkerbell 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋