Male betta fish question?

Question

Hi, I live in Mumbai, India. I have a male betta fish since July-August 2006. He has been doing pretty well. I only have an air pump in his tank along with some tank decorations like a castle,an artificial plant and a cave... No filter and no heater. I have always maintained his water at room temperature.
I had never seen his excreta until today. I'm concerned cos it was red in colour. Could it be because his fish food is red in colour?
Also, he remains at the top of the tank with his head towards the rim and his body slanting downwards. He swims and eats too but he looks awkward when he does the slanting thing.
Right now the temperature in Mumbai is High of 30degrees CELCIUS and low of 16degrees CELCIUS.
Please tell me whats wrong my pet and what I can do to help him?
Thank you and happy new year.

Answer 1

Betta are tropical fish from Thailand. The idea range is 75-85F, or 24 to 30C. I wouldn't worry about the high temp as I've had bettas in water into the low 90F/32C. My concern is the lower temps. It takes water a while to heat up and cool, but 18C is pretty low. Also it's not healthy for him to breathe such cold air. (Betta have a lung like organ, and their gills don't work.) Honestly you need a heater, a warmer room, or heavy blanket over his tank at night.

As far as his behavior. He is stressed or sick. The red colored excreta could be blood or dye in his food.

PS- Betta don't need an air pump.

PPS- I doubt the tank decoration are harming him. Unless they have sharp edges they are likely fine.

Answer 2

you dont have to buy another tank just go to walmart or petsmart and buy a gold fish bowl and she would be happy that way she can eat and don't worry about gettin attacked! If a female that wasn’t ripe, or ready for spawning, would have entered a males tank, it’s possible that she would’ve been attacked, as non-ripe females are not tolerated within the vicinity of the nest. By not fleeing, a female indicates her readiness to spawn. Yes, some times if you are not careful when trying too breed bettas, the male will attack the female and he can injure the female, the females are much smaller than the males. A Male and a Female: In the wild, females stay clear of males, except during mating. When cohabiting in tanks, males might kill females, and are generally kept apart unless (a) they are juvenile siblings, (b) they are breeding, (c) there is a partition, or (d) the tank is large enough for the female to escape attack. Often, before breeding, breeders use such a container to allow female display without risking harm by the male. Two or more Females: Bettas are not schooling fish, but in a large tank with many hiding spaces, female bettas can cohabit. When two females share a tank, one usually bullies the other, however, four or more females will establish a hierarchy allowing peaceful co-existence, nevertheless, females living in community must be monitored for aggressive females.

Answer 3

His red poop is a result of eating red food. Nothing to worry about. I think the problem with your betta is that the temperature is not stable. 30 degrees is great but the drop at night is too much. Get him a heater and his condition should improve right away. Also make sure that since you have no filter, you need to change water every 2-3 days. Good luck and I hope your betta gets better.

Answer 4

It doesn't sound like there's necessariliy anything wrong, healthwise, with your fish right now. How big is the tank? Maybe he's just bored. When kept in tanks of at least 5 gallons, especially with peaceful tankmates and plenty of plants, bettas are happier and more active, but you shouldn't ever expect them to be quick or lively swimmers.

Your temperature range is pretty extreme though, and fish don't cope well with changes like that, bettas included. Your betta would benefit greatly from a heater that would keep his temperature stable at night. Stress like that will eventually compromise his health.

Your fish should also have a filter. Bettas aren't any different from other fish; they still produce waste and need it filtered out of their water.

Answer 5

That temperature gradient is WAY to drastic for any fish. Poop should be the colour of the food, so if food is red, poop should be red as well. To be honest if your bettas temp drops to 16oC at night, I'm surprised he's not dead. They like to have it constant 23oC - 25oC, they can live down to 20oC which is why people are able to keep them in bowls. In the day, but something cold in, try ice cubes of aquarium water or treated water. at night, you'll need a heater. The slanting could be normal, slightly slanted head up at the surface is normal as bettas need to breath from the surface the mouth needs to break the surface. OR he could be trying to build a bubble nest.

Oh, the castle and cave could be and likely are toxic, I'd remove them. Even if they were sold as aquarium decorations.

Answer 6

for one thing it does not matter what the temperature is you gotta try to keep his temperature at least from 75 degrees to 85 degrees F. that is what they mostly adapt to, and don't worry about the slanting thing. My betta fish do the same thing they just like to sit like that for some reason. Betta fish are easy to have because they are used to small areas ans little food. They don't need filters and they don't need heaters or any fancy stuff but it is fine if you have it. Also i think you are worring to much your betta will be alright if you just follow my directions

Hope i helped you enjoy :-)