My betta won't eat and doesn't swim much?

Question

Hi!

I have a betta fish I got about 3 wks ago. He's living in a 1/2 gal bowl and I change the water everyother day treating it first.He won't eat the pellets I bought him; he'll go to them when after I've put them in, then swim away, is disgust almost. Then when they start to fall to the gravel he'll go to one, swallow it, then spit it out.

He also seems a little lazy in his bowl; sometimes he lays on the gravel not moving, then swims about slowly. He also goes to the top for air every once in a while.

I also noticed a little grey looking patch on his face so I figured it was fungi and started treating him for it. But it doesn't seem to help.

Where am I going wrong? Someone please help me.

Answer 1

1/2 gallon is not very much room. It's great that you're doing water changes so often, but the best thing for him would be to move him to a larger tank (2-5 gallons) and put a heater in there.
Bettas are from Thailand, and the water there is 80F. It just doesn't get that warm in an unheated bowl, which can cause lethargy and constipation / impaction. If you cannot get a bigger tank, at least try increasing the temperature in the room or moving the bowl closer to a lamp to provide some heat.

As for the pellets, he sounds like he may be eating them. My bettas often take a pellet in their mouths, then spit it out, and then eat it again later. Softening it up, I suppose. If he's definitely not eating them, you could ask what the petstore was feeding him before you got him. They can be very finicky about their food. You can also offer him a variety of frozen meaty foods like brine shrimp and mosquito larvae (which is what they eat in the wild - impossible to resist ;))

Is the grey patch fuzzy, like a layer of cotton? Or is it actually his scales that are grey? If it's the former, it probably is fungus, but it may just be taking a while to heal. If it's the scales themselves that are grey, it could be an injury/scar or his natural coloration.

You can add a little bit of salt to the water - maybe a 1/4 teaspoon for your 1/2 gallon tank, disolve it before you put the fish in. That usually perks them up a little.

One last thought : are you removing the fish completely and doing a 100% water change? It's not a big deal or anything, but I usually advise not remove the fish because it's stressful to be netted, put in a bowl, then dumped back in to new water. I suggest you get a clean turkey baster and every day, use it to suck out half the water along with uneaten food and poop. Cleaner, and less stress.

Answer 2

You water might be a little cool, that would explain the lack of activity and the lack of real interest in food. I would also recommend that you try some other foods like flakes, frozen brine shrimp, etc. Bettas do sometimes get a bit picky. Your might be eating some of the food even if it doesn't look like it, so don;t give up on the pellets either.

Colors in bettas are a funny thing and are very complex. Watch the gray patch and if it grows or becomes a bump or gets fuzzy post another question about it. It may very well just be a discoloration or a color change situation.

I would also suggest you cut back on the water changes (yes, cut back water changes, everyone can get up off the floor now lol) Once every 2-3 days will be enough and would actually be less stressful on your betta. Once you really get the knack of feeding him just the right amount the water will stay safe for up to 5-6 days without a problem.

Oh, and consider taking the gravel out of the bowl. I know it looks nice, but it can catch loads of waste and uneaten food and cause the water to foul quickly. Just put the bowl on something dark to make the betta more comfortable and he will probably be happier.

Best of luck with your little guy!

Answer 3

It is really bad for a fish to get water changed every other day. i have a fish that lived for 4 years, and i clean it out once a yera. even though my bowl is 10 gallons, i keep a little bit of its original water, becasue he feels at home, and without the water from last time he isn't very active and will be scared. TRy changing the water once a week first, then see what happens. Feed it flakes instead of pellets, its much easier to eat, and he can swallow. THe reason he may be spitting it out is because its too big. if its in a 1/2 gallon bowl, id think that the fish is pretty small. If hes imrpoving after you tried htis for a couple of weeks, clean his bowlonce every 1 and 1/2 week. If he lays on the bottom, try getting some rocks or fake plants so he feels at home (the ocean), because this is important for any fish. if its 1/2 a gallon, i dont think he CAN swim much. (get a bigger bowl, maybe? get rocks and plants for it)

Answer 4

Bettas are not active swimmers. They lay around alot. Secondly, changing the water that much will put your fish into shock. You should be changing the water in that size bowl no more than once every 10-12 days. Also make sure you dont over chemical the water. Bettas are hardy fish that are native to live in muddy rivers and streams...they can take a little gunk. Just use a little bit of water conditioner and you should be good. Also bettas are hunters. They like live food so if possible try to get some brine shrimp (sea monkeys) they love them. Also frozen bloodworms are good.

Answer 5

Betta fish are an exotic pet and it sounds like you have a good fish there. But it also sounds like he has some sort of sickness and should be taken very well care of.

Beta fish have their own special pellets you have to give him, so if your pellets don't have the pretty picture of a beta on it then you have the wrong pellets in the first place. Also don't change his water so often, it's bad for his fins, I used to change mine every week and treat the water then.

Also you may want to take him back to the store and ask, your little male fish just might actually be a pregnant female fishy.

Answer 6

so many problems!

you can try switching pellets -- most bettas will go for hikari pellets if they don't go for any others. does he eat a couple or none at all? mine get about 6 a day 2 or 3 meals a day and if they start to get a belly the get a diet plan.

if he won't eat pellets try frozen blood worms. i have never had a betta that wouldn't eat frozen bloodworms.

this one is going to sound really weird but bettas like a decorated bowl. bettas often "bond" with a brightly colored rock or plant. i have one that has married his filter. he wraps himself around it like hes mating. i suggest trying a bowl of maybe a gallon with a couple plants -- the silk plants with big leaves are great resting spots for bettas. idealy go for a 2 1/2 gallon tank -- petsmart sells them for 10 dollars. you can add a light hood and other stuff later if you want. i like lights on my bettas. you can see them better and that helps you spot problems better too. bettas with 2 1/2 gallons and stuff to swim around are a lot happier and more active.

you can go to a craft store or walmart and get the plastic needlework canvas and cut it to make a top. i think its 30 cents at walmart. 40 cents at most craft stores. you need something in case your betta is a jumper. in 2 1/2 gallons they have room to jump now. most aren't but you don't want to come home to dried betta on the carpet.

is the grey patch on his forehead? that is probably his natural coloring. they often are a little drab on their forehead. it looks kind of like they don't have scales there. if it sticks up off the surface it might be velvet -- use a copper based medicine and it should clear it up.

Answer 7

my Betta did the same thing, if you don't have a plant in the bowl, your Betta may have a thing about eating in front of people. or maybe the pellets are to hard, maybe you should try to get some softer pellets. and maybe you should try a new "flavor" of Betta food. or some Wardley essentials Betta food. and maybe the water is too cold or to hot, if it is to cold the fish will just sit there and not move unless it has to. if it is to hot the fish will go to the top where it is coolest in the water.

Answer 8

Well there are a number of issues:

1)Changing the water is good, but you really only need to do it every 3-4 days in your setup. Be sure the old, and new are the same temp.

2)I'd recommend using at least a 2 gallon container, and weekly water changes.

3)Are you keeping his temp in the 75-85 range?

4)The grey patch could be just loss of color from stress. If it's fuzzy, cottony, or mold like it could be columnaris. In which case you need an antibiotic like trisulfa, or jungle labs fungus eliminator (which includes anitbiotics).
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/columnaris.htm

Answer 9

I don't think you need to change his water that much. It might be stressing him out. My pond fish, for example, will not eat for 24 hours after I've done my spring pond cleaning. I currently have 2 bettas (not in the same bowl, obviously) and one of them went through a period of not eating and hanging out at the bottom of his bowl too. Is it cold where his bowl is? You might try a warmer location as well but I think mostly he's just not liking being captured that often. You can remove waste from the bottom of his bowl with a turkey baster. Also, it is normal for them to go to the top for air. They are labyrinth fish and they are able to process air that way.

Answer 10

Erm, this sounds odd but maybe you should let him be for more than every other day. At least give him a week and a half to chill. Also, they don't have much of an apitie and don't play like other fish do.