My brother has a blue, male betta fish that just won't move. He keeps him in a bowl, not tank with ne heater or filter. He won't eat, and just sits on the top of the water. I don't think my brother takes good care of him. His water is probably too cold, and he wasn't fed once for 2-3 weeks. He was rarly fed even when I metioned he wasn't looking good. He has no symptoms of any disease like ick on anything. Whats wrong?
2007-03-01 11:52:06 · 11 answers · asked by Kiel_Raider_07 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
The betta isn't dead, and I treat the water with Start Right.
2007-03-01 12:06:33 · update #1
Well temp is an 1st thing. Betta are tropical fish and need temps in the 75-85s. The other possibility is a build up of waste in the bowl. He could be suffering from nitrate/nitrite/ammonia poisoning. Lack of food will of course make him much less active.
PS- The lack feeding schedule is actually the least of your worries. Most betta are in fact over fed. (Plus less food is less waste in the water.) Being fed 3-4 days a week isn't ideal, but a betta will be okay. Going more than a week without food is not good for a betta.
2007-03-01 12:04:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do not think Betta fish require all that much space. I would keep it as it is. But make sure the location is not disturbing. Near tv, music player, phone ...not a good place. In a room, that is quiet most of the time and not too much disturbance is good. If the water is cold then change water frequently. You say it is a bowl so it should be very easy to do this. When changing put a little bit of warm water but never really hot because that will just torture the fish. If your too lazy to do this I just sink a bag with slight hot water and let it float to raise the temperature, but if the bowl is too small the bag might not be the best idea. For food, consider food that are especially made for Bettas. Regarding filter, I think wasting a filter on 1 betta is just useless. Filters are used more frequently so that the owner does not have to clean a lot but not because fish do not like dirt in their tank. I mean it should only bug the fish if the bowl is like extremely dirty but if its not he should be happy. If you still want a filter, I have seen these small filters that you just stick on the bowl and its not electronic or anything, it just stays there and the fish moving circulates water into it, therefore cleaning it. I am not expert on bettas because I have tropical fish, but company might help it a bit. If all this does not work, the fish might just be a little bit too old.
Hope this helps :)
2007-03-01 12:36:29 · answer #2 · answered by Swish 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the water is too cold most bettas will not eat. Cold water can also cause a betta to get sick and die. If its not the water maybe its your food, a betta can be a very finicky eater almost as bad as a pet cat. I have 6 Bettas and they all like different foods. I feed them combonations of flakes, pellets and bloodworms. Only 1 of them likes flakes, but he won't eat the worms. Seems every betta prefers the pellets though.
Also try putting him a larger space at least 1g of water, preferably 3g or more with plants and a spot to hide.
2007-03-01 15:48:58 · answer #3 · answered by Palor 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fish bowls are not really great for any fish. No filtration is not good. Plus if your brother just puts ordinary tap water into the bowl, there could be chemicals and such that aren't good for the fish, such as chlorine. You would need to get a water neutralizer to make the water safe for him. having a carbon filter also will help to filter out waste and some left over food which can cause ammonia to manifest in the water.
My recommendation would be to either find someone to take care of the fish, or buy a small aquarium for it.
2007-03-01 12:02:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think of the bigger difficulty is which you're no longer questioning a pair of filter out...they do make heater for "betta bowls" yet they are no longer extremely surely worth the money as they don't have a temp administration and so as which you would be able to cook dinner the fish. yet without filter out you do no longer in all danger have lots of of undertaking at shop any fish alive for long till you're consistently doing water differences.
2016-11-26 23:07:30 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
does your bother change the water regularly? since the vessel is so small you should do frequent water changes. Bettas can survive in the bowl but it sort of seems sad to me :) Bettas are hearty fish and can live in most any type of environment.
Try different food. Do you feed it flakes? try freeze fried bloodworms or feeder guppies if you don't feel too squeamish about feeding it live food.
2007-03-01 12:06:42 · answer #6 · answered by mackn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 3 Betta's... you need to use water treatment to dechlorinate the water, you can get this at any pet store. You can over feed fish too, so be careful not to do that.
2007-03-01 12:36:12 · answer #7 · answered by Julie L 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bro, hear this:"TAKE THAT BETTA!!!"
How can anyone (or fish) be normal when he's being neglected and being once in a blue-moon? It's miracle he's still alive!! Maybe he have learn to meditate to slow down his metabolism-so he won't need much food.
For goodness sake, save that life!
God Bless You.
2007-03-02 14:23:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How you are describing the fish, it sounds like its dead. If your brother is taking care of the betta fish like that, than the fish is bound to die. Just tell your brother the proper ways to take care of the fish.
2007-03-01 12:00:30 · answer #9 · answered by Lil Mamii 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He's probably lonely ....If you get another Betta especially a female and put them side by side they will totally flirt with each other . Keeping him in fresh clean water and in a place where he can get some sunshine wouldn't hurt either. Oh ya don't forget to feed him.
2007-03-01 12:00:58 · answer #10 · answered by josified 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋