I just bought a beta fish today, and he is hovering at the surface of the tank, and his fins are drooping. ???

Question

The tank had a filter, but after reading articles saying this was bad for the fish, I turned it off, and the problem is persisting. The betta shares the tank with three small fish that he is compatible with. I rinsed the gravel, plants, and coral decoration, and allowed time for the tap water to dechlorinate!! He didn't accept the freeze-dried bloodworms I put in, and seems rather lethargic. What's wrong?!?!?

Answer 1

Just give him a ittle time, he needs to settle in to his new environment. Start you filter back up, it will not harm him as long as the currents aren't too strong and I really doubt they would be.

You have gotten some really terrible advice so let's clear the air a bit. DON'T move him to a bowl. NEVER use distilled water only with a fish. YES, bettas generally eat bloddworms like no tomorrow, but they may need to to adjust to eating them.

Hope this helps and best of luck to you and your new fish!

MM

Answer 2

filters are just fine for them as long as it's not creating too strong of a current. turn it back on and watch him, as long as it doens't mess up his swimming it will only help. it NEEDS to be on if there are other fish in the tank.

so a few questions that need to be answered before anyone can provide you with an actual answer.

what size tank?
how many fish and what kind?
what's the water temp?
did you test the water?

first off you say you rinsed everything and allowed the water to dechlorinate, this leads me to believe you did not cycle the tank, and while this shouldn't harm the betta it may cause trouble among the other fish. as for the freeze dried blood worms, I hope they're not all you have to feed him, they're good as a treat but don't provide much nutrient wise. it's best just to get betta pellets. some bettas won't eat flakes, some don't eat freeze dried foods, but most eat pellets.

the coral worries me a bit, coral decorations are usually rough and jagged, which is bad for bettas easily torn fins, instead try a few silk plants. when keeping betta with other fish you need to provide them with lots of hiding spots. if you give him a few silk plants he may perk up a bit.

Answer 3

The filter should be turned on all the time. If it is too big and powerful for your tank you need a smaller one or you need to adjust the flow if your filter lets you do this (the flow is too powerful if it looks like the fish are struggling hard to move against it). You also need a heater if you don't have one.

How long is your tank up and running for and how big is it? Do you know about cycling the tank ? What is your cleaning and water change regime ?

Finally, do you have a test kit ? You need to know what the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels in your tank are, and also the Ph. Any one or more of these could be causing the problem. In a broad sense it sounds like your betta is lacking oxygen and/or acclimatising to the water in your tank.

Answer 4

Bettas tend to spend a great deal of their time near the water's surface. You made a good move in turning off the filter; bettas are air breathers, and the added filtration is not necessary. His excess finnage makes it difficult to swim against the filter's current, as well.

Chances are, if you purchased the fish today, he is just completely stressed out. Allow him time to adjust to his new surroundings before feeding him again; I would wait a day or two. You may also want to add aquarium salt and Melafix, along with a good dechlorinator, to his water to prevent him from getting sick while he is stressed. The dosage is 10 drops of Melafix per gallon, and 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt per gallon.

Answer 5

Haha! Bettas are always droopy looking. They generally will "lay around" in one place all day. If the bloodworms don't work...try the little pellets for bettas. Mine have never liked the bloodworms either. (Probably a sales gimmick of the pet stores anyway! LOL!) Feed him a few pellets every morning, but never late in the evening....they actually will get a stomach ache if they eat late in the day, according to a book I read about them once. Other than that, so long as the water temp is not too cold, he will be fine.

Answer 6

nicely, like the others stated, the only pink tanks are stupid and not any abode for a living element i choose to propose: 10 gallon tank(mine replaced into $30 at walmart, i think of they could be extra costly at puppy shops tho?)(I say 10 because of fact its 30 for way smaller tanks why not get extra area for a happier betta) -a heater -The filter out featuring the tank is slightly sturdy so it needs to have a block that wont provide up the bypass yet will guard the betta (get a sheet of that plastic needle factor stuff with the sq. holes interior the craft section, it somewhat is provided in pink) curiously approximately like the image interior the source once you do it lazy and function a crappy tank format -new gentle bulbs, the only that got here with my tank are undesirable high quality and makes algae improve -basically get genuine or silk flora because of fact the plastic could nicely be sharp -pink gravel -flora do are available in pink yet those are sharp, the genuine ones might nonetheless look helpful although -caves are available in lots of sizes and varieties yet you're able to be able to desire to get one that's not sharp, has no holes that are too small for him to slot in, and has an front and an go out (they have a tricky time backing up and turning around) -nutrition could desire to be severe high quality and additionally you're able to desire to get blood worms for treats. stay or frozen are terrific yet there is likewise freeze dried(you should use tweasers so which you dont could desire to touch them and so which you additionally could lead on them to flow) -in case you decide on you may get pink wrapping paper for the historic past (decide for a softer colour although, vibrant could be too lots for the betta) A lid is a could desire to, theyre sturdy at leaping out of tanks. -cycle it!! -your betta! they have white and ive heard pink bettas that should look helpful. Get one on line or at a petstore, petstores could have nasty bettas although. attempt to get a woman although, you dont choose to kill your bettas masculinity with each and all of the pink heh additionally you mighttt be waiting to discover a tank on craigslist for slightly cheeper and with the assets you decide on

Answer 7

u know they go to the top and get air in a chamber on their backs they breathe air not like most fish and they usually just hang around also feed them beta food

Answer 8

first of all IGNORE the articals, second when betas get with other fish they tend to fight. (the chinese called it the "fighting fish") so it probably got in a fight and is now about to die. the next fish you get get it it's own 1-2 gallon bowl (thats what I use and it works great!)

Answer 9

He's stressed give him a little time to adjust.

Answer 10

use a glass bowl for the fish. use only distilled water. no filer. and use beta fish food. only feed him ever other day (small bit)