My betta fish, Murphy lives in a three gallon tank with an apple snail and, more recently, a corydora catfish. It doesn't sound like there's room, but the dimensions of the tank are pretty spacious. Anyway, about a week after I introduced the catfish, Murphy started acting really strange. He sits on the bottom of the tank alot (which he never used to do, he's always been very active) and I catch him flaring up at absolutely nothing. Literally, nothing. Nothing is there. He's ignored the catfish completely and the catfish himself is pretty perky so I don't think he's sick. What could it be?
2007-03-28 11:18:00 · 7 answers · asked by Jennie V 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
It really doesn't sounds like he's sick or anything like that. Bettas can really act strangely sometimes and it can last for days or even weeks. Stuff just like you are noticing, flaring at nothing, more active or less active with no reason you can ever find. Then just as suddenly they act normal again. Unless he starts doing something that makes you think he's sick, I wouldn't worry about it at all.
MM
2007-03-28 11:27:11 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although it looks like three gallons is enough space, your tank is overstocked. Your betta is probably acting sick because there is so much ammonia in the water right now from all of your pooping animals.
Apple snails especially produce A LOT of waste, and they're notorious for fouling up the water.
As for your cory, he is a schooling fish, meaning that he needs to be with at least two other corys. If he doesn't have other corys, it is very likely that he will become sickly and will die.
My recommendation is to either separate your sea creatures into their own 3 gallon homes, or upgrade your tank to 10 gallons or more. (And whatever you decide to do, give your cory some friends!)
Keep an eye on your betta to make sure he shows no other symptoms.
EDIT: Bettas are O.K. with corys and snails. Sometimes you might have a particularly feisty betta that won't tolerate tankmates of any sort, but as a general rule, they get along all right.
2007-03-28 18:30:11 · answer #2 · answered by bettalover 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He could be suffering from a build up of nitrates, or have caught something from the new fish. Check the nitrate levels and do a 20-30% water change. The other possibility is he's sulking for some reason. Do a 20% water change, rearrange things in the tank, and give him an hour or so of mirror time.
2007-03-28 20:20:01 · answer #3 · answered by Sabersquirrel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, betta fish just do that when someone in the same tank as big as it they act that way!
2007-03-28 20:18:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bettas are also known as the Saimese fighting fish. So he probably feels like thes other guys are in his way. Just a thought.
2007-03-28 18:21:40 · answer #5 · answered by Terabell_Samantha_Ursula 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He's a fighting fish which is normally to other male bettas
He's probably not sick just pissed, your invading his privacy and territory. When you buy them they are separated from all aquatics. I wouldn't add anything else he might go from paranoid to homicidal. : )
2007-03-28 18:35:39 · answer #6 · answered by damron 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he's probably just not used to the new addition to the tank...beta fish don't get along that well wth other fish, but they usually don't get sick
2007-03-28 18:26:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋