Beta Fish???

Question

my beta keeps laying on the bottom of his tank. he swims around and stuff but then sometimes he just lays there. wen we got him they had him in one of those realllllly tiny fish bowels, but then we put him in a bigger fish bowel. could it be that maybe he isnt used to having all of the extra room in hes tank?or what?

Answer 1

One poster above it very wrong! Bettas do better in full sized tanks and larger bowls, not in tiny spaces. I would think the problem in ammonia in his water. If he has been in the bowl for more than 2 days without a water change there is no doubt it's ammonia and you need to change his water. If he hasn't been in the bowl that long it's just settling in and will be up and about in a day or two.

There is also the possibility that the betta is too cold. He needs a temperature in the mid 70's to do well.

MM

Answer 2

Even though a Betta can live in a small amount of water it isn't a good idea to keep them in a tiny bowl. Bettas kept in small living spaces are often inactive and almost listless. They tend to live shorter lives and are generally not happy. With a smaller bowl you also need to clean it often. As stated above, it could be high ammonia. I would guess that it is just acting normal for the tiny space it has to live in. If you want your Betta to be more active and lively then give it adequate living conditions. Give it a good 5 gallon or larger tank with proper heating and filtration.

Answer 3

A betta will be somewhat shy after being moved into a new home. If your tank is basically bare it will feel stressed. Also if the water is too cold they just sit there.

I added a betta to my 20g tank, for the 1st few days he hid in a cave. After a few days he came out and started exploring and meeting his tank mates. Now he is a happy fish in a big world with lots of plants to nap on.

Anyone who says they "prefer" small spaces is a betta killer and not too be trusted. They prolly own a pet shop or make/sell those tiny betta death traps

Answer 4

certain, more advantageous than a million beta fish in a tank will strive against one yet another, notwithstanding there is circumstances of the position ive heard beta fish struggling with in the starting up, yet then making a series of command that shall we them peacefully co exist. Beta fish will strive against some thing that has fins the dimensions, close to to, or larger than theirs.

Answer 5

It sounds like you aren't cleaning his water often enough. Or he is cold. A bowl smaller than 2.5 gallons should be cleaned every 3-4 days. Also he need to be in temps in the 75-85F range. Bettas generally get use to a larger container in a day or so.

PS- He could also be bored. Try giving him an hour of mirror time each week.

Answer 6

you could treat for bacterial infection, however, bettas usually do this when the water is too cold.

bettas come from south east asia and are a TROPICAL fish. they need a heater to live for more than 5 or 6 months.

temp should be about 77 - 83F (no colder than this - if you dont have a heater it will probably drop at night)
PH - 6.5-7

contrary to popular belief, bettas do fine in a large fish tank, as long as the water isnt more than a foot deep. this has to do with water pressure, NOT that they "feel more comfortable in smaller spaces".

.

Answer 7

That is normal behavior for Betta fish. In the wild they live in tiny puddles in rice paddies in Thailand. They can survive in small spaces because they have an organ called the labyrinth, which acts like a lung. You may notice that he goes up to the surface of his tank to take a gulp of fresh air. Because they live in small spaces they are naturally a very sedentary fish. I had bettas that did this and thought he had croaked quite a few times, but then I learned more about them. So your fish isn't going to be swimming laps around his bowl, don't worry, this is normal betta behavior. Hope this helps!

Answer 8

Beta's actually dont like large living spaces. They are very comfortable in the small tanks, specially made for them. Beta's dont do a whole lot though, so dont count on alot of excitement.