Help! My betta is acting wierd.?

Question

I've had him for about 3 weeks and I've changed his water... kept his tank clean and everything recommended. But now he is acting wierd. He "sleeps" under some gravel at the bottom of his tank, a lot. And he doesnt move around like normal. He bolts wherever he goes. He'll go really fast for a real short period for about 15 seconds then he'll just continue to "sleep". I had a ghost shrimp in there with him and it died. As soon as i noticed the dead shrimp I removed it as soon as possible. Anybody know why he would act like so?

FOLLOW UP: I've changed the water twice a week, for three weeks. Not just once... And he cant be pregnant. That would just be wierd. But if he does have parasites or amnonia poisoning how would i go about getting him better?

Answer 1

I would suspect either ammonia/nitrite buildup or wrong temperature.

Since the tank is new, you don't have enough bacteria built up to convert the wastes (ammonia/nitrite) into nitrate. You say you're doing water changes twice a week, but don't mention how much of thw water you're changing - about 25% a week, more if your water tests higher than it should after just a few days. As long as there's a filter, you don't want to be changing 100%, or you'll never build up the bacteria needed for this process. If, on the other hand, the water isn't filtered, a 100% change should be done twice a week. He should have at least a gallon of water, 2.5 or 5 gallons is better to dilute any wastes so that water quality doesn't go bad as quickly.

Bettas are tropical fish, but can survive at room temperature. The would prefer 76-86o, I keep mine 76-80o unless I'm spawning them. Outside the 76-86o range, they do become more lethargic and eat less.

And he may just be bored. I keep my bettas in a tank with driftwood, a few real and silk plants, and some snails. I rarely see them not swimming around checking something out.

Answer 2

Some betas do that. Mine started doing it the first time, and I just knew that they were going to die, but a year and a half later, they are still doing it. Why, I have no idea, I just know that it hasn't been a problem with mine so far. This is the first ones I have had do it. 2 out of 9 are doing it, the rest are just down right lazy betas.

Answer 3

what size tank is he in. when i had mine in a 1 gallon he was mean as *&^%. when i moved him to a 10, he calmed down a lot.

maybe he's bored. try putting a mirror in front of him for a minute and let him flare up. put a small "ball" in there he can play with. add some very light bubbles to the water, like a treasure chest.

Answer 4

Take all the gravel out of his tank, Keep it bare bottom, DO a 20% water change a day and keep the water heatlhy untill he gets better/

Answer 5

Have you tested the water? 1 water change in 3 weeks is not anough, It is probibly got ammonia posioning

Answer 6

parasites maybe got in the water.Mybe you ghost shrimp was sick and made your betta sick.good luck=)



ILF

Answer 7

Shes pregnant or sick