please!!! I just got a betta fish this morning, active and healthy (I think) I put it in a huge container with fresh, warm tap water and fed the tiniest pinch of food and went to i went out. now, it just mainly stays near the bottom sometimes coming up, but it won't eat!!!!!!!!!! it barely moves sort of!!!!!!!!!HelP!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-07-26 14:36:40 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
That's really not unusual. He's just getting used to his new surroundings. Give him a few days to settle in and he will be acting fine.
MM
2007-07-26 14:40:08 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You have to dechlorinate the tap water before putting fish in it. There are all kinds of chemicals in tap water that make it safe for people to drink, but aren't good for fish. The water may also have cooled off some, but if the water is above 72 degrees, the temp is probably fine. Bettas are usually pretty lazy, too, unless they see something that resembles a threat, or food. Definitely dechlorinate the water! There are a bunch of products that you can get just about anywhere that sells pet supplies, or you can use spring water (distilled water doesn't have the electrolytes that fish need to live) or even just let the bowl sit out overnight to let the chlorine evaporate.
2007-07-26 14:44:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bettas don't move around a whole lot so that may be normal. You should check to make sure the water is appropriate and also the right temprature before putting a new fish into it. If your water is heavily chlorinated city water, you may need to treat it. Also, never just dump a fish into water. Fill your new tank, and submerge the plastic bag he came home in in the water for 30 minutes or so before letting him out. This will give your new fish time to adjust to the new water temprature. Just putting him in the new water without doing the above can cause shock.
2007-07-26 14:46:53 · answer #3 · answered by starbreezetarot 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Listen to magicman, he knows. As long as you put a water conditioner in your tap water, your betta is probably fine. He needs to get used to the new tank and his new surroundings. He'll settle in shortly. Also, he's probably just not hungry. Bettas don't need to eat very much very often. You should really only feed it once every day or two, and then only a very small amount of food. Believe it or not, that's plenty! I know it's a drag as feeding fish is fun, but that's all a betta really needs and they can ignore food if they aren't hungry. One betta can be perfectly healthy eating no more than 3 average length bloodworms every 2 days.
2007-07-26 15:15:41 · answer #4 · answered by Ghost Shrimp Fan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's probably saying, "Woah. Fresh food. Clean water. No other bettas. A big space. Sweeeeeeet." Every betta I've ever had goes into this relaxation state after I come home from the pet store and put them in their new home. They're just enjoying the heaven their life's going to be compared to the pet store.
2007-07-28 20:36:22 · answer #5 · answered by Leafy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it was just tap water it is wrobaly dying so you need to put a water conditioner that makes tap water safe for betta and every other fish.
2007-07-26 15:56:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
read me you MUST let the water sit 4 48 hours to get the chlorine out tap water has chlorine in it you can buy this little bottle of stuff that will take the chlorine out of the water any good pet shop will have it maybe even meijers or something first thing tomorrow get some unless you have 2 day old water that isnt bottled keep in mind your fish is still ajusting this might not take affect right away
2007-07-26 14:54:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you use a tap water conditioner to get rid of chlorine, chloramines and other toxins?? Like Prime by SeaChem? If not you REALLY need too. ASAP condition that water. Another thing you could do is let water sit out in a bucket for his next water change if you didnt condition. Let it sit our for about 1-2 days. But in the future if you havent already buy tap water conditioner. Hope i helped! Betta feel better! :]
2007-07-26 14:44:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
he's probably just not used to the water and the new surrondings. Give him a few days to get into the hang of things. Also, did you put some betta water conditioner in your tap water?
2007-07-26 16:13:15 · answer #9 · answered by cutie pie (2) 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you used tap water,the ph may be too high or low.go out to your local pet store and buy some water conditioner for bettas and give it the right amount of dosage.good luck!
2007-07-27 05:18:10 · answer #10 · answered by Ladyinpinkッ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you dechlorinate the water? I had a male once that did that, and he still is fine. I still have him, and now he eats in front of me, but before it was as if he would wait til I left... Since you just got him, it's OK if he won't eat yet, just make sure the water is safe.
2007-07-26 14:43:35 · answer #11 · answered by boncarles 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋