Betta Is Acting Kind Of Funny.

[Cobblepot]

So, we introduced biscuit to the new tank yesterday, and for the first 4-5 hours he was fine. He was swimming around, checking everything out, and was very active. Last night, as we were watching TV before bed, he was just kind of resting on the bottom of the tank. He wasn't on his side, he was just relaxing on his belly for what seemed like an eternity, and then he would swim up to the surface for air. Then he would repeat the process.

We got up this morning to look at him, and he was back on the bottom again. We turned his light on, and he slowly swam away and went for the heater. We tried to feed him this morning, but he is not interested in us. (This is what is worrying, as every morning when he sees me hold a piece of food above the water, he immediately comes over to me.)

Now he is just staying back in the back of the tank, and hiding between the heater and the glass. As I said in a previous post, we don't have much of anything in the tank for him now to hide under or rest on. Could this behavior simply be adjustment to the tank, or because the heater is a warm place to hide? Or is this something more severe?

Tank levels were fine this morning, and am going to do a partial change before work just to be safe. 80F, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrate/Nitrite, 7.6-7.8 pH.

 

[meguro]

Unless there are discolourations, white spots or fin damage etc. it's nothing. It may take up to a week before he gets his character back though.

Just make sure his water is changed frequently since it's a fish-in cycle. Oh, and remove any uneaten food.

 

[Cobblepot]

Unless there are discolourations, white spots or fin damage etc. it's nothing. It may take up to a week before he gets his character back though.

Just make sure his water is changed frequently since it's a fish-in cycle. Oh, and remove any uneaten food.

So chalk it up to adjusting to his new environment?

 

[tibby25731]

bettas can sulk for days when in a new tank, don't worry too much. You need to get some plants in there ASAP, if there are plants he will likely go and rest on those instead of the floor! Bettas can be soooo lazy and they like to rest. Also, they like plenty of distraction - get as many plants, bits of wood, decorations etc as possible to keep him busy and happy!

 

[squiremaster]

My Betta does that all the time

 

[loraxchick]

one of my bettas that ive had for 5 months loves to sleep on the heater too...and he's got many options on where to sleep...sounds like adjustment and he found a nice cozy area behind the heater to sleep on...some bettas love to rest a LOT and some are more active. its all part of their personalities that we as betta owners love.
and of course eating is a good sign...
cheers.

 

[Cobblepot]

I think another issue may be the filter. The one that came with my tank doesn't have any adjustments on it. It is either on full, or off. He seems to loiter only on the side of the tank that is furthest from the filter. I turned the filter off to test it, and within minutes, he was over on the other side.

I don't think he likes the current that the filter makes. Any remedy for this that does not involve buying a different kind?

 

[loraxchick]

could you either fill it more so it doesnt spill as mcu...or rif some pantyhose up tp it so as not to cause as much of surface disturbance"

 

[Chrs]

my betta did this about 2weeks ago and he would just lay on the ground on his side wedging his head under a plastic plants leaf. after about a week i moved him to his old tank and let him be. He still wouldnt eat and then after a few days he got fungus all over him and died

 

[ellena]

What sort of filter is it? I've put a bit of sponge over the outlet of mine which seems to be working OK.

 

[tibby25731]

If there is an outlet that will allow you to get some tights or stockings (new and rinsed out) - cut a bit off, wrap it loosely over and around the spout, and secure with a band or some fishing line or similar - this will greatly reduce the current. This is what I do for my betta tanks