Betta Plant

[Bblou]

my bazil seems to think he is a plant. He sorta lies down in the plants in my tank. he occasionally lies down in the dips in the gravel.

I think he does it to hide from the gouramis before he pounces as he doesnt seem to do it unless theyre on his side of the tank.

is it a fighter thing to try and camouflage theyre rather colourful bodies in a one shade green plant?

or is he sick? He doesnt seem to eat much... he does eat a bit though. He has been in my tank the longest, so if I have done something wrong (I know I have), he will be the one that will show signs first.

He doesn't look sick.

he just seems to be a non hungry predator... I hope im right.

hmmm.

I figured that if he was sick, he wouldnt have the energy to chase the gourami around the tank as much as he does. I have set up bazils new tank today so just gotta prepare it now.

EDIT. is it also possible that he hides/stays low down because the flow of the water is too strong? and hes trying to hide away form it? I cant actually lower the filter any more. I currently have it pointing towards the glass to try and help things. the other fish love swimming in the flow of the filter though!

 

[snoopyfrench87]

my bazil seems to think he is a plant. He sorta lies down in the plants in my tank. he occasionally lies down in the dips in the gravel.

I think he does it to hide from the gouramis before he pounces as he doesnt seem to do it unless theyre on his side of the tank.

is it a fighter thing to try and camouflage theyre rather colourful bodies in a one shade green plant?

or is he sick? He doesnt seem to eat much... he does eat a bit though. He has been in my tank the longest, so if I have done something wrong (I know I have), he will be the one that will show signs first.

He doesn't look sick.

he just seems to be a non hungry predator... I hope im right.

hmmm.

I figured that if he was sick, he wouldnt have the energy to chase the gourami around the tank as much as he does. I have set up bazils new tank today so just gotta prepare it now.

EDIT. is it also possible that he hides/stays low down because the flow of the water is too strong? and hes trying to hide away form it? I cant actually lower the filter any more. I currently have it pointing towards the glass to try and help things. the other fish love swimming in the flow of the filter though!

what is the stocking of the tank he currently is in?

if it is a particularly fast flow, or stress from chasing the other fish he may be exhausting himself.

cant really tell u if he is ill without test results on water quality etc.

what are you feeding?

 

[Phoenixbaby]

ok he shoulnt be in with gouramis

u mean face down as in nose in the gravel, back end pointing up?

 

[Bblou]

i now know he shouldnt be in with gouramis, but i didnt know that before hand. I have another tank being set up now. I also didnt know anything about cycling or anything until a few days ago when I found this site so my tank was uncycled.

most recent test results are
tank
pH 8
Am 0 - .25
Nrite .5 - 1
Nrate 20

tap
pH8
Am .25
Nrite 1
Nrate 20

Thats for the tank hes in at the moment. I havent tested the new tank i filled today as thats straight from the tap and dechloriated so will very likely be same results as i listed for the tap.

I am trying to see if I can get water from a diff source to enable me to do water changes that will be beneficial. My filter has just started processing the ammonia it seems as the last two tests have seen a reduction. it is very close to being zero now and the most recent test showed a reduction in nitrite to. pH and nitrate are stable.

as for how he lies...

if he is in a plant, he just rests on it.. the same way his body would be if he were swimming. if he goes to the bottom, he lies down, like you or I, would on his side for a while then wanders off again. I will get him in the new tank asap but I know that tank is in a worse state than this one.

unless you think he would be better off in a tank on his own imminently?

He is yet to attack a gourami and the gourami dont challenge him, they just swim away.

EDIT
PS.

my current uneducated tank stocking is..

1 male betta,
2 dwarf gouramis
5 fancy guppies
10 emperor tetras.

I feed tropical fish flakes.. from a blue tub. sorta standard ones.

 

[Phoenixbaby]

ok firstly get him in his own tank

heated to 26c

 

[Bblou]

regardless of test results?

could you explain why cause I am very much learning and wish to understand why you advised what you did.

thankyou

 

[Phoenixbaby]

ok firstly, bettas and gouramis dont go, he is prob stressed out

secondly, in a tank by himself it will give him chance to relax and feel a bit better

3rdly, he is easier to look after and control his diet this way, u shudnt be feeding him just flakes either, they need a good varied diet

 

[Bblou]

ok. next dumb question...

how do I get him into the next tank? in a cup or something? if the water is the same temp, can he just go in or does he need equalising?

 

[ibbledibble]

also, to add to what phoenix just said,

many people keep bettas in unfiltered tanks, so long as you do regular water changes (maybe 50% twice a week?) the levels should be manageable and the filter will cycle slowly. will probably be less stressful having a bit of ammonia and nitrite (especially as he has already been living with it) than guarding his corner from the gourami's.

 

[Bblou]

ok the filter in the second tank has no living bacteria with the exception t=of the chunk i cut from the current tank he is in.

I imagine with just bazil in, the ammonia shouldnt rise much? is that right?

 

[Phoenixbaby]

indeed this is correct, but do keep up with the water changes

 

[ibbledibble]

ok. next dumb question...

how do I get him into the next tank? in a cup or something? if the water is the same temp, can he just go in or does he need equalising?

if you fill the new tank from the old one, then move him straight over, the water temp and chemistry would be identical, and you could then top up the bigger tank as part of a regular water change.

just one possibility

 

[Bblou]

the temperature is the same in the two tanks at present. just the levels are different.

I was advised by someone else on here not to do another water change until next week unless my levels rise over my tap levels. because my tank levels are currently lower than my tap levels.

unless i mis understood them.

they also werent aware of this situation with bazil being exhausted.

I have confuddled myself now.


There is only a very fractional difference in the levels in the two tanks. in the current tank, there is too much ammonia for it to read 0 but not enoughvto read .25 where as the new tank is .25. as for nitrite, in the current tank, to much for .5 but not enough for 1. pH and nitrate are the same in both tanks.


How do I physically move him from one tank to the other?

EDIT
one last thing. the only tank i have access to other than the current tank, is the one i mentioned. BUT... the back is mirrored. is this going to be a problem as I know that bazil might flare at his reflection.

argh!! I wish id know all this weeks ago I feel so mean to the fishies.

 

[snoopyfrench87]

do you have a net?

if you do use a cup put you hand over encase bazil trys to jump out

 

[Bblou]

well.. bazil has moved.

the gouramis look instantly more at ease but bazil doesnt look to amused.

i have swapped one sponge from each filter to make sure theres atleast some media doing something, but both tanks will be cycling now.

bazil isn't fussed by the mirror either.