Bettas And Currents

[Joller]

so my housemates got me watching her fish for a couple of months, the first thing i did was take it out of its vase and put it in a nice 40l tank, and gave it a filter aslo.

i've killed a bit of the current by directing the head towards the glass, but the fish still seems a bit uneasy with it. doing head stands and such. will he become a stronger swimmer over time? or do his fins cause him to be a poor swimmer. i've kept female bettas in this tank with the same filter and they can swim fine.

could it be that he's just not used to it? he's probably been in still water since he was born like 2 years ago(assumption) while fish shops tend to keep female bettas in proper circulated tanks

 

[Darkerwhite2]

Bettas do not like high current situations, the males that is. Make bubble nest building difficult. You did the right thing by directing the flow to minimize it. the reason he's doing head stand is un known to me. Maybe water parameters? new tank stress?

 

[GuppyGoddess]

I've read that strong currents won't strengthen the fish but will instead tear fins. What I've done is use sponge foam from the LFS and wrapped it around the intake valve -secured with a hair tie (to be sure no fins are sucked in) and duct taped foam around the part where the water comes out, slowing it down to where it's nearly at a stand still. It looks a bit odd having black foam hanging slightly down into the tank, but my fish LOVE it and will swim around and hang out by it.

What kind of filter do you have? Can you find one with an adjustable flow rate?

How long had she had that particular betta in a vase? Out of curiosity, did you test the ammonia levels to see what they were?

 

[Joller]

What kind of filter do you have? Can you find one with an adjustable flow rate?

How long had she had that particular betta in a vase? Out of curiosity, did you test the ammonia levels to see what they were?

he's been in the tank for a week without the filter. the headstands was just my way of saying he looked disoriented
the filters an aqua one 102f, i'm using the duckbill head and its pointed at the glass, so its really not a very strong current. he seems to have gotten used to it. although he probably cant build a bubble nest (he isn't much of a nester anyway, although before i put the filter in the tank he started nesting) is it important that they can build a nest?

he was in the vase for easily over a year and he's looking allot healthier now (i'm surprised he's still alive) , he looks a little bit deformed sort of stumpy with a slightly bent spine.
she changed the water every week or so ammonia levels probably average.

 

[lilacamy931]

Is there a way to place an ornament or heater infront of the flow as well? I found directing the current to the wall was not enough but once I placed the heater in front of it to dissipate the current further, my little guy was able to swim happily. If his spine is deformed I would suggest slowing the current further as you do not want to put unnecessary strain on him. Another method is to attach some sponge into the output so the current can still get out but also impeded.
Well done on putting in bigger tank with filter, is he heated? The nestbuilding is not essential so dont worry there! If she changed once a week without a filter he may have got the deformities from bad quality water / ammonia poisoning. Keep up the good work x

 

[JustFrozen]

are you doing any water changes with the new tank?

 

[Joller]

yeah its heated, and yeah about 50% weekly water change.
i also put in my lone brown khulli loach as i figured he's the perfect tankmate (stays hidden )

and yeah i'd agree that the deformity is due to poor water qual

 

[lilacamy931]

Your khuli may stay hidden hon as he is on his own, they do do better in groups of at least three and become more active with mates of their own, though would get confirmation from others if you can have 3 in that tank and it is suitable x