Help Betta Fish Is Acting Wierd

[wesrox67]

so I bought it this thursday at walmart it looked fine and everything and got him one of those desktop fish bowls with a little light the bowl is about 1-2 gallons (I was running low on money) and so I got it and have been feeding it but it never eats it just moves around all day. I forgot to get one of those water purifiers for my fish and I just got one today so when I went home and took him out of his bowl and put him in another small bowl (the one he came in) and so I filled the water up and everything and added the purifier but then my fish turned sideways like it died so I touched it and it jumped (a stupid idea) so I quickly put him back in his bowl he looks better and occasionally tilts sideways but still doesnt eat its been 3 day already and my sister crowntail is eating so what should I do I don't want it to die and I dont have a heater or filer or anything (cuz im only 14 and my parents wont buy me all thats stuff) I had 2 before in one of those separators and they were fine for a long time until they died one day so ya what do I do!!!! betta( oh and his gills are moving at a pretty fast pace like people do when they get done running and he's sitting there idle on the die of the bowl not moving)

 

[hamfist]

Lots of things still need answering here.

What temperature is the water. You say you have no heater. If it's too cold, the fish will not like it at all.

Second, you say that you "filled the wtare up". What % of the water did you change ? If you change more than half the water at once, then the fish may well be very distressed as the water chemistry changes too much at once. So MAXIMUM 50% water changes. You say that you put in "the purifier". I'm hoping that is some type of dechlorinator. If not, then it needs to be. Also your water change water (if doing a large water change) also needs to be the same temperature as the water the fish is already in. Any sudden change in water chemistry or temperature will distress or even kill the fish.

Also. you said earlier that you were feeding it, but it never ate. The uneaten food MUST be removed from the tank, as this will rot and fill the tank with ammonia and nitrites, which will kill fish.

The fish may well have been bought with some type of sickness, but it sounds as if you have stressed the fish by giving it sudden changes in water chemistry, temperature, and leaving uneaten food in the bowl.

OK, where to now ? Well I'd take a water sample to your LFS and get it tested to get an idea of the water stats (ammonia, nitite, nitrate). Then, if you are serious about keeping fish, get a heater and a filter. I do understand that you are young, and do not have many resources, but it is actually cruel to keep fish (or any animal) without the correct equipment and conditions to keep it happily and healthily.

Yes, many people do keep these for a while in small bowls with no heating or filtration, but I would bet a lot of money that the water stats, and temperature, are all over the place, and that the fish are frequently stressed and live a relatively short, unhappy life.

Maybe this is a good time to encourage your parents to allow you to become a responsible and mature fish-keeper, by allowing you to get the equipment you need to do so.

As for your current fish, straight away I would advise doing 30-50% daily water changes with de-chlorinated water. The water must be the same temperature as the water in the bowl (get it up to temperature by adding a bit of boiled water from the kettle).
If your fish starts to pick up, offer food daily - remove any that isn't eaten (syphoning it out with a bit of airstone tubing is a good way). Also don't overfeed, as Bettas are extremely greedy when happy.

GOod luck, and i hope you fish picks up.

 

[wesrox67]

Lots of things still need answering here.

What temperature is the water. You say you have no heater. If it's too cold, the fish will not like it at all.

Second, you say that you "filled the wtare up". What % of the water did you change ? If you change more than half the water at once, then the fish may well be very distressed as the water chemistry changes too much at once. So MAXIMUM 50% water changes. You say that you put in "the purifier". I'm hoping that is some type of dechlorinator. If not, then it needs to be. Also your water change water (if doing a large water change) also needs to be the same temperature as the water the fish is already in. Any sudden change in water chemistry or temperature will distress or even kill the fish.

Also. you said earlier that you were feeding it, but it never ate. The uneaten food MUST be removed from the tank, as this will rot and fill the tank with ammonia and nitrites, which will kill fish.

The fish may well have been bought with some type of sickness, but it sounds as if you have stressed the fish by giving it sudden changes in water chemistry, temperature, and leaving uneaten food in the bowl.

OK, where to now ? Well I'd take a water sample to your LFS and get it tested to get an idea of the water stats (ammonia, nitite, nitrate). Then, if you are serious about keeping fish, get a heater and a filter. I do understand that you are young, and do not have many resources, but it is actually cruel to keep fish (or any animal) without the correct equipment and conditions to keep it happily and healthily.

Yes, many people do keep these for a while in small bowls with no heating or filtration, but I would bet a lot of money that the water stats, and temperature, are all over the place, and that the fish are frequently stressed and live a relatively short, unhappy life.

Maybe this is a good time to encourage your parents to allow you to become a responsible and mature fish-keeper, by allowing you to get the equipment you need to do so.

As for your current fish, straight away I would advise doing 30-50% daily water changes with de-chlorinated water. The water must be the same temperature as the water in the bowl (get it up to temperature by adding a bit of boiled water from the kettle).
If your fish starts to pick up, offer food daily - remove any that isn't eaten (syphoning it out with a bit of airstone tubing is a good way). Also don't overfeed, as Bettas are extremely greedy when happy.

GOod luck, and i hope you fish picks up.

well I changed the whole bow... just like I used to. But it is doing perfectly fine thanks to the purifier removes all the chlorine,copper, and all that stuff and it looking fine well sort of its still not moving I am planning on returning my bowl and getting a larger one and all the equipment I need would would be the best price range and what should I get?

 

[hamfist]

Changing all the water at once is simply too much risk of stressing the fish. The water chemistry changes too much for safety doing it like that. Much, much better is changing half the water, twice as often.
Ok, so you're using dechlorinator ... thats great. I still think the issue has been poor water quality and too high a % of water change all at once. If you can only change half the water at one time, that would be great.

As for a tank, something around 5 gallons is perfect for a Betta. With a heater and a filter obviously.
We have an Aqua One Aquastart 320 for our Betta which is good value, and is a perfect size.
When you are sorting out a filter, I would recommend either using an undergravel filter or a sponge filter, both driven by an airpump. Both these will do the job, and will not produce strong currents in the tank, which electric water pump-driven filters will do. Bettas do not like strong currents.
SOunds like you have used your persausive charms on your parents . Well done !!

 

[wesrox67]

Changing all the water at once is simply too much risk of stressing the fish. The water chemistry changes too much for safety doing it like that. Much, much better is changing half the water, twice as often.
Ok, so you're using dechlorinator ... thats great. I still think the issue has been poor water quality and too high a % of water change all at once. If you can only change half the water at one time, that would be great.

As for a tank, something around 5 gallons is perfect for a Betta. With a heater and a filter obviously.
We have an Aqua One Aquastart 320 for our Betta which is good value, and is a perfect size.
When you are sorting out a filter, I would recommend either using an undergravel filter or a sponge filter, both driven by an airpump. Both these will do the job, and will not produce strong currents in the tank, which electric water pump-driven filters will do. Bettas do not like strong currents.
SOunds like you have used your persausive charms on your parents . Well done !!

Will this tank work for my beta?
http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3804454&lmdn=Price

and also this heater
http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3792732

If it works I will go and but it asap but I am planning to return my other fish bowl so what should I do with my fish first?

 

[hamfist]

Both those items look good Wesrox.

So long as you use the water from your bowl, you can put your Betta in any clean glass or plastic bowl/jug/item whilst you return the Bowl and buy the new tank. A bucket is often not the best thing to use, as they are likely to have traces of detergent and chemicals in, which will be harmful to fish.

Once you've got your new tank home, set up and half filled with dechlorinated water of the same temperature as the water your fish is in, then you can add your Betta AND the water he has been in.

BTW, make sure you don't turn the heater on, ever, unless it is submerged in water .. best way to break a heater.

Good luck. How is the Betta doing ?

 

[tom130691]

its probably worth asking what are you feeding aswell
when i first got mine he wouldnt eat flake or pellets
now i have froozen bloodworms and he eats like a pig even though he is sick