I Had A Betta For 2 Days Now

[Ukfan]

So I had a betta for 2 days now and it was fine for the night but today its not been as active as it was when I 1st got it, it doesn't eat as much and it always hides in the water plants that I have. Does anyone know why this happens?

I have a silver molly aswell and I find that its kinda a bully to the other fish cos it always touches them and they swim off so i'm kind worried that it bullies the betta.

Also how do you tell if a fish is male or female?

 

[Maxsmom]

Well... my first thought was that when you have a new betta... they are often stressed from the change of being bought and housed in a new home... this can last for several days. The other thought I had was that I don't think that bettas and mollies get along... so the stress of that is probably adding to his shyness. If you see actual aggression, or nipped fins and scales - I would take him out right away (your betta).

As for telling whether or not betta is male or female... females have an "oviposter"... an egg tube - you should see what looks like a tiny white egg under its belly just behind the ventral fins (the two fins that form a "v" under its gills.) If you see one - it's a female... if you don't - it's a male.

 

[stang1]

I agree with Maxsmom.
Also, what size tank and what are your water stats? What temperature is your tank set at?

 

[mommyof2bettas]

questions-
what temp is the tank?
What are the water stats?
How long have you had the tank for, was it cycled?
How big is the tank?
What other fish are in there?
Did you acclimate him?

 

[catherine896]

Do you have a pic of the betta so we can help with whether its male or female?
What other fish are in the tank with the betta?
Bettas and Mollies generally do not get along, if the molly is bullying other fish then there is bound to be some sort of bullying toward the betta as he/she will be new in the tank. This may be why the betta is acting shy and hiding all the time.

I would suggest removing the betta if you suspect bullying or fin nipping etc. Most bettas do not do well in a tank with other fish, yes some do but it isnt very common. I have tried 2 bettas seperatly in my community tank and both had to be removed and live alone as they started attacking everything in there, 1 of them killed a neon and the other was chasing and nipping at everything that went near her.
Watch closely and see if you see any problems.
Pics would be great! Does the betta have a name or are you waiting to find out the sex???

 

[Ukfan]

what temp is the tank?

24/25 i think

What are the water stats?

If you mean is it clean yes I have a big enough filter thats so loud its like a lown mower

How long have you had the tank for, was it cycled?

I've had the tank for about a week now but I've had the fish since last wednesday and the betta since saturday

How big is the tank?

Its about 3 foot in length

What other fish are in there?

I have blue neons, blak tailed neons, a silver molly, and i think some different kind of mollies which are red/orange with 2 of them with black spots

I have 17 fish in total-1 betta, 1 silver molly, 4 black tail neons, 4 blue neons, 7 orange/red mollies

I hope I dont have to seperate them cos I dont have a different tank, but the other fish dont mind the molly


Did you acclimate him?

What do you mean by that?

I'll try and post a picture tomorrow

 

[mommyof2bettas]

rtank isn't cycled-fish are suffering from ammonia poisoining most likely, please rehome them and cycle your tank bewfore adding any more fish.
acclimation-you're supposed to float the bag and gradually add water so they can get used to the tank.
Bettas and mollies/blue tetras/neons don't mix-he is probably stressed from the bad compatability issues.
You need to know water stats-ammonia, nitrite, mitrate, ph, fish are probably suffering from ammonia poisoning due to uncycled tank. As stated above, please rehome the fish and add more once you cycle the tank.

 

[catherine896]

Acclimate him by floating his bag in the tank first to let him get used to the water temp, then add some water from the tank into his bag etc. If you just 'drop' him in it will shock him and could cause alot of damage.

By waters stats, we mean ph levels, ammonia levels, nitrites and nitrates etc. You can buy water testing kits at any place that sells fish. If you dont have one or dont know the stats Id get one, and quick, if water stats arent correct you could end up with fish dying! Umm, do you do water changes atall?

So how long did you have the tank before the fish were in it?

Neons are fin nippers and will quite likely nip at your betta, and mollies dont get along with bettas. Id suggest taking the betta back to the store or rehoming him with someone if there is any damage to him or any of the other fish.

Do you have pics of the tank?

 

[Ukfan]

rtank isn't cycled-fish are suffering from ammonia poisoining most likely, please rehome them and cycle your tank bewfore adding any more fish.
acclimation-you're supposed to float the bag and gradually add water so they can get used to the tank.
Bettas and mollies/blue tetras/neons don't mix-he is probably stressed from the bad compatability issues.
You need to know water stats-ammonia, nitrite, mitrate, ph, fish are probably suffering from ammonia poisoning due to uncycled tank. As stated above, please rehome the fish and add more once you cycle the tank.

how would I re-cyle??

Yes I do float the bag but i never gradually add water before putting them in as the petshop man never told me that i just float them for 10-15 misn then let them go

As you guessed, i'm new to this whole fish stuff, its my 1st time I've had a fish tank and i was so excited. I guess theres alot more to it then that then, like mommyof2bettas has mentioned about the re-cyle stuff.

If you guys can give me more info on that like how you do it that would be tops

yeah I need to guy one of those water kits,

 

[catherine896]

Well, firstly rehome the fish other wise they will die or get permanent damage.

You can find out about cycling tanks on this forum, or type it into google and loads of info comes up.
Generally a fishless cycle is much better that getting the 'hardy fish' to cycle it quicker.

Goodluck with cycling your tank.

Cycling

This is the link to cycling tanks. ^^^

 

[mommyof2bettas]

re-cycling... the best way is to rehome the fish (give them back to the fish shop or someone you know can take good care of them) and do a fishless cycle (look at the pinned topic on the new to the hobby section). If you want to cycle with fish, I suggest you don't because your fish will suffer and you will probably encounter deaths.

 

[Ukfan]

So i just leave them?

 

[catherine896]

Leave what? The fish? No, take the fish back to the store or give them to someone with an established tank.
They will and are suffering if you leave them they will most likely die.

 

[mommyof2bettas]

?? You rehome the fish give them back to the fish shop (you won't have them anymore) then you go to the link catherine gave you and follow the instructions, when your cycle is done (about a month) you can add new fish.

 

[Ukfan]

for a month? isn't that to long?

and would i not get my money back?

and also can i not just re-cyle the tank, then put the fish in after a few hours or so cos what if the shop doesn't accept the fish back?