Is This Normal Betta Behaviour?

[Jonk]

Hi all is well in my Betta's tank with all levels fine. However I have a single Betta male in there and he seems to spend a lot of time on the bottom just laying still. When I put food in he is fine, and he has been doing this for the last few days.

Could it be because he is in there on his own, he was taken out of a community tank as he was getting some grief from his tankmates.

I am thinking of giving him a couple of female Bettas for company.

I have tested PH, Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia levels with no problems, the tank has been 25 degrees C since set up so is stable.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Do NOT...let me repeat. DO NOT put females in there with the male. He will attack them, or in some cases, the females will attack him. Bettas are solitary fish, and they are very slow. The tend to lay around a lot. How big is your tank? What do you have in it? If your water parameters are good, then he is probably bored. Maybe add some new decor or rearrange his tank. You may get him some friends, like corydoras or another shoal of bottom feeder, proveded your tank have the room to support it. Never go with another betta, male or female, as a friend, or gouramis. Guppies are also a risky choice as the right colors of a guppy's tail scream out "NIP ME!!"b

 

[IanL]

Mine does that ...he tends to sit/drape himself on the bogwood,and sometimes settles down in plant leaves. Got him some kuhlis for company,and he seems to like them.When he gets bored,he goes and gently nudges them to get them to freak out!

 

[Liquid skills]

I ahree with DM
No males in with males and/or females
Althought i do have my females living togehter but they can tolerate each other more and arnt as solitery as males you could divide the tank and get two males this will solve his bordem he can fend off his territory without getting hurt and the other not gettin hurt uts their natural behaviour so will be good for him

 

[bettaboy150]

whaaoooo never put the females there, they wil either die because the male will attack them, or they will attack the male and the male might end up diein.

 

[Jonk]

Think I have found the problem, this morning he was covered with lots of small white spots which I think are 'Ick' so need to find a treatment for them. Going to the local pet shop tomorrow to see what treatments they have.

Or does anyone recommend any treatments??

Cheers

 

[Dieses Madchen]

raise the temperature to 82-84 F slowly, 10 minute salt bath twice a day, and medicate his tank for the amounnt of time recommended on the bottle.

 

[Jonk]

Would this be good?? Myhttp/www.petsathome.com/shop/interpet-whitespot-100ml-25605 link

Only problem I have is that the Betta is in a fluval edge and the heater is set so cannot be raised. If it better for the fish, I will go purchase a different heater tomorrow.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

It would be better for the fish as heat speeds up the life cycle of the parasite allowing for the medication to kill it faster. Can you turn the heater on your tank off? If you cannot that another heater may only cook the poor guy. You also need to figure out what is causing your betta stress as Ich only tends to overwhelm a fish when they are already ill or stressed.

I heard good things about Interpret Whitespot, although I have never used it.