It Seems Very Odd....my Betta Is........

[Volleyball_Rox]

Okay, this seems very, very odd to me. I'm not questioning the logic of fish keeping but:
My betta is kept in a 5 gallon tank with filter light, ya know, the works. He lives with a small platy. In the middle of the tank, I have about a 3 quart glass fishbowl filled with gravel and a plastic plant. I took the glass fish bowl out, and it still has the same water from the tank, and but my betta in it. The water levels are good. But in the 5 gallon tank; my betta is very lethargic and sad. He always stays at the bottom of the tank in his hidey hole. But in the small fishbowl, he is lively and always swimming and moving and seems happy.
I find this odd because it is small, and unfiltered and unheated.
And I know it has nothing to do with the water being poor in the tank and better in the bowl, because the water in the fishbowl was taken durectly from the tank, and I tested the tank water and the bowl water and its exactly the same.
Someone care to explain?
Why is he happier, or seems to be, in the small, unfiltered, unheated, unlighted bowl?

 

[fishyfeet]

Okay, this seems very, very odd to me. I'm not questioning the logic of fish keeping but:
My betta is kept in a 5 gallon tank with filter light, ya know, the works. He lives with a small platy. In the middle of the tank, I have about a 3 quart glass fishbowl filled with gravel and a plastic plant. I took the glass fish bowl out, and it still has the same water from the tank, and but my betta in it. The water levels are good. But in the 5 gallon tank; my betta is very lethargic and sad. He always stays at the bottom of the tank in his hidey hole. But in the small fishbowl, he is lively and always swimming and moving and seems happy.
I find this odd because it is small, and unfiltered and unheated.
And I know it has nothing to do with the water being poor in the tank and better in the bowl, because the water in the fishbowl was taken durectly from the tank, and I tested the tank water and the bowl water and its exactly the same.
Someone care to explain?
Why is he happier, or seems to be, in the small, unfiltered, unheated, unlighted bowl?

probably because thats what he is used to, you should change his environment slowly so he can adapt, di

 

[Jade107]

Or he is frightened or irritated by the movement of the platy. I don't know why you would get a platy to put in with him...

 

[woodstock]

Did you acclimate him well ? And are there a good ammount of plants, rather than one huge open space? He's probably the type of betta who reaaaaally wants to "own" something, and be the territorial fish that he is. It may be the platy, too. Who knows..

 

[ellena]

Yes, I would say either the platy, or there is too much open space in the tank. The bowl will make him feel more secure, but isn't suitable for keeping him long term. To make him feel more secure in the larger tank, fill it with silk or real plants

 

[Volleyball_Rox]

Did you acclimate him well ? And are there a good ammount of plants, rather than one huge open space? He's probably the type of betta who reaaaaally wants to "own" something, and be the territorial fish that he is. It may be the platy, too. Who knows..

Yes, I plan to remove the platy, to see if it affects myy betta. And I plant on getting silk plants, too.

 

[woodstock]

Are you going to house the platy in a 1.5gallon? I think you said that in your other thread, right? Poor platy - however I don't have one, so I don't really know what they need :\

Let's see how the plants go once you add them in When do you think you can get them in?

 

[Volleyball_Rox]

Yes, I would say either the platy, or there is too much open space in the tank. The bowl will make him feel more secure, but isn't suitable for keeping him long term. To make him feel more secure in the larger tank, fill it with silk or real plants

I never thought about the secure/insecurness. I will add some more plants. He does seem to like his hidey hole a lot. And I dont think he exactly understands how to get into the bowl when it is in the tank, so I will have to do something about that.
I'm going to seperate them, if I can, and buy some nice, silk plants. For some reason, I dont like real plants. LoL.

 

[betta fish]

The current from the filter may also be stressing the betta out so you may want to turn it down a bit if you can or block the outlet with a bit of sponge, I don't see any reason why you should keep a bowl in the tank it's only taking swimming space away from the betta so it's best if it's removed, just plant up the tank well and remove the platy as others have said

 

[Volleyball_Rox]

Are you going to house the platy in a 1.5gallon? I think you said that in your other thread, right? Poor platy - however I don't have one, so I don't really know what they need :\

Let's see how the plants go once you add them in When do you think you can get them in?

Well, it doesn't matter anymore because my mom shot that idea down fast. She belives everything is a-okay. Soooo hard headed.
But I had an idea, but you need to help me, because you are the best fish person I know.
Okay, so a couple of ideas:
In my current 5 gallon, get silk plants and kind of make a divider between them. From side to side, make it a vertical divider. Just get a lot of silk plants and form a kind of wall. They can still get through, but if they each need some privacy, they can go there.
My other idea is kind of illogical, but I'm going to say it anyway.
Make a divider going up and down? Okay, just thought about it, and my brain corrected me: only one would be able to surface easily without climbing through a forest, and one would probably "drown."
Any other ideas that dont involve buying anotther tank? Or adding an actual divider, because I dont want to block them off completely from eachother, that wouldnt be my intent.
Oops, I will probably be able to get them tomro or the next day.

 

[woodstock]

Well here's a thought, but it may be pricey. Maybe get a 10 gallon and make it a community tank? Put the platy in there with various fish? Just a thought

And lol, I'm DEFINITELY not the best fish person out there!! Haha, but thank you it was flattering

Well you COULD make an actual physical divider, but I wouldn't want to do that personally. I'd like them swimming around, they could avoid each other, possibly. Definitely add as many silk plants as you can. You have a Petco, right? They have the best silk plants I can get. You don't have to burn your money immediately. Maybe buy 2-3 plants each time you go there. It'll around up about $10-15 each trip. Or splurge your money and spend $30 all in one go, haha And it won't hurt to buy multiples either. Just try to get as much as your money can get, and see how they do. He's probably trying to form a territory, but can't with lack of planting.

You COULD make a divider using plants, but it still leaves room for open space, and it might be more pricey...somehow. Lol, good luck~

 

[Volleyball_Rox]

Well here's a thought, but it may be pricey. Maybe get a 10 gallon and make it a community tank? Put the platy in there with various fish? Just a thought

And lol, I'm DEFINITELY not the best fish person out there!! Haha, but thank you it was flattering

Well you COULD make an actual physical divider, but I wouldn't want to do that personally. I'd like them swimming around, they could avoid each other, possibly. Definitely add as many silk plants as you can. You have a Petco, right? They have the best silk plants I can get. You don't have to burn your money immediately. Maybe buy 2-3 plants each time you go there. It'll around up about $10-15 each trip. Or splurge your money and spend $30 all in one go, haha And it won't hurt to buy multiples either. Just try to get as much as your money can get, and see how they do. He's probably trying to form a territory, but can't with lack of planting.

You COULD make a divider using plants, but it still leaves room for open space, and it might be more pricey...somehow. Lol, good luck~

Thats a good idea, exept I dont really want anymore fish, and im not allowed to buy another aquarium.
I just thought to your expirience, where when the bettas couldnt see eachother, they are fine, so maybe if I make a divider with plants, then slowly after every water change/add, space them outt a litle, each week pushing them farther and farther away from being seperated, and maybe they will just adapt. Because, my lil betta isnt very active, and hides all the time. I think he is stressed from the platy, or maybe lack of plants. So buyy plants, and I'm going to go ahead and try to form a kinda divider, it will really just be a row of silk plants, and they will be able to go over the top of the plants, so they can visit eachother, but Cupid (betta) wwont be so stressed, because nowadays Cupid is ALWAYS flaring.
And on top of that, Flash (Platy) has ich. But I caught it early. And....I want the platy, but I dont. He is very entertaining, but my main concern is cupid. Idk why, but it is. And I dont want to give him away, because if I do, for one I will miss him, for two my mom will consider me irresponsible, bbecuase I couldnt handle it. And I can handle it, its just....uhg.

 

[bae1994]

or it could behes happy in the big tank and is happy to chillout but in the bowl hesjust swims and swims out of fear so to speak

 

[woodstock]

Well here's a thought, but it may be pricey. Maybe get a 10 gallon and make it a community tank? Put the platy in there with various fish? Just a thought

And lol, I'm DEFINITELY not the best fish person out there!! Haha, but thank you it was flattering

Well you COULD make an actual physical divider, but I wouldn't want to do that personally. I'd like them swimming around, they could avoid each other, possibly. Definitely add as many silk plants as you can. You have a Petco, right? They have the best silk plants I can get. You don't have to burn your money immediately. Maybe buy 2-3 plants each time you go there. It'll around up about $10-15 each trip. Or splurge your money and spend $30 all in one go, haha And it won't hurt to buy multiples either. Just try to get as much as your money can get, and see how they do. He's probably trying to form a territory, but can't with lack of planting.

You COULD make a divider using plants, but it still leaves room for open space, and it might be more pricey...somehow. Lol, good luck~

Thats a good idea, exept I dont really want anymore fish, and im not allowed to buy another aquarium.
I just thought to your expirience, where when the bettas couldnt see eachother, they are fine, so maybe if I make a divider with plants, then slowly after every water change/add, space them outt a litle, each week pushing them farther and farther away from being seperated, and maybe they will just adapt. Because, my lil betta isnt very active, and hides all the time. I think he is stressed from the platy, or maybe lack of plants. So buyy plants, and I'm going to go ahead and try to form a kinda divider, it will really just be a row of silk plants, and they will be able to go over the top of the plants, so they can visit eachother, but Cupid (betta) wwont be so stressed, because nowadays Cupid is ALWAYS flaring.
And on top of that, Flash (Platy) has ich. But I caught it early. And....I want the platy, but I dont. He is very entertaining, but my main concern is cupid. Idk why, but it is. And I dont want to give him away, because if I do, for one I will miss him, for two my mom will consider me irresponsible, bbecuase I couldnt handle it. And I can handle it, its just....uhg.

Yeah, I figured. Lol
Well you could definitely experiment with anything you want and see how things go for you. You should at least buy 1-2 plants for the betta himself to play in, maybe one big and one small, just for now, and work on that divider. Or however you wanna do it Again, not sure what platys need, so can't really touch on that
And I think you want the platy, but something/one else doesn't? Lol typo And I totally get it. The parents... always the parents, haha. Someday it works out, though. I think once you put in a nice amount of plants, it'll work out somehow! He's probably flaring at the platy ,right ?

 

[Volleyball_Rox]

Well here's a thought, but it may be pricey. Maybe get a 10 gallon and make it a community tank? Put the platy in there with various fish? Just a thought

And lol, I'm DEFINITELY not the best fish person out there!! Haha, but thank you it was flattering

Well you COULD make an actual physical divider, but I wouldn't want to do that personally. I'd like them swimming around, they could avoid each other, possibly. Definitely add as many silk plants as you can. You have a Petco, right? They have the best silk plants I can get. You don't have to burn your money immediately. Maybe buy 2-3 plants each time you go there. It'll around up about $10-15 each trip. Or splurge your money and spend $30 all in one go, haha And it won't hurt to buy multiples either. Just try to get as much as your money can get, and see how they do. He's probably trying to form a territory, but can't with lack of planting.

You COULD make a divider using plants, but it still leaves room for open space, and it might be more pricey...somehow. Lol, good luck~

Thats a good idea, exept I dont really want anymore fish, and im not allowed to buy another aquarium.
I just thought to your expirience, where when the bettas couldnt see eachother, they are fine, so maybe if I make a divider with plants, then slowly after every water change/add, space them outt a litle, each week pushing them farther and farther away from being seperated, and maybe they will just adapt. Because, my lil betta isnt very active, and hides all the time. I think he is stressed from the platy, or maybe lack of plants. So buyy plants, and I'm going to go ahead and try to form a kinda divider, it will really just be a row of silk plants, and they will be able to go over the top of the plants, so they can visit eachother, but Cupid (betta) wwont be so stressed, because nowadays Cupid is ALWAYS flaring.
And on top of that, Flash (Platy) has ich. But I caught it early. And....I want the platy, but I dont. He is very entertaining, but my main concern is cupid. Idk why, but it is. And I dont want to give him away, because if I do, for one I will miss him, for two my mom will consider me irresponsible, bbecuase I couldnt handle it. And I can handle it, its just....uhg.

Yeah, I figured. Lol
Well you could definitely experiment with anything you want and see how things go for you. You should at least buy 1-2 plants for the betta himself to play in, maybe one big and one small, just for now, and work on that divider. Or however you wanna do it Again, not sure what platys need, so can't really touch on that
And I think you want the platy, but something/one else doesn't? Lol typo And I totally get it. The parents... always the parents, haha. Someday it works out, though. I think once you put in a nice amount of plants, it'll work out somehow! He's probably flaring at the platy ,right ?

Yeah LoL.
Always the parents. Sigh. Just dont get it. Yeah, flarin at platy.
So hows your fishies? Red? Blue? Did you get a snail yet?