Hi! I am a relatively new betta owner, but I have successfully had multiple. I recently got a new betta and put him in a 5 gallon with a filter and heater that has been cycling for a couple of weeks. I noticed he is much more lethargic than other bettas I have had. He is not eating and floats at the top most of the time with the exception of swimming down in the tank occasionally. Please help!!!!
Lethargic Betta
- Thread starter audreyb
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Hi and welcome to the forum 
Can you post some pictures of the fish?
How long has the tank been set up for?
Was the filter cycled before the fish was added to the tank?
What is the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH of the aquarium water?
What is the water temperature?
--------------------------
Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.
Can you post some pictures of the fish?
How long has the tank been set up for?
Was the filter cycled before the fish was added to the tank?
What is the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH of the aquarium water?
What is the water temperature?
--------------------------
Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.
D
Deleted member 149562
Guest
The symptoms sound suspiciously like your aquarium is not fully cycled...and a Betta is not a good fish for an uncycled or partially cycled aquarium as they are often very sensitive to bad water chemistry.
Some photo's of the fish, your maintenance routine and water chemistry test results would be useful if you can post them please.
Some photo's of the fish, your maintenance routine and water chemistry test results would be useful if you can post them please.
That makes me wonder if its swim bladder? Some photos of the fish would be really helpful...
the tank has been set up for about a month, and yes the water cycled before he was added. I am waiting on a new kit to test the water. Water temp is around 78.Hi and welcome to the forum
Can you post some pictures of the fish?
How long has the tank been set up for?
Was the filter cycled before the fish was added to the tank?
What is the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH of the aquarium water?
What is the water temperature?
--------------------------
Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.
He seems healthy. How long have you had him?
D
Deleted member 149562
Guest
The aquarium seems to have a vast amount of layered air bubbling on its sides and on the ornaments
How much water have you been changing and at what frequency?
Also what is your filtration and what have you been doing to maintain it?
How much water have you been changing and at what frequency?
Also what is your filtration and what have you been doing to maintain it?
only a few days
i have been doing 1/3 water changes like once a week but he has only been in the tank for a few days
the filter is a hanging one that pours water our but I put a baffle on it to make the current less strong
D
Deleted member 149562
Guest
OK...I noted that you have to buy a new test kit, I would suggest that you get the liquid version as they are far more reliable than the strips.
The average aquarium takes between 6 and 8 weeks to fully cycle without fish and between 8 to 10 weeks with fish in it. I suspect that your aquarium is only partially cycled given that its only been running about a month
A new test kit is an absolute priority as although a Betta is a labrinth fish, ie they air breathe at the surface, to be up at the surface and lethargic is an indication of a water chemistry issue of some sort.
Apart from a baffle, what else are you doing with the filter?
A 5 gallon is the absolute minimum for a solo Betta, the filtration and media type/maintenance is really important when in small volume aquariums.
There is a possibility that the fish is picking up ammonia traces which will make it surface breathe and stay at the surface more often and for it to become lethargic, especially at lower levels of the aquarium
The average aquarium takes between 6 and 8 weeks to fully cycle without fish and between 8 to 10 weeks with fish in it. I suspect that your aquarium is only partially cycled given that its only been running about a month
A new test kit is an absolute priority as although a Betta is a labrinth fish, ie they air breathe at the surface, to be up at the surface and lethargic is an indication of a water chemistry issue of some sort.
Apart from a baffle, what else are you doing with the filter?
A 5 gallon is the absolute minimum for a solo Betta, the filtration and media type/maintenance is really important when in small volume aquariums.
There is a possibility that the fish is picking up ammonia traces which will make it surface breathe and stay at the surface more often and for it to become lethargic, especially at lower levels of the aquarium
If you have only had him a few days, he might still be settling in.
Give him a few more days.
Try feeding him some live brineshrimp, daphnia or mozzie larvae.
Make sure the water is warm enough for him (24-28C).
Give him a few more days.
Try feeding him some live brineshrimp, daphnia or mozzie larvae.
Make sure the water is warm enough for him (24-28C).
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