Quiet Betta?

[elderflower]

Hi everybody,

I've been lurking here for a couple of months now. I have a five month old betta, Finny Wiggle Fins, in a 5 gallon, filtered, heated tank. There is a cave with doorways and window, a hollow log ornament, wee bridge and plenty of plants in there with him, so he has plenty of stimulus. He's been with us for about two months now.

He seems a bit quiet the past week or so, just mooching in one corner near the surface, mostly. He appears well, with no sign of illness, and is eating fine. My water stats are all clear too, so I really don't think he is ill. I was thinking he might perk up with a couple of wee pals in with him? I did unwittingly put a fish in with him a few days ago that our local pet store sold me to get rid of algae - till I discovered that it was actually a young Chinese algae eater! It went back the next day, of course. But he did seem to follow it about a bit when it was in there.

I'm now considering putting a couple of panda cories in there with Finny FW. I could always put them in our 12 gallon community tank downstairs if necessary, which isn't fully stocked yet (six glowlight tetras and three pandas in there currently).

I don't know if it's a good idea, though. Has anybody any experience? Any advice would be much appreciated!

- Susan.

 

[stang1]

Has the tank got a current at all as Bettas prefer still water.
Unfortunately, the tank isn't big enough for Cories but you could try putting a group of 3-4 Ottos in there. Just make sure that you feed them regularly with algae wafers, vegetables etc.

 

[elderflower]

Hi,

The filter is in the hood, and the currrent seems very gentle; barely perceptible.
I thought that pandas only grew to a couple of inches, so I imagined they'd be okay? If not, I'll see if I can get hold of ottos then. I'd been put off them, as I'd read that they can be rather delicate. Something to consider, though. Thanks!

 

[stang1]

While the Cories don't grow too big, they do need a bigger tank and prefer to be kept in groups of about 6.

 

[clarabelle]

My betta (Mr Jolley) is v quiet too and has in the last two days grown a huge lump on one side towards his belly (his abdomen looks a bit puffed up too).
I've looked up ilnesses on here and it may be dropsy - but can't work out how to treat it anyway.
Any one any ideas on what to do?

 

[mr. beta]

Hi everybody,

I've been lurking here for a couple of months now. I have a five month old betta, Finny Wiggle Fins, in a 5 gallon, filtered, heated tank. There is a cave with doorways and window, a hollow log ornament, wee bridge and plenty of plants in there with him, so he has plenty of stimulus. He's been with us for about two months now.

He seems a bit quiet the past week or so, just mooching in one corner near the surface, mostly. He appears well, with no sign of illness, and is eating fine. My water stats are all clear too, so I really don't think he is ill. I was thinking he might perk up with a couple of wee pals in with him? I did unwittingly put a fish in with him a few days ago that our local pet store sold me to get rid of algae - till I discovered that it was actually a young Chinese algae eater! It went back the next day, of course. But he did seem to follow it about a bit when it was in there.

I'm now considering putting a couple of panda cories in there with Finny FW. I could always put them in our 12 gallon community tank downstairs if necessary, which isn't fully stocked yet (six glowlight tetras and three pandas in there currently).

I don't know if it's a good idea, though. Has anybody any experience? Any advice would be much appreciated!

- Susan.

maybe youre feeding him too much, the people i live with kept feeding him an unlimited buffett and he would eat a puke than reeat the puke and then puke then just lurch around doing nothing all day. i got them to leave him alone and now i just feed him and hes very frisky and deveoloped a personality with me now.. just dont feed him for a day and see if he starts puffing up at you and zooming around like mine does, feed per instructions on the food bottle or box.

 

[SouthernCross]

Wow he looks really bloated.

Fast him for a day and try feeding him peas - if he's constipated that should flush him right out.

A male betta shouldn't look that fat...

You suspect dropsy - are his scales pineconing? I.e. when looking from above he looks all spikey? That's a classic sign of dropsy.

 

[clarabelle]

Thanks for the ideas, will fast him and see what happens.... he's still like it but not getting worse so hopefully not infection.

C