Sudden Change In Behavior After I Put Stone Arch In His Bowl!

[wendyngd]

Hi-

I'm praying that Betta Boy is just reacting to my having put an arch with a little tunnel-like hole in his 2+ gallon bowl earlier this week. He's been acting skitttish--swimming away from me when I come near or try to feed him. And keeps hanging out on the floor of the tank, regularly coming up to the surface for a quick breath and then down again to the floor. Sometimes he swims around a little but basically seems to be hding near heater behind silk plant!!

This is my little pal, who till a few days ago, would swim to the front of the tank when I came near, flaring at me and doing his llittle food dance--and he would meet my nose with his against the glass!! So this is quite a change!! I miss my little pal!

At my husband's suggestion, I did take the arch out of his bowl earlier this evening and substituted another fake plant that he had in there before. (This arch was pretty big in relation to the bowl--but I had heard that bettas liked to have caves and this was the only thing I could find in the lfs! He did seem to be enjoying it a little--swam through the arch a few times and even perched on top, too)

Betta seemed a little happier and swimming more freely since i removed the arch, but he's still afraid of me--(even with green peas!) And he's much more lethargic than usual. I checked the stats on the water and the only thing that was irregular was the ph was a little low--like 6.0-6.5. So I added ph up...

I don't think it's swim bladder disease--because he is swimming okay--maybe he's depressed! I hope he's not really sick and on his way out--I've only had this guy for a few months and I've been fanatical about his care, water changes, etc.

Love to all--any suggestions would be appreciated. (I always think of constipation first-but can't seem to interest him in peas or cucumber right now!)

-Wendy ----Prayers for my little fishy , please!

 

[liz2]

Ah bless..I hope he is a little better. Trouble is you have no way of knowing his age.
This suddenly occurred to me when I realised some of my boys had not grown.

Sure you are doing all you can I will cross my fingers for you.

 

[Glod]

He may just have been getting used to the new invader. Any big change in such a small tank has to be a bit stressful. Are there any signs of illness other than lethargy ? Is his water cold ? I'd do a water change anyway just to make sure things are ok.

As for the PH, as long as it is constant and not fluctuating then 6-6.5 will be fine for your fish. a steady PH is more important than an exact 7. I'd strongly advise against adding any form of PH changing chemical.

 

[wendyngd]

He may just have been getting used to the new invader. Any big change in such a small tank has to be a bit stressful. Are there any signs of illness other than lethargy ? Is his water cold ? I'd do a water change anyway just to make sure things are ok.

As for the PH, as long as it is constant and not fluctuating then 6-6.5 will be fine for your fish. a steady PH is more important than an exact 7. I'd strongly advise against adding any form of PH changing chemical.

Thanks for your replies. His water temperature is always a steady 80 degrees F thanks to his heater.

He seems okay other than seeming depressed. He hangs out at the bottom of the bowl on the side facing away from the front and periodically comes around to the front (if I go near him, he runs!) and travels to the surface to get some air and then dives back down to the back of bowl. As I said, he does venture around to the front from time to time--but always returns to his position at the back/bottom of the bowl!

I can't tell if he's eating or not because he's swimming away from me if I go to feed him. (This was before a little betta vacuum!) I hope he is just stressed and I wish I knew what else to do to comfort him.

I agree about doing a water change which I will do as soon as I return from a niece's bat mitzvah this morning.

I just keep praying he'll come out of this. He was such a spunky little fellow. Thanks for all the support. Much appreciated.
-Wendy

 

[wendyngd]

He may just have been getting used to the new invader. Any big change in such a small tank has to be a bit stressful. Are there any signs of illness other than lethargy ? Is his water cold ? I'd do a water change anyway just to make sure things are ok.

As for the PH, as long as it is constant and not fluctuating then 6-6.5 will be fine for your fish. a steady PH is more important than an exact 7. I'd strongly advise against adding any form of PH changing chemical.

Thanks for your replies. His water temperature is always a steady 80 degrees F thanks to his heater.

He seems okay other than seeming depressed. He hangs out at the bottom of the bowl on the side facing away from the front and periodically comes around to the front (if I go near him, he runs!) and travels to the surface to get some air and then dives back down to the back of bowl. As I said, he does venture around to the front from time to time--but always returns to his position at the back/bottom of the bowl!

I can't tell if he's eating or not because he's swimming away from me if I go to feed him. (This was before a little betta vacuum!) I hope he is just stressed and I wish I knew what else to do to comfort him.

I agree about doing a water change which I will do as soon as I return from a niece's bat mitzvah this morning.

I just keep praying he'll come out of this. He was such a spunky little fellow. Thanks for all the support. Much appreciated.
-Wendy

Returned home from (A lovely) bat mitzvah to find Betta venturing out of his hiding places a little more. He seems to be needing to slowly build up trust. I sit next to the bowl (not making any sudden movements) as he swims around--if I move too quickly, he swims off. I haven't seen him eat, though...I will do a partial water change tonight--even though I usually do a full water change weekly with him, I don't want to do anything else to stress him out. Hopefully, he'll continue to improve.

W.

 

[wendyngd]

He may just have been getting used to the new invader. Any big change in such a small tank has to be a bit stressful. Are there any signs of illness other than lethargy ? Is his water cold ? I'd do a water change anyway just to make sure things are ok.

As for the PH, as long as it is constant and not fluctuating then 6-6.5 will be fine for your fish. a steady PH is more important than an exact 7. I'd strongly advise against adding any form of PH changing chemical.

Thanks for your replies. His water temperature is always a steady 80 degrees F thanks to his heater.

He seems okay other than seeming depressed. He hangs out at the bottom of the bowl on the side facing away from the front and periodically comes around to the front (if I go near him, he runs!) and travels to the surface to get some air and then dives back down to the back of bowl. As I said, he does venture around to the front from time to time--but always returns to his position at the back/bottom of the bowl!

I can't tell if he's eating or not because he's swimming away from me if I go to feed him. (This was before a little betta vacuum!) I hope he is just stressed and I wish I knew what else to do to comfort him.

I agree about doing a water change which I will do as soon as I return from a niece's bat mitzvah this morning.

I just keep praying he'll come out of this. He was such a spunky little fellow. Thanks for all the support. Much appreciated.
-Wendy

Returned home from (A lovely) bat mitzvah to find Betta venturing out of his hiding places a little more. He seems to be needing to slowly build up trust. I sit next to the bowl (not making any sudden movements) as he swims around--if I move too quickly, he swims off. I haven't seen him eat, though...I will do a partial water change tonight--even though I usually do a full water change weekly with him, I don't want to do anything else to stress him out. Hopefully, he'll continue to improve.

W.

I'm worried and scared. Did a 75% Water change tonight so as not to disturb him and he seemed content. He acctually ate a little bit a few times when he'd come up to the surface to take a breath. But I think he might be a little swollen and breathing a little heavier. He is moving around the bowl a lot more--and making eye contact with me. Mostly, he either sits on the bottom or hangs out low in the tank---starring out the sides....I gave him some betafix as his fins looked a little (what I believe to be) clumped--and he's still lethargic and hasn't flared in days. I dont' know if I schould give him any other anitbiotics as on of th betta sights suggest. They say that if he's acting like this, it's probably a bacterial infection...I also put a drop of coppersafe in his clean tank everytime I do a water change to prevenet parasites. I don't want to lose him.....Wendy

 

[liz2]

Hope he is OK? Sometimes, they just get ill....not your fault..you are doing all and more than someone else would do for the little chap!

 

[faithless1294]

i hope he is ok. ill pray for him.

 

[wendyngd]

i hope he is ok. ill pray for him.

Betta seems to be his old self again!! He's swimming around and eating and flashing me and meeting my nose with his against the glass and building a bubble fort!! Gave him Betafix for the last few days and he's perked up!! I'm so happy!!

Because he is multicolored--silvery lavender/blue/purple, he sometimes looks like he might have some white spots--3 near his eye and then one on his gill cover. But when I look more closely with a flashlight, it's just silvery, I believe. I will keep an eye on him.

I can't thank you all enough for all your love,, care and support in getting through this. You are all the best.

Love,
Wendy

 

[Jaded12]

Glad to know he's doing tons better!! *hugs*