Tank Mates For Depressed Betta?

[ChilliPepper]

We recently moved house, a month a go. Before, my Betta's tank was in the living room, and he'd be able to watch me most of the day. He had two Amano shrimp (big ones) in there and four Pygmy Cories.

When we moved we decided to take out the shrimp as they made a lot of mess in his small tank, along with the Cories who would never come out and were very shy, as Sherbert (my Betta) was always chasing them when they'd come out. So they went in my 50g and they are all 100% happier now they aren't in with Sherb.

Unfortunately Sherb has become depressed. He will eat, but spends all day on his filter facing the wall. Not bothering at all.

So we moved him into our new living room yesterday. He has been laying on the bottom and on the filter, looking depressed. I didn't bother feeding him last night and sensed he wouldn't eat. I will offer some tonight though. He's on his filter again, but still not happy. Normally he will come up to you when you approach the tank and say hello, but he isn't bothered.

I am pretty worried about him. I wonder if he wants some friends? Trouble is getting something to go in there that he won't go for. There are two snails in there with him but he's not bothered with them.

Oh, he has a 10g tank.

 

[Randomitity]

Maybe he just needs something he can chase?

One of my males gets depressed if he doesn't have another male near him he can flare at from time to time or race with back and forth

 

[deanoce]

Hi, Its been a while since i've had a Betta, but I kept mine with some Harlequin Rasbora and they got on great.
Maybe add a female Betta

 

[Kelly-Jo]

The size of the tank limits the fish that you will be able to keep with your Betta as many of the smaller fish which could be kept in a 10g tank could potentially be an easy meal for your betta. Pygmy Corys would be a good tank-mate for your Betta as they are big enough to look after themselves and also they are not aggressive fish and therefore will not bully or nip at your Betta's fins. They will also mainly occupy the bottom of the tank and will only visit the upper levels now and then, which is also beneficial as they will not encroach on your Betta's territory.

 

[Randomitity]

Maybe add a female Betta

Do not do this the male will kill the female or the female will kill the male I have had this happen the first time I was told I could do this

 

[LadyRiv.]

i have endlers with my betta and they are fine, no problems. i tried a cory but that got chased by my betta so the cory went back to the other tank.

 

[Baccus]

Try puting a mirror beside his tank for short periods, he should display at his own reflection. Mine see's his reflection in the glass near the filter and it took him a while to realise it wasn't another fighter and to just ignore it.Does he have any plant life in his tank, as I find mine always enjoy creeping around floating weed, inspecting it for any hidden morsels. Live food should also get him interested in life again as well, mine enjoys hunting down mozzie wrigglers and now he has cherry shrimp with him he also hunts down and eats any babies he can find.

Also when you moved house did you keep his old water or did you give him totally new water?

 

[lilfishie]

the Pygmy were probably shy because there was only 4 of them i had 8 in an 8 gal with my betta and they were always out and about. maybe try some Mirco Rasbora?

 

[marieukxx]

You can get betta mirrors that you pop in the tank for so long each day so they can flare and exercise.

 

[ChilliPepper]

The size of the tank limits the fish that you will be able to keep with your Betta as many of the smaller fish which could be kept in a 10g tank could potentially be an easy meal for your betta. Pygmy Corys would be a good tank-mate for your Betta as they are big enough to look after themselves and also they are not aggressive fish and therefore will not bully or nip at your Betta's fins. They will also mainly occupy the bottom of the tank and will only visit the upper levels now and then, which is also beneficial as they will not encroach on your Betta's territory.

As I said I tried Pygymy Cories and he chased them all the time, so they never came out.

the Pygmy were probably shy because there was only 4 of them i had 8 in an 8 gal with my betta and they were always out and about. maybe try some Mirco Rasbora?

No, they were shy because they were being harrassed by Sherbert. They are out in the open in my 50g and even separate from each other. They are completely different fish, and I am going to pick up a couple more at the weekend. There was 8 of them but I lost a few, and I suspect the stress from Sherb chasing them did this.

Obviously he has had fresh water since we moved a month ago. He also had fresh water when we moved, at the same temperature as he normally has it. Plus we didn't move far so it is the same type of water.

Anyway, Sherb seems back to normal tonight. He ate last night, and has come over to greet us. Think he was just in a strop. He's an old boy now and always been a grumpy chap, so think he was just in a mood with us for not spending enough time with him

I'll have a look to see if there are any small fish that may be suitable at the LFS at the weekend. I realise I am limited with fish due to the tank size. If they got too big or Berb chased them, I'd put them in my 50g, so no big deal.

 

[lilfishie]

Glad he's getting bac to normal, then can be so stroppy sometimes