Unhappy Betta

[Meggie :)]

Hey everyone..a few weeks ago (about 3) I moved my betta over to a new 5.5 gallon tank...his previous home had been 2 gallons (with no filter) that he had lived in for at least a year and a half...Well he still has not looked happy in his new home yet..I tried turning the filter off a few days ago to see if it helped even though there is almost no waterflow and he seems to be doing better...before turning off the filter he was very clamped and never once flared...now with the filter off he is less clamped but he still isn't flaring and doesn't have as much attitude and character..when he used to be in his 2 gallon he would purposely tease the cat and he had so much character...

I know the move probably stressed him out since he was so used to his 2 gallon, but I would have thought he would be used to his new home by now... (and yes, there are hiding spots for him...I'm going to put live plants in it like anubias, java fern, crypts, moss etc. but for now I just have some wood and other things in there for him to hide in and feel secure)..he is not laying on the bottom as much and is actually swimming around with the filter turned off and looks a lot less stressed..so my question is, since having a filter with him doesn't seem like it is going to work, could the best thing for me to do is move him back to his bowl (because he wouldn't have a filter anyway, plus I do bi-daily 50% water changes and weekly 100% to keep it clean, plus there is a heater...it is a very well-kept bowl) and use the filtered tank for a new rescue (maybe one of the babies they are now selling at petco so I can help it grow up and live in a nice tank and give it the best life I can?)

Oh, and one more thing, I tested the water and it is fine so that's not what is stressing him out in his new home..

Thank you,
Meg

 

[Cazgar]

It sounds like he's sulking after being moved.
As long as your water stats are fine, then he should be ok, give him a bit more time to settle in.
Some more plants should make him feel more secure.
Can you adjust your filter flow?
Mine has a spray bar so I angle that towards the glass so it causes little water disturbance.
My other Betta is in my edge & he seems to like swimming through the flow.
Every one is different

 

[Meggie :)]

I can't adjust my filter flow, but like I said it barely moves the water...and I mean BARELY...

Okay so if I can keep him in there and somehow make him happy in the future, I still really want to rescue a baby! hah! Could the baby live in the two gallon?

Or would it be better if I moved my Klaus back to his original home?

What do you think?

Thank you for your quick reply!

 

[Cazgar]

A baby would be ok in a 2 gallon, but tbh 3 would be better

 

[Meggie :)]

Hmm..wonder if I could get my mom to let me buy a 3 gallon...with my own money of course!

Now what to do with this two gallon...

 

[fishprotector]

Mine was the same when I moved him to his new tank late last year. It took him a week or so to stop sulking and start eating properly again.

 

[Meggie :)]

He is eating fine, he just isn't flaring or anything...and it's been almost a month...

I don't think I'll be allowed to get a three gallon...I already have so many...would it be bad to raise a baby in a two gallon that is extremely well kept?

 

[Nova]

If he's eating, and isn't clamped up or losing color, I would leave him alone, adding some aquarium salt when you do water changes might perk him up! What is the temp of the tank?

A baby in a 2 gallon is just fine! A heated well kept 2 gallon is way better then an unheated, dirty and tiny bowl isn't it? The baby will be fine, and probably extremely grateful!