cloudy water and inactive fish?

[sandly]

My betta's tank has been looking super cloudy lately and I'm totally stumped. Ever since I noticed the cloudy water, he's been acting really weird - just laying around and occasionally swimming to a different spot to lay down again. I'm getting really worried, is he just bored or something? I have no idea what's going on, do you guys have any idea what might be causing this?

[florabug]

I'm pretty concerned about your betta's health, sandly. His fins are clamped and he appears a bit bloated - that's not normal. Can you tell me what kind of food you're feeding him? What are your current water parameters like? And do you have a filter in the tank?

As for the cloudy water, I think a partial water change would really help - try 30-50% and see how that goes. You should also give the gravel a good clean, it looks like it's built up a lot of debris, which can definitely contribute to the cloudiness.

[sandly]

I'm pretty concerned about your betta's health, sandly. His fins are clamped and he appears a bit bloated - that's not normal. Can you tell me what kind of food you're feeding him? What are your current water parameters like? And do you have a filter in the tank?

As for the cloudy water, I think a partial water change would really help - try 30-50% and see how that goes. You should also give the gravel a good clean, it looks like it's built up a lot of debris, which can definitely contribute to the cloudiness.

I had noticed his fins were clamped but this morning was a different story - the water's cleared up a bit and he's starting to perk up. I do have a filter running and I've been feeding him a mix of pellets and the occasional freeze-dried blood worms - just a few, not too many.

[florabug]

Glad to hear the water's clearing up a bit and your betta's perking up. So, what's your water change schedule like - how often do you do it and how much do you change each time?

[kindlux]

From what I've learned, bacteria blooms aren't typically a cause for concern - they actually indicate that beneficial bacteria are thriving. It's likely the bloom will resolve itself within a week or so. Regular water changes might even prolong the issue.

Can you share your current water parameters, and is your tank heated? It's clear something is stressing your betta, and I'm trying to get a better understanding of the situation.

[coltin]

If your tank water turns milky cloudy, it usually means there's uneaten food decaying in the substrate. To clear this up, I'd recommend doing a 75% water change and thoroughly cleaning the gravel for a week straight, then reassess the situation.

Decaying food in the gravel can cause ammonia and nitrite levels to spike, which can be fatal for your fish. Regular water changes and a good filtration system are key to preventing this from happening.