Who Gives A Fish Forums

I'm gonna try to keep this short, I promise. So, I've never had an aquarium or taken care of fish before, and this is my first time doing it.

About six months ago, my friend got a male betta from Petsmart - no idea how old he was. She stuck him in a 1g tank for a few days before I took him over and moved him to a nice 10g tank. He'd puff up a bit and swim around, but mostly just kinda... existed. I know, I know, that's what fish do, right? But after a month or so, he started acting even more... meh. He'd hide in the caves a lot, and just seemed really uninterested in life. The only time he'd get excited was when it was time to eat.

So, I figured I'd get him some tankmates - I know, I know, not the best idea, but this betta, Blueberry, is super chill and not aggressive at all. I got four neon tetras, and they just kinda... coexisted. No interaction at all.

But then things started going downhill. I overfed him (I just love seeing him happy), and now he's all chunky and bloated. He's always swimming on his side at the top of the tank, and only straightens up when I wake him up. He used to swim all over the tank, but now he just sticks to the top.

I got two mollies, but then I did a deep clean of the tank and three of the neons died, along with one of the mollies (my favorite, who was all white). So now we're down to three fish, including him. I read that bettas like being alone, but I don't think that's the issue here - he wasn't alone for that long before the neons showed up.

Our good heater died, and the cheap one I replaced it with isn't warm enough for him, I'm pretty sure. I know bettas can get lethargic if it's not warm enough.

So, right now, he's on a super strict diet, eating peas for constipation, and I'm waiting on a new 100-watt heater. I also got some more plants to liven up the tank (it was getting kinda boring). If none of that works, I'm gonna try some medication I heard can help with the bladder issue bettas get.

If that doesn't work... I don't know, man. I'll put him in a 3-5g tank with some real plants, and if that doesn't work... I'm out of ideas.

I really hope he's just not warm enough, and that he's just fat and lazy. I wanna get another white molly, and I just got three more neons for my other tank. He just looks so sad all the time, and it's killing me.

If I had the money, I'd just get a 30g tank and split it up - that'd be the dream.

I hope I didn't ramble too much, and that someone can help me out.

I gotta say, I'm kinda thinking that maybe I shoulda just kept Blueberry alone in the first place. I mean, I know some people keep bettas with other fish and it works out, but honestly, I'm starting to think that's just not the best idea.

It's pretty helpful if you post your tank's water stuff, like the parameters and how often you change the water, and some pics of the fish and the tank too. That way people can actually see what's going on and try to help you out better.

barnicle wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2024 8:38 am I gotta say, I'm kinda thinking that maybe I shoulda just kept Blueberry alone in the first place. I mean, I know some people keep bettas with other fish and it works out, but honestly, I'm starting to think that's just not the best idea.

It's pretty helpful if you post your tank's water stuff, like the parameters and how often you change the water, and some pics of the fish and the tank too. That way people can actually see what's going on and try to help you out better.

Bettas can get along with peaceful fish in their same water type. Yeah, would be great to know your water parameters and see some pics of the tank.

I've had my share of keeping bettas with other fish, and I gotta say, bettas and tetras just don't mix well - I've got a plakat with male neptunes and it's been a challenge. Your betta's symptoms sound more like a water quality issue, or maybe even ammonia poisoning - get a test kit or strip, it'll help you figure out what's going on.

Can you give me a rundown of your feeding schedule, and some pics of your tank? What brand of food are you using? I'd also like to know your temperature readings, pH, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, and alkalinity levels. And how old is your betta, by the way?

I gotta be honest, betta sleeping on their side is a major red flag - he's not just chillin', he's probably sick. I'd do a water change ASAP, make sure to use dechlorinated water and match the temp, or it's just gonna stress him out more. Then, I'd take some pics and post the info you guys have been asking for - feeding schedule, water params, the whole nine yards. A current photo of the little guy would be super helpful too, so we can see what's going on.

So I'm happy to report he's not sleeping on his side today. I'm still waiting on the new heater, but in the meantime, I've been wrapping a thermal blanket around the tank to keep it cozy. I do treat the water, and I promise I'll get some test strips soon. I'm still not sure how old he is - like I said, I got him from a friend who bought him from PetSmart, and they didn't know either. As for maintenance, I usually try to replace some water every 2 months and do a deep clean every other month. I know it's not perfect, but I'm trying my best.

He's a stunner, but I gotta say, the water change schedule's a bit worrying. I'm no expert, but it seems like it's not enough. I've heard of "old tank syndrome" where the water gets all polluted and that could be making him feel pretty crummy, on top of the cold. What if you tried doing small water changes every day until the pH in the tank matches the pH of the source water, then do bigger changes weekly? And don't forget to test the source water pH after it's been sitting for 24 hours. You could even replace the new water at one or two degrees warmer until the new heater arrives. I came across an article by boomer about water changes, it's got some great tips.

I just had a thought about your tank setup, I noticed you're using a reptile cave - I've got a few of those too, but I've been told they're not meant for underwater use, the material or finish could be leaching toxins into the water over time, which might not be helping your betta's situation. Maybe consider swapping it out for some more natural hides like mopani wood or some strategically placed stones to create a cozy little cave for him.

opaline wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2024 1:23 pm I just had a thought about your tank setup, I noticed you're using a reptile cave - I've got a few of those too, but I've been told they're not meant for underwater use, the material or finish could be leaching toxins into the water over time, which might not be helping your betta's situation. Maybe consider swapping it out for some more natural hides like mopani wood or some strategically placed stones to create a cozy little cave for him.

Yeah I know it's weird, I just grabbed it from the fish decor section at the pet store, didn't even think about it. Guess it was just misplaced or something. Kinda sucks, I really liked that cave, but I'll swap it out for something else.

I actually already have some other caves that I can put in there instead, places sell plenty of caves, it's not like I gotta keep this one in particular.