I just got a beta fish yesterday and he is acting weird...He is staying at the top and not moving?

Question

My computer was being weird and I meant to say "He is not moving much"

Answer 1

I second the suggestion about giving him a little "mirror exercise" to see if he's just bored. Bettas should show aggression to an "other" fish. Also, is it a male betta? The males have more display behavior than females.



There's a good description of bettas and expected behavior at a site called Betta Talk.

Answer 2

Put a mirror in front of him so he can see himself.  See is he puffs up.   He'll think it's another fish and get into fighthng mode.  If he puffs up he's okay.    Don't leave the mirror there though.    

Answer 3

betta's normally are not athletic fish, they usually just sit around and act like lazy couch potatoes. nothing to worry about, my betta does the same thing. they are very peaceful creatures.

Answer 4

Bettas are not very active. How big is his tank. Dont keep him in something less then a 1/2 gallon. Bettas really like big vases.  

Answer 5

How large is the tank you have him in? What is the temp? Did you dechlorinate the water?

Is he breathing heavily?

Do you have a cave/decor kind of things in the tank for him?

Bettas are NOT lazy fish. They're not super hyper like others b/c of their long fins, but a healthy betta swims around quite a bit.

Answer 6

It is probably because you put him in a bowl. If you put a beta in a bowl, it will be unhappy, and depressed. It's life span will be shortened because of it as well. I know what wal-mart and many pet stores say, but it's not true. You should never keep a beta in a tank of less than 2.5 gallons. I would suggest a heater and filter for it as well.

Now, if it is in a tank. Does it have any other fish to be with? Many other fish will get along great with betas, such as corydora, mollies, platys, and in my case neon tetras, but I've heard they can be fin nippers. Do you have melafix or equivilent on hand? Look through various fish diseases, and see if it has any symptoms. If so, treat properly. Betas are not inactive fish. Just when they are stuck in a little bowl and no room to swim anyway. I have about 15 mollies in one of my tanks, and my beta does just fine. It also has a pleco, corydoras, yoyo loaches, and ghost shrimp. Try adding some plants or something as well, because betas like having something to claim as "mine".

I'll show you pics if you want, and if you want me to give a better explanation, send me pics of the beta and it's habitat, and I can help you out more.

Answer 7

What size tank/container do you have him in?  What is the water temp?  Bettas will be less active in smaller and cooler tanks.

Healthy bettas are not "couch potatos" if they have the room to move around.  But, they're not danios or tetras that fly around manically all day long either.  Also, they all have different personalities.  Some will be a little shyer in a new environment than others.

Answer 8

Betas barely move to begin with, I don't think it's something to worry about.