Is my Beta sick or lazy?

Question

I have a beta (fighting fish) and Im not sure if he is just really lazy or if he is sick.

All day he just sits at the bottom of his tank on his side somewhat, and when he does swim it doesnt look very graceful. I cleaned out his tank and he was swimming like a champ for a bit then went lazy again, then i put him back in his tank and he just went back to sleep again.

I have another fighting fish who is about 6 months older, and yet he is so friendly and social, he always comes up to greet you and pigs out on his dinner!

He isnt eating much either. I keep his tank in part sunlight in a warm room. And his water is always a decent temp and clean. And i think his tank pretty exciting with coloured things and a bridge and a nice plant thing so i dont think he is bored (can they get bored?).

I dont know whats wrong with him :(

Can anyone suggest anything?

Answer 1

Give it a mate, or check if the water is warm enough for him. My friend has one, 23 degrees C would be good.  

Answer 2

Well the first concern I'd have is that the tank should not be in any sunlight. To keep it at a steady temp, you need a heater in the tank. Unless your home is always at 78 degrees, the tank really needs a heater (and a filter).

Healthy betta fish are quite active (like your other fish). This one sounds to me like something is wrong - either he is ill or his water quality is poor. Just because it looks clean doesn't mean that the water chemistry doesn't have issues. You need to test it and see what your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels are at. You can either buy a test kit to do this at home, or bring some of your water in a glass (not plastic or metal) to the pet store and have them test it. Your levels should be - 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites and 20-40ppm Nitrates.

Also what do you consider a 'decent temperature"? Is it steady? What does it stay at? If it fluctuates throughout the day (which it will probably do because of the sunlight), it's extremely detrimental to the fish's health.

Good luck, and hope he is OK.

Answer 3

well i have a betta fish too. a lot of times what will happen is when we use tap water from our sinks it has chemicals in it like chlorine, sulfur and other things when you change there water its a shock for them. What I suggest you do is boil the water. strain it out let it cool down. Then if that doesn't work go to pet smart get the betta cleaning solution.  It will only cost you about 9.00 and follow the directions on the bottle. Remember beta fishes live in fresh water not the kind of water we drink. That's how you keep a fish good and healthy. Trust me mine gets sick all the time. But there the only fish that last longer than a gold fish my fish is about four years old. Any way my question to you is do you know if its a boy or girl. cause i beta maybe if you have both fishes in a tank then who noes the other may be prego. Other than that I thought my fish was sick but in a few days i think its cause it was constipated no joke im serious it was better in like 3 days trust me. Just keep a watch out for the fish, When it floats on its side. they say when a fish is turned upside down its dead. But i still have not had a fish that is like that it dies on its side and sinks to the bottom. Try tapping on the tank it is at. and see if it moves. Email me tell me how it went.

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Answer 4

He might be cold.. But hey its almost spring :)

I have the same problem as well..

He probably swims around alot after you change his water because the new water might be warmer.. My fish do it aswell.. But winter is almost over, so pretty much the really cold days are over..

Its been a cold winter hasnt it? :)  

Answer 5

keep it out of the sun and buy a heater and a thermometer

try and keep the temperature around 25c