Is my betta fish sick? ?

Question

My betta is usually swimming a lot and happy but since I changed the rocks in his tank he has started to just stay on the bottom of the tank. He's not lying down just staying on the bottom and maybe it has to do with the new rocks I bought. They were from Petco and were for betta's. Does anyone know what could be wrong with him?

Answer 1

I would say if he is eating regularly and showing no other signs of being lackadaisical, your betta is fine. Just give it time to adjust to the new surroundings.

Answer 2

I am going to take a guess that your betta is in a bowl that is unheated and unfiltered also? If I am wrong please let me know. But the reason why I say that is because I am guessing when you changed the rocks you took his only beneficial source of bacteria. So now your tank is in the process of re-cycling itself. which mean it is more than likely that you could have an ammonia or nitrite spike which would be affecting your fish. Also if it is unheated your fish is already suffering from a lower immune system which will make it more likely to get sick and make it unable to handle a lot of stress.

I suggest buying a water test kit and make sure your water parameters are fine. Also buy a tank that is at least 2.5 gallons with a heater and filter. Also if it has been less than 48 hours since you changed his old rocks out if you still have them throw some back in because the bacteria made still be alive.

Answer 3

yes,  that last message you got got a thums up from me because it covered a lot of things that could go wrong.  I strongley recomend this,  Take all  the rock out of the tank.  Take your fish and the water you have it in and slowly pore it into a large glass.  Take the tank that you have him in and dump it out into the bath tub.  Get all the rocks out of the drain and put them to the side/trash.  Fill your tank up with fresh bath water.  Add the decoloriforiner.  I use "Start Right" from wal-mart.  This next step is going to go against your mothering instinks but, you must let the new water sit over night or at least 12 hours.  An aquarium doesn't happen over night.  If you don't have the Start Right c**p then you need to let your water sit for fourty eight hours, assumeing you have city tap water.  If you have well water, witch i doubt,  we would have a nother story...

It is verry important to psychele your water if you are going to bread your fish and have plants and other living things in your tank.  If you only have a fish and fake plants and fake rocks...  I would say this, "Provide your fish with at least a one gallon tank with a provider who will suck the p**p out of the bottem every other day with a turkey baister (imposible to do if there are rocks in there) and feed him when he is hungy."  Good luck and love your betta.  

P.S.  I am newly into the game mobesters on myspace and  if you become my friend on myspace then I will ask you a billion questions to make sure my fish is safe but I have 50 show quality bettas that need homes.  Would you like one?

I am willmorrisonw   @ that...place.com Hummmm