Lethargic betta? What's wrong with him?

Question

I just bought a betta 2 days ago, and it seems like he's yet to acclimate to his new home. I know it's not the best setup but I was given a kit awhile back with an 85oz bowl, fake plant, and decorate rocks.

He seemed ok at the store and when I brought him home, but ever since he got into the bowl he's been very lethargic. He'll either lie at the bottom or float at the surface at a diagonal angle. When he does happen to swim around it's quick and spurt-like. He's eaten every time I've fed him though, which is only twice since he's been in the bowl.

I filled a large bowl with tap water and set out for about 2-3 days prior to purchasing the fish. Since the kit did not come with very many plastic rocks, I also added some decorative mancala/glass beads. The fish bowl, plant, rocks, and beads I rinsed clean without soap.

What is wrong with my betta? Or is it something I've done/haven't done? I currently have about 3 pints of water sitting out which I treated with water conditioner. I'm waiting for it to reach room temperature, and am considering changing half of the water in the fish bowl.

Any help/advice is greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

If you want to do what's best for the fish (and it sounds like you really do) you'll get him a bigger tank, something like 2.5-5 gallons.  It may seems like a lot, but once you get it set up you'll see that it isn't really that much. Not only will your fish be happier, but you'll be happier too.  Bigger tanks require less constant attention plus they give your fish lots of room to swim around and be interesting, as opposed to just sitting in one place all day.

But let's deal with your current set up.  I'm glad to hear you washed without soap and are keeping an eye on water condition and temperature.  So many people just toss bettas in a little bowl with tap water and wonder why they don't do well.  Unfortunately, while leaving water out to condition used to be enough, in a lot of places now they add chloramine to the water as well as chlorine, and chloramine doesn't neutralize with aging the way chlorine does.  Water conditioner (which you have and are now using) is necessary.

A lot of bettas from stores are sick already, plus the stress of a new setting can make them act very peculiar at first.  I've noticed that swim bladder problems and digestion problems are also more common in the first few days, which often effects the way they swim.  Be careful not to overfed (2 pellets twice daily is what I feed mine).  Betta's stomachs are about the size of their eyeball, and pellets expand in their stomachs.  Bettas, little pigs that they are, will eat even once their stomach has reached capacity and if they get constipated then they have difficulty swimming.  The best thing to do is change his water regularly with conditioned water so that ammonia and other toxins don't build up in the small tank.  Always be careful about temperature, as you've been doing-- one more benefit of a larger tank is fewer temperature fluctuations, and you can get a heater to keep your betta at that optimum 78-80 degree temp.  Make sure he's in a warm spot in the room, if you can, but consistency and making sure any changes are gradual is the most important thing.  Any sudden changes, of temperature and water quality, can make things worse for the betta, even if they're overall changes for the best.  That's part of why it's so hard for them when they're first brought home, even if you take every precaution.

Give him time and hopefully he'll settle into his new home (though I would again ask to please consider getting him a larger tank-- 1 gallon is the absolute minimum if you're religious about water quality, and 2.5-5 is best for a happy betta).  Best of luck to you and your new friend!

Answer 2

he's sad he needs a better home bring him back 2 the store and ask can they look after him 4u while u set him up a new home

Answer 3

bettas are weird at times, just let it be for a while. I recomend you to give him at least 2.5 gallons of space.