Hey everyone,
I'm reaching out for some fish-related guidance. Our Betta's been with us for about six weeks now, living in a cozy 55l tank with a filter, heater, live plants, and some tankmates (a mystery snail, a Juli corydora, five bundles of neptunes, and a few pest snails). Everything was going great, and still is for the most part, but our Betta's become really lethargic and droopy lately. He's still hanging out near the top of the tank, but his appetite's decreased noticeably. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on how to help him out - is he stressed, or is there something wrong with him?
A few things have changed in the past week:
- did a water top-up
- trimmed the plants (they were getting out of control, and he did like to chill in them)
A downcast appearance
Re: A downcast appearance
Welcome to TFF,
After a bit of settling in, many bettas tend to get more relaxed and start playing with their food. I initially thought I had a problem on my hands, but it seems my betta just likes to let his pellets soak for a bit, making them easier to swallow and digest.
First things first, you'll want to ensure your water quality is spot on. Keep an eye on ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH levels. Sudden changes can stress your betta and lead to health issues. Aim for zero ammonia and nitrite, nitrates below 20 ppm, and soft water with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5.
Make sure your water temperature is within the ideal range for bettas - 78-82°F (25.5-27.8°C). Lower temperatures can slow down their metabolism, leading to decreased activity, lower appetite, and a weakened immune system.
I'm curious, are you certain your neptunes aren't bothering your betta? Even if there's no aggression, the constant coming and going of some tank mates can be stressful. While they can coexist, I'm not convinced they're compatible in the long run, especially considering their different water parameter requirements.
Hiding places are crucial, and I noticed you mentioned trimming the plants. While pruning is fine, try not to drastically change the environment and remove your betta's favorite hiding spots. Think of it like someone renovating your home without your input - it can be unsettling.
Take a closer look at your betta for any physical anomalies or unusual behavior, such as swimming patterns or difficulties staying afloat. Is he completely refusing food?
If you could post some better pictures of your betta and a general view of your tank, it might help us provide more specific suggestions.
After a bit of settling in, many bettas tend to get more relaxed and start playing with their food. I initially thought I had a problem on my hands, but it seems my betta just likes to let his pellets soak for a bit, making them easier to swallow and digest.
First things first, you'll want to ensure your water quality is spot on. Keep an eye on ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH levels. Sudden changes can stress your betta and lead to health issues. Aim for zero ammonia and nitrite, nitrates below 20 ppm, and soft water with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5.
Make sure your water temperature is within the ideal range for bettas - 78-82°F (25.5-27.8°C). Lower temperatures can slow down their metabolism, leading to decreased activity, lower appetite, and a weakened immune system.
I'm curious, are you certain your neptunes aren't bothering your betta? Even if there's no aggression, the constant coming and going of some tank mates can be stressful. While they can coexist, I'm not convinced they're compatible in the long run, especially considering their different water parameter requirements.
Hiding places are crucial, and I noticed you mentioned trimming the plants. While pruning is fine, try not to drastically change the environment and remove your betta's favorite hiding spots. Think of it like someone renovating your home without your input - it can be unsettling.
Take a closer look at your betta for any physical anomalies or unusual behavior, such as swimming patterns or difficulties staying afloat. Is he completely refusing food?
If you could post some better pictures of your betta and a general view of your tank, it might help us provide more specific suggestions.
Re: A downcast appearance
Poor little guy, he's really not looking his best, and I'm concerned about that whiteish patch near his head in one of the photos - I'm not sure what it is, but it looks like it could be excess mucus. @coltin, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
He does seem quite lethargic, and I've noticed his fins are a bit clamped, which isn't a great sign. The lack of appetite is also worrying. If you could take a short video of him swimming or reacting to food, that would be really helpful. Unfortunately, we can't upload videos directly here, but if you could put it on YouTube and link it, that would be great.
I also think it would be helpful if you could fill in the emergency template below - just copy and paste it and fill in as much as you can. Don't worry if you're not sure about some things, just do your best. The more information we have, the better we'll be able to help.
Request Help
Tank size:
tank age:
pH:
ammonia:
nitrite:
nitrate:
kH:
gH:
tank temp:
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
Volume and Frequency of water changes:
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:
Tank inhabitants:
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
Exposure to chemicals:
Digital photo (include if possible):
He does seem quite lethargic, and I've noticed his fins are a bit clamped, which isn't a great sign. The lack of appetite is also worrying. If you could take a short video of him swimming or reacting to food, that would be really helpful. Unfortunately, we can't upload videos directly here, but if you could put it on YouTube and link it, that would be great.
I also think it would be helpful if you could fill in the emergency template below - just copy and paste it and fill in as much as you can. Don't worry if you're not sure about some things, just do your best. The more information we have, the better we'll be able to help.
Request Help
Tank size:
tank age:
pH:
ammonia:
nitrite:
nitrate:
kH:
gH:
tank temp:
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
Volume and Frequency of water changes:
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:
Tank inhabitants:
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
Exposure to chemicals:
Digital photo (include if possible):
Re: A downcast appearance
Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out. My betta sadly passed away a few days ago, so I haven't been back on the site, but I really appreciate all your advice and I'm definitely going to look into it all to try and prevent anything like this happening again in the future.