Betta appears lethargic and refusing food
Betta appears lethargic and refusing food
Got this Betta a few weeks back, my wife fell in love with it at the shop, which is unusual for her, so I picked it up and temporarily put it in my 160l tank until the smaller one was cycled. The Betta seemed pretty active and healthy in the bigger tank, but my leopard danios can be a real nuisance, nipping at the fins, so I moved the Betta as soon as the smaller tank was ready. I know the new tank is a bit on the small side - it's 30cmx25cmx20cm - but I've read it works for plenty of people with bettas. I've been keeping fish for ages and have been doing daily 30% water changes, so I'm struggling to see how nitrates could be the issue. But then, out of nowhere, the Betta just stopped eating a few days ago and now it looks really rough. I tried feeding it bloodworm, which vanished after a day or so, but the Betta didn't seem too fussed about eating them. Not sure what's going on, so any help would be great - my wife's first fish and it'd be nice if it didn't kick the bucket so quickly.
Re: Betta appears lethargic and refusing food
I'm pretty certain the issue lies with the smaller tank not being fully cycled. Considering your experience with fish-keeping and the regular water changes, I think this is the most plausible explanation. I'd recommend moving the betta back to the larger tank immediately, using a breeder net for safety, and monitor its behavior closely.
Re: Betta appears lethargic and refusing food
The way you describe the situation, I'm leaning towards the possibility that your betta has been overindulging in food. The sluggish behavior you've observed reminds me of how we often feel lethargic after a big meal, and I suspect that constipation might be the culprit. It's possible that if there are copepods or other small organisms in the tank, your betta might have gorged on them a bit too enthusiastically.
I would recommend withholding food for a week to give your betta's digestive system a chance to recover. On the fourth day, try offering a single, peeled canned pea as a gentle reintroduction to food. Keep a close eye on your betta's behavior and watch for signs of normal bowel movements. It's also possible that internal parasites could be the cause of the issue.
Make sure to monitor the water quality closely and ensure that ammonia and nitrite levels remain under control.
I would recommend withholding food for a week to give your betta's digestive system a chance to recover. On the fourth day, try offering a single, peeled canned pea as a gentle reintroduction to food. Keep a close eye on your betta's behavior and watch for signs of normal bowel movements. It's also possible that internal parasites could be the cause of the issue.
Make sure to monitor the water quality closely and ensure that ammonia and nitrite levels remain under control.
Re: Betta appears lethargic and refusing food
I took another look at the photo, and I'm getting a bit worried. Two things caught my attention.
Firstly, where are those bubbles on the water surface coming from? If it's the fish itself, that's not good - it usually means the betta is having trouble breathing. I know betta nests can have bubbles, but they're not scattered all over the surface like this.
Secondly, it looks like the scales are raised, which might be pineconing. If that's the case, it's not looking good - I've heard there's no cure for it.
Firstly, where are those bubbles on the water surface coming from? If it's the fish itself, that's not good - it usually means the betta is having trouble breathing. I know betta nests can have bubbles, but they're not scattered all over the surface like this.
Secondly, it looks like the scales are raised, which might be pineconing. If that's the case, it's not looking good - I've heard there's no cure for it.