Who Gives A Fish Forums

My betta has been super sluggish the past few days and won't touch his food. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Tank is 5 gallons, heated to 78F, sponge filter. He's usually active but just sits at the bottom now. Any ideas?

How often do you do water changes? Even with good params, buildup of dissolved organics can stress them. Also, check for signs of fin rot or bloating. Sometimes internal parasites cause this behavior.

yo, sounds sketchy. my dude did the same thing last month. turned out the heater was busted, temp was dropping at night. you got a backup thermometer to double check?

aquaboy8 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 19, 2025 10:25 am yo, sounds sketchy. my dude did the same thing last month. turned out the heater was busted, temp was dropping at night. you got a backup thermometer to double check?

That's a solid point. Inconsistent temps can mess with their metabolism. OP, what's your water change routine like?

Had a similar scare last week. My betta perked up after I fasted him for a day and then fed daphnia. Maybe yours is constipated? Try skipping a meal or two, see if it helps.

Mine stopped eating when I switched pellet brands. Could it be the food? Maybe try offering something different, like frozen bloodworms.

deep_coral wrote: ↑Sat Jul 19, 2025 9:19 am How often do you do water changes? Even with good params, buildup of dissolved organics can stress them. Also, check for signs of fin rot or bloating. Sometimes internal parasites cause this behavior.

I do 20% changes weekly. No visible fin damage or bloating, but I'll keep an eye out. Thanks for the tips.

Weekly changes should be fine, but if it's heavily planted, organics can accumulate faster. Consider adding a small water change midweek. Also, have you introduced anything new to the tank recently? Decor, plants, or tankmates?

for real, check the heater tho. my guy was chillin at the bottom til i swapped it out. now he's back to flaring at his reflection like a drama queen.

aquaboy8 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 19, 2025 2:46 pm for real, check the heater tho. my guy was chillin at the bottom til i swapped it out. now he's back to flaring at his reflection like a drama queen.

Seconding this. A faulty heater is way more common than people think. OP, if you don't have a thermometer, grab one ASAP.