Who Gives A Fish Forums

My betta's been acting weird lately, like he's not eating much and just kinda chillin' at the bottom. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Tank's a 5 gallon with a sponge filter, heated to 78. When should I start worrying and take him to a vet?

If he's not eating and staying at the bottom for more than a couple days, it's sketchy. Check for other signs like clamped fins or rapid breathing. Sometimes it's just stress, but if it's persistent, a vet might cut it.

Yep, gotta agree with rockstar. My dude did the same thing last month, turned out he had a mild infection. I added some aquarium salt and did daily water changes, but if yours ain't improving, a vet's the way to go.

foxhunter wrote: ↑Mon Jul 21, 2025 11:59 pm Yep, gotta agree with rockstar. My dude did the same thing last month, turned out he had a mild infection. I added some aquarium salt and did daily water changes, but if yours ain't improving, a vet's the way to go.

How much salt did you use? I've heard mixed things about dosing for bettas.

I did 1 tsp per gallon, but only for like 3 days. Then back to normal water changes. Some folks say it's too much, but it worked for me. Just keep an eye on 'em.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll try the salt and see if he perks up. If not, I'll find a vet.

cruiz wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:47 am Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll try the salt and see if he perks up. If not, I'll find a vet.

Good call. Also, make sure the salt's fully dissolved before adding it. Undissolved grains can mess with their slime coat.

And if you do end up at the vet, ask about internal parasites. Sometimes they're the culprit when everything else checks out. Had a betta years ago who just needed a round of meds and was fine after.