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How to spot early signs of Betta illness
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 4:50 pm
by flavorite
Noticed my betta acting weird lately, like he's not as active and kinda just chills 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. Anyone got tips on what to look for?
Re: How to spot early signs of Betta illness
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 6:30 pm
by coralbay
Early signs can be subtle. Look for clamped fins, loss of appetite, or erratic swimming. Check for white spots (ich) or fuzzy patches (fungus). Also, monitor if they're gasping at the surface, which could indicate low oxygen or gill issues. How often do you do water changes?
Re: How to spot early signs of Betta illness
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 8:11 pm
by floralux
My guy did the same thing last month. Turned out he had fin rot. Started with just being lazy, then his fins looked ragged. I upped the water changes to twice a week and added almond leaves. He bounced back quick.
Re: How to spot early signs of Betta illness
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 8:56 pm
by tideswell
flavorite wrote: ↑Tue Jul 29, 2025 4:50 pm
Noticed my betta acting weird lately, like he's not as active and kinda just chills 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. Anyone got tips on what to look for?
Could be stress from something recent. Did you add new decor or tankmates? Even a small change can mess with them.
Re: How to spot early signs of Betta illness
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 10:28 pm
by Squishy
Agree with coralbay on the clamped fins. Also, watch for color fading or darkening. If they're not eating, try offering live food like brine shrimp to tempt them. Sometimes it's just a phase, but better safe than sorry.
Re: How to spot early signs of Betta illness
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2025 12:14 am
by carmine
Yo, my betta was straight up ghosting me when he got sick. No energy, no eats, just vibin' at the bottom. Turned out he had internal parasites. Meds fixed him up, but you gotta catch it early. Look for white stringy poop, that's a dead giveaway.
Re: How to spot early signs of Betta illness
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2025 12:42 am
by daveman
Had a similar scare last week. My dude was hiding more than usual and his colors looked dull. Did a 50% water change and added stress coat. Next day he was back to his feisty self. Sometimes it's just the water, even if params seem fine.
Re: How to spot early signs of Betta illness
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2025 1:34 am
by steadsly
coralbay wrote: ↑Tue Jul 29, 2025 6:30 pm
Early signs can be subtle. Look for clamped fins, loss of appetite, or erratic swimming. Check for white spots (ich) or fuzzy patches (fungus). Also, monitor if they're gasping at the surface, which could indicate low oxygen or gill issues. How often do you do water changes?
Spot on advice. I'd add that sometimes they just need a break. Bettas can be drama queens, but it's always worth double-checking.
Re: How to spot early signs of Betta illness
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2025 2:45 am
by flume
If they're lethargic and params are good, consider temp fluctuations. Even a degree or two can stress them out. Also, check the filter flow isn't too strong. Bettas hate strong currents, might just be tired from fighting it.
Re: How to spot early signs of Betta illness
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2025 3:45 am
by dampfire
Yep, seconding the flow thing. My guy was struggling till I baffled the filter with a sponge. Now he's chill as can be. Also, make sure they've got plenty of resting spots near the surface. They like to lounge.