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Betta fish and lethargy causes
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2025 2:31 pm
by Auric12
My betta's been super lazy lately, just floating near the top. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate. Tank's a 5 gallon with a sponge filter, heated to 78F. Any ideas what's up?
Re: Betta fish and lethargy causes
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2025 4:18 pm
by sSjey
Lethargy can stem from a few things. First, check if they're eating. If they're refusing food, it could be internal parasites. Also, how old's the fish? Older bettas slow down naturally. Lastly, any recent tank changes, like new decor or water conditioner?
Re: Betta fish and lethargy causes
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2025 5:40 pm
by kaylornix
Mine did that once, turned out the heater was sketchy and temps were swinging. Maybe double-check your heater's consistency? Also, what's the lighting like? Too much light can stress them out.
Re: Betta fish and lethargy causes
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2025 6:43 pm
by bloom4
sSjey wrote: ↑Wed Aug 06, 2025 4:18 pm
Lethargy can stem from a few things. First, check if they're eating. If they're refusing food, it could be internal parasites. Also, how old's the fish? Older bettas slow down naturally. Lastly, any recent tank changes, like new decor or water conditioner?
Adding to this, have you tried fasting for a day or two? Sometimes overfeeding messes with their digestion.
Re: Betta fish and lethargy causes
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2025 8:02 pm
by Jazzie
Mine got lazy when I added a new plant. Turns out it was leaching something weird. Maybe test for contaminants if you've added anything new?
Re: Betta fish and lethargy causes
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2025 9:29 pm
by breezin
Yo, my fish did the same thing last week. I did a 50% water change and added some aquarium salt, and he perked right up. Maybe try that?
Re: Betta fish and lethargy causes
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2025 11:11 pm
by Vigor7
How often you doing water changes? If it's less than once a week, buildup could be the issue. Also, what's the flow like? Too strong and they get tired fighting it.
Re: Betta fish and lethargy causes
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2025 1:04 am
by darkness
breezin wrote: ↑Wed Aug 06, 2025 9:29 pm
Yo, my fish did the same thing last week. I did a 50% water change and added some aquarium salt, and he perked right up. Maybe try that?
Salt's a band-aid, not a fix. If it's a water quality issue, you gotta find the root cause. Otherwise, you're just masking it.
Re: Betta fish and lethargy causes
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2025 2:17 am
by briarx
Mine was like that when I had a bacterial bloom. Cloudy water, lazy fish. Fixed it by reducing light and adding more filtration.
Re: Betta fish and lethargy causes
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2025 4:13 am
by Auric12
Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gonna check the heater and try a water change with salt. He's about a year old, so hopefully not age-related.