Betta fish and health issue prevention

[luminnox]

I've been keeping bettas for a while, but my latest one seems lethargic. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Tank is 5 gallons, heated to 78F, sponge filter. Any ideas what's up?

[trailblaz0r]

Lethargy can stem from a few things. First, check if the flow from your sponge filter is too strong. Bettas prefer calm water. Also, what's your feeding routine? Overfeeding can cause bloating, which makes them sluggish. Try fasting for a day or two.

[sandfox]

Yeah, I've had similar issues. Sometimes it's just stress from recent changes. Did you move the tank or add new decor? Even small things can mess with their vibe.

[regrex]

I've been keeping bettas for a while, but my latest one seems lethargic. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Tank is 5 gallons, heated to 78F, sponge filter. Any ideas what's up?

Yo, sounds like your setup is solid. Maybe check the heater's working right? Had a buddy whose heater was sketchy, temp was swinging, fish got super lazy.

[sharpfin12]

Could be internal parasites. Mine acted the same, turned out it was worms. Try feeding daphnia or a medicated food. Also, how often you doing water changes? Even with good params, fresh water perks them up.

[snatchit]

Agree with trailblaz0r on the flow. Sponge filters are usually chill, but if it's too strong, baffle it with a water bottle. Also, what's the lighting like? Too bright can stress them out.

[flynix]

Lethargy's tricky. Mine was like that, turned out the tank was too clean. No biofilm for him to graze on. Added some almond leaves, he perked right up.

[Foliums]

Lethargy can stem from a few things. First, check if the flow from your sponge filter is too strong. Bettas prefer calm water. Also, what's your feeding routine? Overfeeding can cause bloating, which makes them sluggish. Try fasting for a day or two.

Yep, overfeeding's a big one. I'd cut back to once a day, small portions. Also, check for fin clamping. Could be early signs of something worse.

[coralone]

Mine was lazy till I switched to live food. Now he's all over the tank. Maybe yours is bored? Try some bloodworms or brine shrimp, see if that sparks interest.

[Birdie]

Lots of good points here. To summarize: check flow, heater, feeding, and stress factors. Also, consider a parasite treatment if nothing else works. Keep us posted!