Betta Acting Weird

[BettaFishGirl]

I checked on my female Betta Luna this morning and she wasn't as active as she usually was, she is hanging near the back in the plants/filter area a lot and doesn't come quickly when I tap on her tank. Still eating, fins flared, but not as active. Last night she was completely fine.

Water parameters-
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-5

The picture makes her look duller than she is in person.

Could she have just had a busy night and she's tired? Or is that silly?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Is her heater working? I think sometimes we can get paranoid but at the same time we should trust our gut. My motto is - if in doubt, do a water change. Often that's enough to perk them up

 

[BettaFishGirl]

Is her heater working? I think sometimes we can get paranoid but at the same time we should trust our gut. My motto is - if in doubt, do a water change. Often that's enough to perk them up

I always get paranoid with that - but I checked and her heater is on. I just did a WC 2 days ago, but I could do another one. Maybe she's taking a nap

 

[AlexT]

Could she have just had a busy night and she's tired? Or is that silly?

Well, if she did, she has a better social life than me. You take great care of your fish. She is lucky to have herself in your hands!

 

[BettaFishGirl]

Well, if she did, she has a better social life than me. You take great care of your fish. She is lucky to have herself in your hands!

Thank you!!

 

[BettaFishGirl]

Today she is still not as active, either near her filter or right at her feeding ring. Recently i took out a lot of the floater plants, could that be it? should i add more?

 

[AlexT]

Might be worth a try, but it's another change of environment (although a nice one!). I wonder what others think.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

They do like a natural cover, add more and see what she does

 

[BettaFishGirl]

Just added more duckweed. I'm trying to think of possible things that could cause this, do female Betta fish get more tired if they have eggs in them?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

What temperature do you keep her water? How big is her residence? If its on the smaller side I'd be more inclined to do a water change every couple of days or so but your test results seem OK what do you feed her? You've got nice soft water too haven't you?

You could try some live food?

 

[GaryE]

First off, I wouldn't tap on the glass. She has an exposed nerve that runs along her flank. It allows her to sense movement around her, but it also probably hurts a little when there is any impact on the glass.

I know when we get extreme weather, my Cichlids and tetras know it and change their behaviour. It's probably in response to air pressure. A lot of fish will go into breeding overdrive, as in nature, the arrival of the rainy season means lots of food for fry.
I don't know about Bettas since I haven't had one for years, but they should react. It could be as simple as the air pressure from the hurricane that is in your general region.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

How are your other bettas behaving?

 

[BettaFishGirl]

How are your other bettas behaving?

All my others Betta are doing great. But they seem to be in there plants a little more.

Thank you, I won't be tapping on the glass anymore!

The tank is 5 gallons, I'll attach a pic of it. The temp is 78. I feed her high protein flakes and pellets, with the bloodworms and frozen brine shrimp once a week. I usually do a 50% WC every week. My pH for the water is 7.4 with a gH is 100-120 according to my water suppliers website.

There is a huge storm coming tonight and a hurricane is passing us soon so maybe she can somehow sense the rain?

 

[TNG]

Any sign of improvement in your betta?
A betta will hide and only come up to take a breath occasionally, when it's sick, ich infection, or when the water is too cold.
I don’t think it has anything to do with the change in atmospheric pressure, at least not with the bettas.
You have a heater in the tank, so just check with a reliable thermometer that the temperature is between 70F – 79F.
All you can do is to provide good water quality, but if the other betta is doing well then you must be doing things right.
My observation is that dropsy in bettas usually follows the fish hiding. But that doesn't mean that's the case here.

 

[BettaFishGirl]

Thank you! This morning she was swimming around a lot more, but still didn't really have an appetite. I'll try frozen brine shrimp tonight.