Betta Fish Is Pale, Sits Near The Bottom.

[LiNa37]

I just recently moved about 4 days ago, but I couldn't take him with me until 2 days ago. 3 days ago, my mom called me and told me that he wasn't swimming around anymore, so I did a water change, and the day after I checked and he had his colour back and was swimming around. I decided to take him to my new place, and now he's back to being pale and just sitting in the bottom of his tank. Is this just stress or is it more serious?

I've had him for about 6 months, and his tank is just one of those small 0.5 gallons (I have a 5 gallon all set up and ready for him, but I don't want to stress him out by moving him). I don't know what the water parameters are. He has no tank mates except for a few snails, I think they're trumpet snails. I do water changes every 3 days.

Please help, I don't want my fish to die!

And I forgot to mention, he's eating just fine.

 

[-FighterFishh]

I just recently moved about 4 days ago, but I couldn't take him with me until 2 days ago. 3 days ago, my mom called me and told me that he wasn't swimming around anymore, so I did a water change, and the day after I checked and he had his colour back and was swimming around. I decided to take him to my new place, and now he's back to being pale and just sitting in the bottom of his tank. Is this just stress or is it more serious?

I've had him for about 6 months, and his tank is just one of those small 0.5 gallons (I have a 5 gallon all set up and ready for him, but I don't want to stress him out by moving him). I don't know what the water parameters are. He has no tank mates except for a few snails, I think they're trumpet snails. I do water changes every 3 days.

Please help, I don't want my fish to die!

It sounds like he's just very stressed. Give him time to settle a bit.

That said, he's probably not very happy in the 0.5g. You need an API liquid test kit ASAP and get those water parameters checked. You could have some bad levels, which would only add to his stress levels.

 

[Kelly-Jo]

It sounds like he's just very stressed. Give him time to settle a bit.

That said, he's probably not very happy in the 0.5g. You need an API liquid test kit ASAP and get those water parameters checked. You could have some bad levels, which would only add to his stress levels.

I believe he's probably stressed too. As fighterfishh said, a 0.5g tank is too small for him. The ammonia and nitrite levels can fluctuate quickly with such a small volume of water which will only add to his problems. Hope he's okay

 

[fluttermoth]

Your fish will be far less stressed by moving than staying in 'bad' water. As he's not happy, we must assume that it is a water problem (nearly all problems in fish are water related).

Put him in the big tank ASAP (as soon as it's dechlorinated and up to temperature). Move any filter media from the small tank (if it has a filter) into the new filter.

Get yourself an ammonia test and test every morning for ammonia and if there is any there, do a large (75 or 80%) water change.

 

[LiNa37]

Your fish will be far less stressed by moving than staying in 'bad' water. As he's not happy, we must assume that it is a water problem (nearly all problems in fish are water related).

Put him in the big tank ASAP (as soon as it's dechlorinated and up to temperature). Move any filter media from the small tank (if it has a filter) into the new filter.

Get yourself an ammonia test and test every morning for ammonia and if there is any there, do a large (75 or 80%) water change.

So it wouldn't stress him out even more to move him now? I'm afraid he's going to be so stressed that he'll die. Can that happen?

 

[fluttermoth]

No; stress can lead to diseases like white spot (ich) or even fungus, but they're easily cleared up once the fish is in some better water and a larger tank.

 

[loraxchick]

In that volume of water daily waterchanges are in order. Also feed only every other day to cut back on ammonia. Try it for a week and watch how much better he gets! In mean time check classifieds or garage sales for a larger tank ( and get a heater- could also make him less active if temp is low).
best of luck
cheers

 

[LiNa37]

Okay, thanks everyone. I was really worried that he was going to die from the stress or something. I'll do one final water test and if everything is okay, I'll move him to his 5g today.

Thanks again.