Betta in need of help

[Linda1956]

Hi my name is Linda happy to be part of this forum. I have been a fish hobbiest for about 15 years keeping a variety of cichlid fish in a 350 gallon tank. I now only have a 20 gallon with glofish a 10 gallon for my goldfish who survived the cycling of my tank 13 years ago and a 5 gallon with a brand new betta I called Finn.
Before I ask the question my tank parameters are good temp is 22.4 deg but the Betta seems stressed glass surfing a lot. Since ive never cared for a Betta am I correct in saying stress is the primary cause of glass surfing. What suggestions does anyone have to reduce the stress. I have attached pics for you to see his habitat.

 

[Animallover😍]

I don't know how to help with the betta. However, I do know that the goldfish will get very big. 20 gallons minimum, 75-100 gallons recommended for beginners.

 

[Avel1896]

Hey there
22.5°C issn't enough for a Betta fish. It should live at 25-26°C. If possible in a 10 gal.
10 gal. is way too small for a Goldfish. 25 gal should be the minimum considered.
Both fishes want live plants, especially Betta that needs heavily planted tank.
What are, in numbers, water parameters : pH GH KH ammonia nitrites nitrates ?
A stressed-out fish leads to diseases.
Here are example of good Betta tanks :

 

[Colin_T]

Put a picture on the back of the tank. Add some floating plants. Give the fish time to settle in. A lot of fish glass surf when first introduced into a new aquarium. It is their way of exploring and trying to work out how big the tank is. It's just caused by fish not being able to see glass and being unable to get through an invisible barrier. It would screw up people too

 

[Sgooosh]

Put a picture on the back of the tank. Add some floating plants. Give the fish time to settle in. A lot of fish glass surf when first introduced into a new aquarium. It is their way of exploring and trying to work out how big the tank is. It's just caused by fish not being able to see glass and being unable to get through an invisible barrier. It would screw up people too

it is funny watching the fish figure out why the invisible breeder box is blocking his friend from visiting him

 

[emeraldking]

Hi Linda, firstly I'd like to welcome you overhere...
Glass surfing by bettas is quite normal. I wouldn't be worried about it. There's something told overhere about the temperature. 22,4°C is good enough for them. They can even withstand lower without any problems. In the past, I've kept and bred bettas of all kinds and kept the temperature between 20-22°C. And they were just doing fine and reproduced normal. But most people will keep them at somewhat higher rates. They tolerate that as well but it's not a need. Keeping them at higher rates will result in a shorter lifespan than if you keep them at a lower rate. With rates as 15°C till 18°C, their metabolism will lower down. But they'll be still okay. But they won't be so active anymore. At higher rates, they'll become more active.

 

[FishHobby99]

Hey there
22.5°C issn't enough for a Betta fish. It should live at 25-26°C. If possible in a 10 gal.
10 gal. is way too small for a Goldfish. 25 gal should be the minimum considered.
Both fishes want live plants, especially Betta that needs heavily planted tank.
What are, in numbers, water parameters : pH GH KH ammonia nitrites nitrates ?
A stressed-out fish leads to diseases.
Here are example of good Betta tanks :

View attachment 148015 View attachment 148016

View attachment 148017 View attachment 148018

Great tanks & very helpful post. Are these your tanks?

 

[FishHobby99]

Hi Linda, firstly I'd like to welcome you overhere...
Glass surfing by bettas is quite normal. I wouldn't be worried about it. There's something told overhere about the temperature. 22,4°C is good enough for them. They can even withstand lower without any problems. In the past, I've kept and bred bettas of all kinds and kept the temperature between 20-22°C. And they were just doing fine and reproduced normal. But most people will keep them at somewhat higher rates. They tolerate that as well but it's not a need. Keeping them at higher rates will result in a shorter lifespan than if you keep them at a lower rate. With rates as 15°C till 18°C, their metabolism will lower down. But they'll be still okay. But they won't be so active anymore. At higher rates, they'll become more active.

Must confess I am unfamiliar with the term glass surfing. My betta never gets very close to the glass. He’s at 78F

 

[Colin_T]

Must confess I am unfamiliar with the term glass surfing.

Glass Surfing is where a fish swims up and down (or left to right) against the glass. They usually have their face against the glass and move about. It is common with some fish, especially when put in a new tank. If the glass is really clean, it is more likely to happen because the fish can't work out what glass is. And I don't blame them, if people didn't know what glass was, we would have a hard time understanding it too.

 

[Avel1896]

This happens very often with wild caught fishes. And with fishes that live in too small tanks.

 

[FishHobby99]

I have 7 tanks & have yet to observe it. Only been into fish since 7/21

 

[Linda1956]

Hi Linda, firstly I'd like to welcome you overhere...
Glass surfing by bettas is quite normal. I wouldn't be worried about it. There's something told overhere about the temperature. 22,4°C is good enough for them. They can even withstand lower without any problems. In the past, I've kept and bred bettas of all kinds and kept the temperature between 20-22°C. And they were just doing fine and reproduced normal. But most people will keep them at somewhat higher rates. They tolerate that as well but it's not a need. Keeping them at higher rates will result in a shorter lifespan than if you keep them at a lower rate. With rates as 15°C till 18°C, their metabolism will lower down. But they'll be still okay. But they won't be so active anymore. At higher rates, they'll become more active.

Thank you. There are so many conflicting threads on how to keep fish. I have been a fish hobbiest for 15 years so I do have extensive knowledge regarding Cichlids but alas not Bettas. I did buy a heater and its set to 78 F I've also put black backing on back and one side of tank it seems to be helping

 

[MonsieurLaGrenuoille]

Hello bonjour and welcome, I think your betta doesn't like these plastic plants you have in the tank, I for my part would put living plants in it!

 

[FishHobby99]

I’m going all real plants in all my tanks too.

 

[FishHobby99]

Thank you. There are so many conflicting threads on how to keep fish. I have been a fish hobbiest for 15 years so I do have extensive knowledge regarding Cichlids but alas not Bettas. I did buy a heater and its set to 78 F I've also put black backing on back and one side of tank it seems to be helping

I keep my betta at 78F and the cichlids ~72. The previous owner kept them at 70F, same temp as his house 24/7. The temp is our fluctuates with the outside temp.