Betta

[Annastasia]

I got a betta yesterday at my lfs. I put him in a little betta tank last night, and he was fine. I woke up this morning and he wasn't moving. I made sure he was alive(he was) and then gave him some food. I thought he wasn't happy in such a little tank, so I moved him into a big bucket temporarily. He perked up a little, and started swimming around the bucket. I left for about 2 hours, and now he is laying listliss on the bottom of the bucket.
What can I do to help him? Is there any hope?

Thanks in advance!
Annastasia

 

[Pointy_kitty]

what was he in at your lfs?
in little cups?
how cold is your water?
if he's in a bowl then how cold is your house?
these are all factors that can lead to lethergicity (i think thats a word )

also check him for fungus and fin rot (cottony transparent clumps on body/fins/mouth or black/brown/red rotting fins)
sometimes my lfs causes emense stress to their betta in their disgraceful shipping conditions and they lose most if not all of their fish to disease

OR
it could be swim bladder from inadequate feeding
is he having trouble swimming or is he just really mellow

i find the only thing that has cured my lethargic bettas is to put them in my heated tank (in a breeding NET not a box as they are too small and uncomfortable)
for a week or two until they perk up from the action of other fish around them,
they will soon start to eat again,
feed them blood worms and brine shrimp (i find these are even better then betta flakes and pellets (which i have never had a betta who would eat them)
once they become more acvtive you may return them to their bowl and continue to feed them blood worms and brine shrimp
just make sure they are not in a cold room, as too cold water will cause lethargy again


if your fish has an illness listed above or any other bugs/abbrassions then DO NOT put him in your tank!
and if you don't have a tank then place the bowl in a warmer room, feed blood worms and wrap a blanket around it at night
GOOD LUCK!

 

[Annastasia]

what was he in at your lfs?
in little cups?
how cold is your water?
if he's in a bowl then how cold is your house?
these are all factors that can lead to lethergicity (i think thats a word )

He was in one of those awful little cups.
The water was about 74
The house is about 69-70
I put the bucket he was in in the sun, to warm him up.

is he having trouble swimming or is he just really mellow?

He isn't having trouble swimming, he is just really mellow. I will try your idea about him in the tank! I will keep you updated!
Thanks!

 

[Annastasia]

Well, I put him in the breeder net in my 30 gallon tank. He is pretty much dead. He keeps trying to come up for air, but he can't make it. I feel so bad for him. I tried, but I can't keep him alive.

 

[Synastic]

Man there have been many betta deaths lately . My crowntail was recently sick too. Sorry to here about your betta.

 

[Annastasia]

He just died.

 

[Nina7777]

I am sorry to hear about your lose

If you just got him then it wasn't anything you did, he was probably sick in the store. I would bring him back down and get your money back but i wouldn't buy a new betta from them. Try a different store.

 

[Synastic]

little betta.

 

[Annastasia]

I feel really bad for him. I guess he wasn't that healthy to begin with. I am really surprised though. I got 2 other bettas from there yesterday and they are thriving!
So I guess it was just him.
I got a new metallic blue betta today at a special betta store. So, I will have to see how he does.
He looks great right now!

 

[CMC]

Sorry to hear about your first betta . I've had my betta for about 2 months now and he was the same way at first. After doing some research, I transfered him to a 2-gallon tank (I think the minimum they should be in personally). I put a small filter and a 20-watt heater in it and keep it at 79-80-degrees and he is thriving. He's always happy but I accidently unplugged the heater one day and the temp dropped to 73 degrees or so and I thought he had died. He was laying on the gravel lifeless. I plugged the heater back in and he came alive within an hour or so. His tank sits on a table by the 55-gallon with the african cichlids and when one of the cichlids swims up to the side of the glass where he can see it he just flares up real big.

 

[Pointy_kitty]

so sorry about your betta!
i was really hoping he was just a little stressed from being in a cup
he obviously was weak/sick from bad conditions at your lfs
i wish you luck with your new little guy

 

[Annastasia]

Well, actually the new guy is for my friend. I am giving him to her for her birthday. I am going to try to give her a bigger tank, but first I have to see if she likes him. My best friend and I are trying to get her into fish. So we figured something small would be better.
I hope she likes him!
Because the new guy is doing pretty well. I turn on the light, and comes right up and says "Hi! Where is the food!!!"
Look at me, I am getting addicted to him. That is always dangerous!!