How To Cheer My Betta Up?

[electropunk06]

Hi i posted a while back saying my betta was depressed since moving to a tank with other fish, people suggested just to wait, he is still just sitting in his little castle looking depressed he occasionally comes to the surface for a breath but not for food. he is eating sinking pellets (put in for corys).

Any suggestions how to cheer him up other than setting up another tank and popping him in there?

Thanks

 

[Fyurae]

What kinds of stuff (non-living) do you have in the tank? If the castle thing is the only cover, he will probably hide there. Try getting a plant that you can allow to float in the tank (or even silk ones) or plants, wood, or rocks that create cover. Do you have a picture of your tank?

 

[electropunk06]

Thanks there are pants in there but none reach the surface yet do you think i should add a few which do?

Cheers.

 

[Fantail_John]

Thanks there are pants in there but none reach the surface yet do you think i should add a few which do?

Cheers.

Hello

I have just started with a betta just had it 3 days, on a thread I started a nice person said a Floating betta log will be nice for a betta and was thinking of putting some java moss on the log to hang down in the tank. Something you might to think about? Hope it helps John

 

[Fyurae]

If you can, it might help. I've found that usually bettas are more aloof if they can see the light above them. If you give them cover from the surface they become more active. Try turning the light off and see if he comes out. Things with broad leaves help as well, like anubias. Or anything that you can allow to float on the top, like pennywort or java moss or guppy grass.

 

[micko]

I agree with the floating plants. It will give far more cover for him.

 

[lilfishie]

plants are always good with bettas, floating plants tend to make them feel safe and broad leaves are good for resting on

PKs are rather grumpy though, mine loves his pot, i recently moved him into another tank and he sulked until i moved his pot over too

 

[joselaz5780]

Well i used to have a 10 gallon tank with a betta and a few platies. I would try to raise the temperature up a little bit and also try adding some plants to make him happier. Good Luck!

 

[AshleyMac]

Along with plants/more cover/betta log...I used to play with mine. I would put a ping pong ball or soda bottle top on the surface and he would come chase and flare at it. They are rather smart fish, if you keep him engaged he will probably be much happier. I had mine in a community tank with white clouds, snails, and shrimp. He hid first, then he would pace the front of the tank, then he settled in. He finally started eating the other inhabitants and I had to move him to another tank.

 

[Blubble37]

the shrimp or white clouds?

 

[Athena]

Thanks there are pants in there but none reach the surface yet do you think i should add a few which do?

Cheers.

Ahh well if there are pants in there that would explain his mood (especially if they are not clean pants)

Sorry just having a silly moment LOL

Let me just put my serious hat back on...

Ok - another thing that can upset a betta is an overly turbulant filter flow. They don't seem to like lots of noise and water movement, or being housed with fast moving fish. Maybe you could check all those things. If your filter flow is a bit too strong, try turning it down a bit so that it's more of a ripple than a gushing sound. Same thing if you have an airstone bubbler in there, you could turn that down a bit too.

Also, they can be quite fussy about food. Try varying his diet a bit if you can - e.g. bloodworms, baby brine shrimp, daphnia etc (frozen is better than freeze dried and feed sparingly).

Regards, Athena

 

[AshleyMac]

He ate both the white clouds and shrimp. He was moved to his own tank right after that. He seemed lonely, but not much else I could do if he couldn't be trusted.

 

[electropunk06]

Sorry for the late reply, ive been on holiday for the week

Ahh well if there are pants in there that would explain his mood (especially if they are not clean pants)

Ha ha surprised no one else noticed that earlier, i can asure you there are no pants in there


I've decided im going to set up a new tank for him as he looks so sad.

The water flow is quite a lot but its the same filter that he has always had even when he was on his own so dont think that bothers him.

i think he is just a loner.


Thanks for the help eveyone

 

[Blubble37]

Thanks there are pants in there but none reach the surface yet do you think i should add a few which do?

Cheers.

perhaps your betta likes laundry