lethargic betta

[greyko]

I was visiting a friend yesterday, and, I seriously thought the betta they're minding was dead.

There is some plant in there, which is was sitting on, kinda sideways, not moving at all.

When it did move, it just went and flopped on the bottom.
Its fins.. well, they looked thin, maybe scrunched up.

I don't know how active bettas are, but, it has to be more then this.

Could it be due to the small tank it's in?
Or a sickness?

I'd put it in my tank for more room, but, I think my danios would love his fins too much!

 

[RandomWiktor]

A few questions, if you will

- What size tank is the betta in?
- What is the water temp in the tank/is there a heater?
- What is its diet?
- What is the fish's age?

Bettas should absolutely be more active. It seems likely that water quality, temperature, illness, or age are afflicting your friend's fish. But, I can't particularly tell you what the problem is and how it can be corrected until I find out more info. Perhaps you could convince your friends to improve his living conditions as those danios just might like him too much

 

[AlexsDaddy]

The clamped fins is a sure sign that something is wrong be it water quality or temp or whatever. Like RW said, it's hard to tell without more details.

 

[greyko]

Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to most of those questions.
The tank it's in is pretty small, one of those little plastic ones they sell for bettas. I know it gets regular water changes, but, there is no filter, and, no heater, though currently the temperature is probably around 25C, being summer here.

It was being fed I think goldfish flake for a while, which it didn't eat, but it's on to betta food, those small dry pellets I think.

It's pretty small, so i'm guessing still fairly young.

I might pop over and do some water tests, and my friend who is looking after it used to keep fish, so might have a filter or something around, hopefully a bigger tank too.

It's sad seeing such a beautiful fish looking like that.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Yea, the small tank is probably causing poor water quality, or the fish may be too cold. The min. they should really be kept in is 2.5 gallons, with a small heater and gentle filter. I know people say a gallon or smaller is OK, but I've experience far more health problems and shorter lifespans in those conditions, so I think it isn't really the best idea.

Well, the fish is lucky that it has someone looking out for him. Good luck!

 

[SMSBrunetteGirl]

Thats how my betta I bought yesterday was,it died last night