Should I be concerned

[SRC]

I have 2 fish that do odd things. I haven't been real worried about it but one seems to do it more and more often lately.

My white Hm (Kao) lays on the bottom alot, but there is nothign wrong with him..I honestly just think he's lazy...cas he will swim around when he feels the need to do so lol.

My yellow HM (Som) floats vertical sometimes, and has been doing it more often lately. He is straight up and down at times..it's freaky looking. His head will be pointed straight up and his tail straight down at the floor. It's so odd..becasue he'll just hang there, suspended, liek that for long periods of time. I know fish don't sleep..right?

He doesn't seem to be sick, or depressed, or feeling bad at all..as he has a voracious appetite, flares, plays with me if I come over, ect.

They all get 100% water changes daily (sometimes 2 times..if they muss up the water too bad before I leave work 12 hours after it is changed ...changed at 6am everyday) so I don't see it eing water quality...

Any suggestions..or am I just being overly sensitive, and he's just a silly fish? Or is it just his tail is just to heavy or something lol?

 

[wuvmybetta]

I can only assume it's because of his finnage. Such heavy finnage is quite un-natural and sometimes it just becomes too much. This is very common in most long finned bettas. Although his doesn't look that extreme.

 

[Sorrell]

I agree with the heavy finnage, sometimes it's just too heavy for them. I've often wondered with some of our fish if we are doing what's best breeding some of the finnage, but that's a different story

I will say, give him a silk plant that sits a couple inches from the surface. This way he can rest on that and get to the surface faster and easier. I have a DT boy who did that for a few months after I got him and it got progressively worse into full blown ruptured swimbladder. He lays on his side most of the time, but he still eats and flares, but I have to keep his water level really low. If his food sinks to the bottom he can't get down there to reach it I'm not saying this is going to hapen to your fish, but definately something to keep an eye on

 

[SRC]

I thought it might be the finnage. As pretty as they are...tha'ts gotta suck for him .

Can I use just any silk plant, or should I buy one from the pet store? They have some stalks of *leaves/grass blades only* at Importer's Warehouse that would be just about perfect for what you described...but I thought I'd ask before plopping one down in his tank. lol

Thanks

 

[wuvmybetta]

That should be fine. I use plants that I buy at Michael's. Just make sure you clean them beforehand.

 

[GuppyDude]

i also use cloth plants that i buy from the dollar store and other places, they work out great, and are even alot cheaper.

 

[nashnutny]

I have two different ones that do that. I think they are both half plakat as their finage is fairly short. Longer than a plakat but not nearly as long or full as a delta or hm. They just seem to rest that way. Weird looking and a bit freaky.

 

[f250fisherman]

Actually...fish do sleep. They just don't close their eyes. Bettas will either lay on the anal fin, or the caudal, unless they lay on a plant, etc.