Silly question about fish sleeping

[teamfargo]

I am fairly new at the fish thing. I got a 2 gal. hex tank with filter, light, etc. at a garage sale, so I set it up and got myself a cute little red and white male beta. I think he is either young or a midget fish. LOL

Anyway, last night I checked on him and he was on the bottom between the gravel and the lowest branch of a plant on his tumy and looked dead. I shook the tank, then shook the hell out of the tank spilling a bit of water. Didn't move. Nothing. The fins were wavy from the water swishing. I didn't dispose of him as I was still under my 14 day guarantee and planned on taking the poor fella in for an exchange. This morning, he's swimming about - happy as can be.

Can a fish sleep thru an aquarium earthquake? He looks healthy...I'm just a bit confused about this.

 

[cutechic]

He may have been stressed from the move. Are your water parameters or temperature quite different from what he was in at the lfs?

Don't, I repeat, DON'T shake the tank. This will cause him much more stress. It's best just to leave him be and check in a few hours if he is moving.

HTH.

 

[J_acon]

Next time if you are worry just check if their gills, is better than shaking the tank or tapping the glass. It scares the hell out of the.

 

[teamfargo]

Oh, I have no doubt I scared the hell out of him! Now I feel bad for him. At the time, he looked so obviously dead that I didn't think it would make a difference.

He was hidden between the plant and the gravel behind a rock and he really looked dead. I couldn't see his head and stared for a minute, got my husband to look and we decided, yup, dead. I was originally thinking that I would dislodge him from behind the plant by shaking so I could scoop him out easier in the am. We've had him for about a week and they had him in one of those solo plastic cups with blue tinted water. (Petco).

So, to answer the question about the water quality, I would have to say my water is different. It is not tinted blue, has filtration and there is a lot more of it.

Thanks for the tip on the gill thing. I was looking for the fins to move a bit, but of course could only see the top fin and the tail from the way he was.

Is this healthy behavior? (the fish, not me!) I know I'm not healthy!!

 

[bittersweet]

I wouldnt say its normal behavior..he could be lethargic and very stressed..and mabye thats why he was swimming in the morning after a night of relaxing. Is he eating ok? if hes eating good and swimming fine now, I wouldnt worry about him, he could have just taken a while to adjust

 

[cutechic]

If possible, you should take a sample of your water to the lfs and get them to give you readings on ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates (if at all possible).

You can add some aquarium salt to the water if you have any. Bettas appreciate that

 

[Dreaded]

Oh, I have no doubt I scared the hell out of him! Now I feel bad for him. At the time, he looked so obviously dead that I didn't think it would make a difference.

He was hidden between the plant and the gravel behind a rock and he really looked dead. I couldn't see his head and stared for a minute, got my husband to look and we decided, yup, dead. I was originally thinking that I would dislodge him from behind the plant by shaking so I could scoop him out easier in the am. We've had him for about a week and they had him in one of those solo plastic cups with blue tinted water. (Petco).

So, to answer the question about the water quality, I would have to say my water is different. It is not tinted blue, has filtration and there is a lot more of it.

Thanks for the tip on the gill thing. I was looking for the fins to move a bit, but of course could only see the top fin and the tail from the way he was.

Is this healthy behavior? (the fish, not me!) I know I'm not healthy!!

I have a betta named Hex who LOVES sleeping lodged behind his castle, tail pointed towards the surface. He stays like that from about 10 at night until about 6 in the morning. (I usually turn the light off at ten and back on at 6, but even when I don't, he just stays there waiting for it to go off). He's very healthy, never been sick at all, and I've had him about... a good half a year, maybe a little over that, actually. He's hardy. Just loves to sleep wedged into things!

 

[teamfargo]

Dreaded - thanks for sharing how your fish sleeps. I had him for a week when I saw him 'wedged' in the rocks. I had never seen a fish do that before and didn't know if it was ok. He has since done this a few more times - I will admit, I have to take a closer look just to make sure he isn't stuck or something. (overprotective parent, I guess).

cutechic: thanks about the tip about the water testing. I have a kit and try to regularly test my water. So far, so good.