Staying At The Top...

[BettahBetta]

I've had my Betta for about 2 weeks.
I feed him 3 pellets once a day and recently
found out my mother has been doing the same,
which means he's being fed 6 a day.

I've noticed that he's been staying at the top lately
and that the water was looking a little dingy, so I
decided to change the water and clean the bowl.

When I put him back into the bowl he flopped to
his side, almost like he was going to die. It was
scarry to see this, as you could imagine. Well, he
did this for a while and then I decided to take him out for
a bit and that maybe the water wasn't the right temp.

I waited a little while and released him back into
the clean/dechlorinated water and this time he seemed better.

However, he's still floating on the top. It looks like he's just
sitting there, only swimming away when he sees me.
When he attempts to swim, he swims straight down, almost like
diving, he's tail directly above his head. Then he comes and
sits at the top again.

I don't know what's going on with him. Does he have a swim bladder problem?

Does he need a bigger tank, should
his tank have more in it? I had some gravel at the bottom,but I
read that it holds waste and can cause bacteria, so I disposed of it.
The bowl I have him in is a "Betta-Starter", which is pretty small and basic.
I want to get a larger tank for him. However, since he's the only fish I
have, I don't want it to be that large, hence the reason for the basic bowl.
Any suggestions?


Thanks to those who actually read my blabbing, I'm just concerned ...

 

[FishEnthusiast]

Here is what I would do . Go to the local pet/fish store and get him a 1G or bigger bowl/tank. I get my bowls at Walmart, they are $4.97 Canadian. While you are there you can pick up a nice silk plant that your betta will love resting on. He doesn't need substrate(gravel), it makes it easier to clean.

When you get home, fill your new bigger bowl with some clean dechlorinated water. Make sure it is the same temperature as the water that is in his bowl now.

If you keep your house relatively warm, he will be fine without a heater. They prefer temperatures of about 72-78.

In order to keep your betta happy and healthy it is recommended to change 100% of their water at least once a week. The boys that I have in 1G bowls get 100% water changes about every 4 days.

It is probably ok for him to have 6 pellets a day, depending on his size and the size of the pellets. Personally, my boys get 4-5 pellets once a day, bloodworms once-twice a week, and peas on occasion. The peas help with preventing and treating constipation.

If your betta seems to be having problems swimming to the bottom he may be constipated. To feed a pea to him all you have to do is take a frozen pea, plop it in some dechlorinated water and put it in the microwave for about 15 seconds. Let it cool off and then take the outer shell off so you can get at the two half peas inside. Chop the peas up to bite sized peices and put a few in his tank, he will love them.

 

[bettaBetta]

Do you de-chlorinate the water? Is he in atleast 1 gallon? If so he could have swim bladder disease which can be caused by consispation (I think that is what killed my last betta). Does he look bloated at all?

 

[BettahBetta]

Here is what I would do . Go to the local pet/fish store and get him a 1G or bigger bowl/tank. I get my bowls at Walmart, they are $4.97 Canadian. While you are there you can pick up a nice silk plant that your betta will love resting on. He doesn't need substrate(gravel), it makes it easier to clean.

When you get home, fill your new bigger bowl with some clean dechlorinated water. Make sure it is the same temperature as the water that is in his bowl now.

If you keep your house relatively warm, he will be fine without a heater. They prefer temperatures of about 72-78.

In order to keep your betta happy and healthy it is recommended to change 100% of their water at least once a week. The boys that I have in 1G bowls get 100% water changes about every 4 days.

It is probably ok for him to have 6 pellets a day, depending on his size and the size of the pellets. Personally, my boys get 4-5 pellets once a day, bloodworms once-twice a week, and peas on occasion. The peas help with preventing and treating constipation.

If your betta seems to be having problems swimming to the bottom he may be constipated. To feed a pea to him all you have to do is take a frozen pea, plop it in some dechlorinated water and put it in the microwave for about 15 seconds. Let it cool off and then take the outer shell off so you can get at the two half peas inside. Chop the peas up to bite sized peices and put a few in his tank, he will love them.

Thank you for this information. I'm going to go get a nicer tank right after this message. I haven't looked into bloodworms yet, I only feed the Hikari Betta-Bio Gold right now. I'm going to try that cooked pes before I leave.

Again, Thank you.

Do you de-chlorinate the water? Is he in atleast 1 gallon? If so he could have swim bladder disease which can be caused by consispation (I think that is what killed my last betta). Does he look bloated at all?

Yes, I dechlorinate it with the drops.
No, but I'm going to get one now
He doesn't look bloated though. That's why it's odd.
He just sites at the top and tries to swim to the bottom,
but just floats right back to the top ....