Lazy betta question

"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...
Altum wrote:
Gill Passman wrote:

Has he always been this way or is it a recent change? If he has been
like this since you got him and is otherwise healthy and feeding then it
might be just him - although it would certainly be a good idea to keep
an eye on the water quality as you say he perks up with the change -
what about temp? Do you match the new water or allow it to heat up?
Maybe the water is too warm...


I try to match the temps reasonably well when I change water. He was at
78F, but the tank I moved him to is 74F and his behavior hasn't changed.

If it is a recent change then it sounds a little how my Betta Bob became
before he died I'm afraid....he went from active to less and less so -
it was like he was aging before my eyes...


He's never been particularly active. Seems like he swam a bit more when
I got him, but his fins weren't as long. I've never seen him flare, and
he's never been much on bubblenesting.

Only one other thing...it looks like you feed a high protein diet from
what you list. Do you ever feed him flake or veggie matter such as peas?
Maybe he is constipated - certainly makes people drowsy...


I thought bettas were carnivores and needed a high protein diet. There
are algae and soft-leaved plants in his tank if he wants them. He's not
bloated and it seems like he'd be dead by now if he were constipated.

I would expect more activity at lower temps so that isn't the issue but
needed to be ruled out....

If he has never been active you can probably rule out many things - such
as age - Bob got old - he was active to start and then dropped out...

Yep, Bettas are carnivores and do need a high protein diet but also do get
bunged up...I'm not sure that I've ever seen mine chomp on algae or plants
(they might have shredded the plants but not eat them - and the current
betta Boris greatly respects his garden). I can't remember whether it was
Idzine or Tynk who recommended the peas but it was said it is a good thing
to give them from time to time - mainly to clear them out...of course
Epsom salts work as well but if I can stay natural I prefer to do so...

got a pan to boil one frozen pea???? g

Gill


Do you use frozen or can? I use can, because they should only have the
inside of the pea (not the skin), I don't get enough of the inside from
frozen pea's, I avoid baby pea's also... I try to get the bigger pea's in a
can, I put a handful in a cup of hot water for a few minutes then I have
enough for all the fish, and usually a mess when i'm done. I put the rest in
a zip bag in the freezer until the next week and what ever is left then I
throw away. I also buy the small cans, i get the same size anyway for luke
he is 6 and they are his size when he just wants to eat a can of veggies,
strange kid...
Nik

Nikki wrote:
"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...

Altum wrote:

Gill Passman wrote:


Has he always been this way or is it a recent change? If he has been
like this since you got him and is otherwise healthy and feeding then it
might be just him - although it would certainly be a good idea to keep
an eye on the water quality as you say he perks up with the change -
what about temp? Do you match the new water or allow it to heat up?
Maybe the water is too warm...


I try to match the temps reasonably well when I change water. He was at
78F, but the tank I moved him to is 74F and his behavior hasn't changed.


If it is a recent change then it sounds a little how my Betta Bob became
before he died I'm afraid....he went from active to less and less so -
it was like he was aging before my eyes...


He's never been particularly active. Seems like he swam a bit more when
I got him, but his fins weren't as long. I've never seen him flare, and
he's never been much on bubblenesting.


Only one other thing...it looks like you feed a high protein diet from
what you list. Do you ever feed him flake or veggie matter such as peas?
Maybe he is constipated - certainly makes people drowsy...


I thought bettas were carnivores and needed a high protein diet. There
are algae and soft-leaved plants in his tank if he wants them. He's not
bloated and it seems like he'd be dead by now if he were constipated.


I would expect more activity at lower temps so that isn't the issue but
needed to be ruled out....

If he has never been active you can probably rule out many things - such
as age - Bob got old - he was active to start and then dropped out...

Yep, Bettas are carnivores and do need a high protein diet but also do get
bunged up...I'm not sure that I've ever seen mine chomp on algae or plants
(they might have shredded the plants but not eat them - and the current
betta Boris greatly respects his garden). I can't remember whether it was
Idzine or Tynk who recommended the peas but it was said it is a good thing
to give them from time to time - mainly to clear them out...of course
Epsom salts work as well but if I can stay natural I prefer to do so...

got a pan to boil one frozen pea???? g

Gill



Do you use frozen or can? I use can, because they should only have the
inside of the pea (not the skin), I don't get enough of the inside from
frozen pea's, I avoid baby pea's also... I try to get the bigger pea's in a
can, I put a handful in a cup of hot water for a few minutes then I have
enough for all the fish, and usually a mess when i'm done. I put the rest in
a zip bag in the freezer until the next week and what ever is left then I
throw away. I also buy the small cans, i get the same size anyway for luke
he is 6 and they are his size when he just wants to eat a can of veggies,
strange kid...
Nik


I actually use the frozen peas...on the occassions that I cook some up
for us I do a few extra (we normally have fresh veg and but I can't be
bothered to shell fresh peas)...very messy in some tanks but the fish
love them...I would have thought that you could probably just shell the
tinned ones with no extra cooking....

Nought strange with Luke, my youngest eats mainly meat and veg but no
starch or carbohydrate...(getting potatoes or bread down her is a
struggle even as chips or crips) - my oldest will eat a bowl of lettuce
(with appropriate dressing made by Mum) like you wouldn't
believe....maybe us parents are winning this war on healthy eating
without our governments dictating to us as to what we need to feed our
kids...but I will accept there are exceptions to this and probably still
in the majority...

"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...
Nikki wrote:
"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...

Altum wrote:

Gill Passman wrote:


Has he always been this way or is it a recent change? If he has been
like this since you got him and is otherwise healthy and feeding then
it might be just him - although it would certainly be a good idea to
keep an eye on the water quality as you say he perks up with the
change - what about temp? Do you match the new water or allow it to
heat up? Maybe the water is too warm...


I try to match the temps reasonably well when I change water. He was at
78F, but the tank I moved him to is 74F and his behavior hasn't changed.


If it is a recent change then it sounds a little how my Betta Bob
became before he died I'm afraid....he went from active to less and
less so - it was like he was aging before my eyes...


He's never been particularly active. Seems like he swam a bit more when
I got him, but his fins weren't as long. I've never seen him flare, and
he's never been much on bubblenesting.


Only one other thing...it looks like you feed a high protein diet from
what you list. Do you ever feed him flake or veggie matter such as
peas? Maybe he is constipated - certainly makes people drowsy...


I thought bettas were carnivores and needed a high protein diet. There
are algae and soft-leaved plants in his tank if he wants them. He's not
bloated and it seems like he'd be dead by now if he were constipated.


I would expect more activity at lower temps so that isn't the issue but
needed to be ruled out....

If he has never been active you can probably rule out many things - such
as age - Bob got old - he was active to start and then dropped out...

Yep, Bettas are carnivores and do need a high protein diet but also do
get bunged up...I'm not sure that I've ever seen mine chomp on algae or
plants (they might have shredded the plants but not eat them - and the
current betta Boris greatly respects his garden). I can't remember
whether it was Idzine or Tynk who recommended the peas but it was said it
is a good thing to give them from time to time - mainly to clear them
out...of course Epsom salts work as well but if I can stay natural I
prefer to do so...

got a pan to boil one frozen pea???? g

Gill



Do you use frozen or can? I use can, because they should only have the
inside of the pea (not the skin), I don't get enough of the inside from
frozen pea's, I avoid baby pea's also... I try to get the bigger pea's in
a can, I put a handful in a cup of hot water for a few minutes then I
have enough for all the fish, and usually a mess when i'm done. I put the
rest in a zip bag in the freezer until the next week and what ever is
left then I throw away. I also buy the small cans, i get the same size
anyway for luke he is 6 and they are his size when he just wants to eat a
can of veggies, strange kid...
Nik


I actually use the frozen peas...on the occassions that I cook some up for
us I do a few extra (we normally have fresh veg and but I can't be
bothered to shell fresh peas)...very messy in some tanks but the fish love
them...I would have thought that you could probably just shell the tinned
ones with no extra cooking....

Nought strange with Luke, my youngest eats mainly meat and veg but no
starch or carbohydrate...(getting potatoes or bread down her is a struggle
even as chips or crips) - my oldest will eat a bowl of lettuce (with
appropriate dressing made by Mum) like you wouldn't believe....maybe us
parents are winning this war on healthy eating without our governments
dictating to us as to what we need to feed our kids...but I will accept
there are exceptions to this and probably still in the majority...

** off topic 1 sec**
over here they have this thing they now do with kids in school, its
mandatory along w/ shots records, they check their total body fat ....and I
really understand the problem with children being over weight, but I have
seen kids who were on the big side (not over weight) but just big for their
age and the parents and the child are told that if they are not careful that
the child could end up with a weight problem when they get older, it made me
so mad hearing this, it will end up causing young girls to have eating
disorders..
I am lucky I have never went over 110 lbs in my life and I am pretty healthy
but I think if I was told that as a young kid it would have scared me, and
these days its a lot worse with kids thinking they have to be perfect.
nik

** off topic 1 sec**
over here they have this thing they now do with kids in school, its
mandatory along w/ shots records, they check their total body fat ....and I
really understand the problem with children being over weight, but I have
seen kids who were on the big side (not over weight) but just big for their
age and the parents and the child are told that if they are not careful that
the child could end up with a weight problem when they get older, it made me
so mad hearing this, it will end up causing young girls to have eating
disorders..
I am lucky I have never went over 110 lbs in my life and I am pretty healthy
but I think if I was told that as a young kid it would have scared me, and
these days its a lot worse with kids thinking they have to be perfect.
nik


Hi Nik,

You and I seem to wander OT a fair bit...maybe it might be better if you
drop me a mail....

Gill