Lazy betta question

I can't decide whether one of my bettas is sick or just lazy. He spends
most of his time either sitting plants near the surface of his tank or
nose-down in the plants at the bottom. He looks fine and eats eagerly.
I've had him since January and his fins have grown nicely and he's not
lost any weight. He eats frozen foods (brine shrimp, mini-mysis,
bloodworms, etc.) or freeze-dried bloodworms once a day.

He got a bit more active after large water changes so I thought maybe
there was a subtle water quality problem - his 2 gal planted tank has a
deep Flourite substrate and I can't gravel-vac because of all the roots.
The water tests fine, but you never know... I moved him into a
different small tank with a bare bottom, and he still shows the same odd
behavior. Now he snoozes on a raft of riccia or rests quietly on the
bottom of the tank.

I tried putting my other betta (the one I just pulled out of the
community tank) next to him and he never even noticed so I don't think
it's loneliness.

Is this laziness normal for some bettas? Is he sick? I've never seen a
betta act like this all the time.

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"Altum" wrote in message
. com...
I can't decide whether one of my bettas is sick or just lazy. He spends
most of his time either sitting plants near the surface of his tank or
nose-down in the plants at the bottom. He looks fine and eats eagerly.
I've had him since January and his fins have grown nicely and he's not lost
any weight. He eats frozen foods (brine shrimp, mini-mysis, bloodworms,
etc.) or freeze-dried bloodworms once a day.

He got a bit more active after large water changes so I thought maybe
there was a subtle water quality problem - his 2 gal planted tank has a
deep Flourite substrate and I can't gravel-vac because of all the roots.
The water tests fine, but you never know... I moved him into a different
small tank with a bare bottom, and he still shows the same odd behavior.
Now he snoozes on a raft of riccia or rests quietly on the bottom of the
tank.

I tried putting my other betta (the one I just pulled out of the community
tank) next to him and he never even noticed so I don't think it's
loneliness.

Is this laziness normal for some bettas? Is he sick? I've never seen a
betta act like this all the time.

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to reply.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com


I don't know alot about planted tanks but just thought I would mention,
since the bigger vacs take to much water to quick I made one for my betta
tanks with a tube from a underground tank. takes it out slower so I can get
anything at the bottom.
Out of my seven male betta's, I have 2 who are petty big (think they may be
older then the rest) but they don't act like the others they lay around,
however they are quick to come up for food, and are in good shape, I also
tried putting them near other tanks but did not seem to matter much, I have
one other who is not bothered by other betta's in the least, right now he
has a betta tank on each side of him and the other two will flare at him and
he pays them no made what so ever.
But since yours was not like that before now, it may be something else, I
don't know where you get your betta's but from what I have heard from some
breeders when you get them in a shop sometimes they are all ready close to a
year being they don't get all their tail/fin coloring until around 8 mths
and that is when people want them, any chance he is older?
sure hope he is ok
Nik

Altum wrote:
I can't decide whether one of my bettas is sick or just lazy. He spends
most of his time either sitting plants near the surface of his tank or
nose-down in the plants at the bottom. He looks fine and eats eagerly.
I've had him since January and his fins have grown nicely and he's not
lost any weight. He eats frozen foods (brine shrimp, mini-mysis,
bloodworms, etc.) or freeze-dried bloodworms once a day.

He got a bit more active after large water changes so I thought maybe
there was a subtle water quality problem - his 2 gal planted tank has a
deep Flourite substrate and I can't gravel-vac because of all the roots.
The water tests fine, but you never know... I moved him into a
different small tank with a bare bottom, and he still shows the same odd
behavior. Now he snoozes on a raft of riccia or rests quietly on the
bottom of the tank.

I tried putting my other betta (the one I just pulled out of the
community tank) next to him and he never even noticed so I don't think
it's loneliness.

Is this laziness normal for some bettas? Is he sick? I've never seen a
betta act like this all the time.


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...

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...

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...

Gill

"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...
Altum wrote:
I can't decide whether one of my bettas is sick or just lazy. He spends
most of his time either sitting plants near the surface of his tank or
nose-down in the plants at the bottom. He looks fine and eats eagerly.
I've had him since January and his fins have grown nicely and he's not
lost any weight. He eats frozen foods (brine shrimp, mini-mysis,
bloodworms, etc.) or freeze-dried bloodworms once a day.

He got a bit more active after large water changes so I thought maybe
there was a subtle water quality problem - his 2 gal planted tank has a
deep Flourite substrate and I can't gravel-vac because of all the roots.
The water tests fine, but you never know... I moved him into a different
small tank with a bare bottom, and he still shows the same odd behavior.
Now he snoozes on a raft of riccia or rests quietly on the bottom of the
tank.

I tried putting my other betta (the one I just pulled out of the
community tank) next to him and he never even noticed so I don't think
it's loneliness.

Is this laziness normal for some bettas? Is he sick? I've never seen a
betta act like this all the time.


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...

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...

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...

Gill

I don't know if anyone else does this with their betta but I skip (kind of)
1 day a week, I will give them a few flakes just enough that they are not
hungry, but I normally feed them 2-3 small meals a day instead of two reg
ones, then on Sunday morning when I change & clean tanks I only give a
couple flakes. I do the pea thing once in a while when I remember, if by
some chance its constipation Epson salt is good for that and I *think*
pretty safe.
Nik

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.

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to reply.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com

Nikki wrote:
"Altum" wrote in message
. com...
I can't decide whether one of my bettas is sick or just lazy. He spends
most of his time either sitting plants near the surface of his tank or
nose-down in the plants at the bottom. He looks fine and eats eagerly.
I've had him since January and his fins have grown nicely and he's not lost
any weight. He eats frozen foods (brine shrimp, mini-mysis, bloodworms,
etc.) or freeze-dried bloodworms once a day.

He got a bit more active after large water changes so I thought maybe
there was a subtle water quality problem - his 2 gal planted tank has a
deep Flourite substrate and I can't gravel-vac because of all the roots.
The water tests fine, but you never know... I moved him into a different
small tank with a bare bottom, and he still shows the same odd behavior.
Now he snoozes on a raft of riccia or rests quietly on the bottom of the
tank.

I tried putting my other betta (the one I just pulled out of the community
tank) next to him and he never even noticed so I don't think it's
loneliness.

Is this laziness normal for some bettas? Is he sick? I've never seen a
betta act like this all the time.

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to reply.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com


I don't know alot about planted tanks but just thought I would mention,
since the bigger vacs take to much water to quick I made one for my betta
tanks with a tube from a underground tank. takes it out slower so I can get
anything at the bottom.

Cool idea. I have a tiny gravel vac, but the substrate in that tank is
solid pants and roots. I think maybe I'm going to take the tank apart,
clean the substrate, and replant in a thinner layer of Flourite.

Out of my seven male betta's, I have 2 who are petty big (think they may be
older then the rest) but they don't act like the others they lay around,
however they are quick to come up for food, and are in good shape, I also
tried putting them near other tanks but did not seem to matter much, I have

That sounds just like this guy. He doesn't bother to move much, but
he's always looking for a handout. He swims up from the bottom or scans
the surface from his bed of riccia when I approach the tank. At feeding
time, he snaps at the food and rapidly eats it all.

one other who is not bothered by other betta's in the least, right now he
has a betta tank on each side of him and the other two will flare at him and
he pays them no made what so ever.
But since yours was not like that before now, it may be something else, I
don't know where you get your betta's but from what I have heard from some
breeders when you get them in a shop sometimes they are all ready close to a
year being they don't get all their tail/fin coloring until around 8 mths
and that is when people want them, any chance he is older?
sure hope he is ok
Nik

I have no idea how old he is. His fins grew longer when I got him and
they have some pretty bright red color on the margins now that wasn't
there at first. He was pretty big, though.

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to reply.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com

"Altum" wrote in message
om...
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.

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to reply.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com

****only from what I read*** So I am taking an educated guess
I had read about how to tell how old they are because it says its harder to
breed store betta's because they are older and less interested, you want a
young one, but most people don't buy them because they are not full (color,
tail/fin) but it said around 6-8 months their color becomes brighter,
tail/fin become longer and all the other stuff that goes along with it, so
probably around the time you seen his fins & tail growing and color changing
he was probably between 6-8 months, so that's not to old, so I doubt its age
that is his problem, I have a real pretty one he is marble "ish" white/blue
on his body with red tail/fin, he is the same way, i only got him a month
ago but it seems to just be how he is, my aunt got me 2 males not long ago,
much bigger then any of mine, pretty, but i noticed they are not as active
as the smaller ones, i wonder if size has anything to do with it.
Nik
Did tynk say what happend with her female betta's, i dont know if i missed
it, i read some place on here that she lost 80% of them, i seen their pics
they are really pretty, i wonder what happend.....I dont think they were
new, i think she had them all for a while.

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

"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...