Sick Betta Fish Behavior
- Lethargic: Inactive, lazy, lacks aggression, hiding.
- Refusal to eat for extended periods of time (e.g. days)
- Faded colors, mainly in male bettas.
- Labored breathing.
- Damaged fins.
- Clamped fins.
How do you save a dying Betta fish?
If your Betta fish is dying, you can try moving them to a hospital tank and adding aquarium salt to it. This can revive your fish and help prevent them from dying.
Is my betta resting or dying?
To put it simply, dead fish don’t breathe. So, look closely at your betta’s mouth and gills. Even during sleep, you should notice your betta draw water in through its mouth and out through the gills. Speaking of which, during sleep, the mouth and gill movement of your betta will be much slower than when it is awake.
How long do Betta fish take to die?
In the wild, they live in standing waters, often in rice paddies, floodplains, or canals. In the wild, they are less territorial due to the large space they live in – they will only spar, not fight to the death. Betta fish grow to be no longer than 3 inches, typically. Their usual lifespan is 2-5 years.
What are the symptoms of a sick Betta fish? – Related Questions
What does a betta do when it’s dying?
Most betta fish will sink when they die, so if you see your betta resting at the bottom of the tank, this may be a cause for concern. Bettas that are floating unnaturally at the surface of the water may not be dead, but instead suffering from swim bladder disorder.
What do betta fish do when they are about to die?
Gulping air at the surface
Your betta fish struggling for oxygen at an older age is a warning that it’s about to die. If it’s gasping for air at a young age, however, you need to check the water quality and change it to maintain the oxygen level.
When fish die do they float or sink?
Most fish are slightly denser than water, so sink immediately after death. However, like a drowned human, they become more buoyant over time as bacterial decomposition produces gases inside the body. Usually, enough gas builds up in body cavities to make the corpse float, like an inflated balloon.
Will my betta fish die if I touch it?
Touching your betta probably won’t kill it, but you just don’t want to take the risk. Petting a betta fish might not always cause them to become seriously harmed, but it certainly can lead to their death if they develop an infection, get a serious injury, or are overly shocked by the encounter.
Are betta fish hard to keep alive?
Bettas are easy to care for and are low-maintenance fish compared to other species. Yet they still need a proper tank set up with warm, clean water to thrive. Bettas can live up to 10 years, which naturally gives them a reputation as being hardy, as they can live for a lot longer than the average fish.
Is it normal for bettas to play dead?
A hurt fish might play dead to conserve its energy. Bettas are typically active fish swimming quickly at the top of the tank. Playing dead helps your fish heal quicker because it does not waste energy swimming around. Instead, it conserves energy floating in one place.
Why is betta fish laying on bottom?
Hot temperature, ammonia poisoning, or nitrate poisoning are the possible reasons why you find your betta fish laying on bottom of tank and breathing heavily. In this case, it is recommended that you take immediate action.
Why is my betta staying at the bottom of the tank?
A betta laying on bottom of tank can be nothing to worry about. However, if your betta fish is not eating and also laying at the bottom, there could be a problem. Changes in the water temperature or chemistry can often cause this behavior, and the most common issue is ammonia poisoning.
Why is my betta alive but not moving?
According to Betta Fish Facts, bettas are tropical freshwater species who sleep when it’s dark. A betta who is not moving may simply be taking a rest or sleeping. The preferred way in which they sleep can vary from fish to fish, but some bettas lay down on their sides without moving.
Why is my betta not swimming around?
Your Betta Could Be Stressed
Bettas experiencing stress may not feel like moving around and exploring their tanks. Instead, they may wish to stay in one spot where they do not have to move much. Bettas can become stressed for a number of reasons, including new environments, a change in water, or illness.
How often should Bettas be fed?
It is recommended to feed your betta fish two to four pellets, once or twice per day. Pellets expand when placed in water and are very filling for your betta fish. Freeze-dried or fresh food can be substituted for their pellet feeding 1 to 2 days per week.
Do Bettas like light?
Bettas like light so that they know when to wake up and prefer a darker environment to sleep in. You may have an aquarium light on your tank and if so, it is probably best for you to turn this on when you wake up in the morning and turn it off just before bedtime.
Are LED lights good for bettas?
You may find most aquarium lights are LED; these work great. Some large or professional aquariums use UVB or others , but if you’re planning to keep your betta in a basic aquarium with standard aquarium plants, LED will do fine.
Are bettas okay with LED lights?
LED lights are actually quite good for your betta! As well as providing a light that isn’t too strong for your betta, they don’t give off a lot of heat either. This means you don’t have to worry about the tank becoming too hot or water evaporating too fast!
Do bettas like flakes or pellets better?
The pellets will sink after time, so make sure that you give just enough food to ensure any extra food does not fowl the tank. Betta fish do not always like flakes. The flakes must be specifically made for betta fish! Try feeding your fish a few flakes to see if they like them or not.
Do bettas prefer sand or rocks?
Gravel is the best option for betta tanks if you want to avoid maintenance. Sand is the next best choice but it can compact and needs raking for a healthy aquarium. Marble is not a great choice as it traps lots of betta debris and must be moved around to clean properly.