Betta fish stays at top of tank wont eat or move!!! HELP!

[ErikaShae]

So i got my 10 gallon tan set up last night and put my betta fish, Bubbles, in the tank. After setting up the tank and putting my betta in it, i hopped on here and learned for the first time that i had to cycle a tank. This is my very first tank and fish. Do you think that is why my fish is out of it? im trying to be a great new fish owner, but im afraid i actually have no clue what im doing. help!!

[Bombalurina]

Since he's only been in the tank 24 hours, there is no way for the cycle to be affecting him yet. It takes a long time for a single betta to produce enough ammonia to have any effect on a ten gallon. :)

Did you maybe add him in too fast? Did you use water conditioner? What temperature is the tank? Does he have enough hiding spots?

[ErikaShae]

I did use water conditioner, and the temperature is set at 78 degrees!!! he has 6 silk plants and a rock cave in his tank. i might of added him to fast! and hes still not eating. you think its just because its a new environment? when should i do the first 50% water change and how often since i didnt cycle it? thank you sooooo much for replying!!!!!

[Micho]

He may be adapting to his new tank, that or he's in shock since you did not acclimate him properly. Fish-in cycle, you'll need a liquid testing kit for ammonia, nitrItes, and nitrAtes, test for ammonia and nitrItes everyday, whenever ammonia or nitrItes or both is 0.25ppm or over do a 50% water change just water, once nitrItes drop down start testing nitrAtes, and once there's no reading of ammonia and nitrItes along with a reading of 10 ~ 20ppm of nitrAtes you'll know it's cycled.

Hope that helps. :)

[ErikaShae]

Thank you!!!!! that really helped. i didint understand the other posts about cycling. they get to over informative. thanks again!!!!!!

[ErikaShae]

btw, i dont have the filter running because it seemed to be really stressing him out. is that alright? hes swimming around more without it on.

[lillyandquigly]

How full is the tank?

[Bombalurina]

That's fine, but if the filter isn't on it won't cycle and you will have to do extra water changes to make up for it.
If you want to cycle it, look into baffling your filter. :)

[lillyandquigly]

the filter might not be working right if it's bugging him

[ErikaShae]

hm... i think the filter was kind of strong. it was like a waterfall that pulled him towards it. poor guy has to swim against that current. made me exhaused watching, i could only imagine how he felt.

the water is about a little over an inch from the top.

i put nylon over the filter output, is that considered "baffling"

:)