Help please

[ChoclateBetta]

Bettas prefer larger spaces. Carter lives in a 10 gallon.

[DragonFish]

Originally Posted by Twixies

What causes it to be white and stringy looking? Would the fish have to be sick? Like with intestinal infections or something?

Generally internal parasites is what will cause the poo to become white and stringy. There are a few other signs of course, but that is one of the big indicators.
Your guys poo sounds nice and normal though....just to reassure you a little. xD

[AyalaCookiejar]

Yes, generally white or clear stringy poo indicates internal parasites.

Edit: I am slow today! And my iPod is also :p

[ChoclateBetta]

IAL is always good. I would reccomend new life spectrums food that helps with internal parasites.

[Twixies]

Do you guys know what your fishie(s) are thinking/feeling? If so, how do you know? I just did a 100% change for my fishie, and well he's swimming around really fast, chasing my finger, and well I don't know if he's stressed out or if he's just curious about his new environment.

[AyalaCookiejar]

He's probably curious. I always know what my bettas are thinking. "FOOOOOOD!!!"
Haha.

Once they are put in clean water they usually get more active. I experienced it with both of my fish, and they were at room temperature. Unless he is acting lethargic with random "darting" there's not a reason to be concerned. Both of my fish associate my fingers with food, so that's probably why he's chasing it.

[DragonFish]

Yup. If hes chasing your finger around, that sounds a little more like fresh-water excitement, which is normal and perfectly fine. ;)

A good thing to look for if you're worried about stress is their color and gill movement. Unless your fish is all white or Cellophane(clear), if they're stressed they will loose color and their gills will start moving a little more rapidly, like they're taking large, quick breaths. Often their fins will clamp up as well, nice and tight together.
Also, bettas are naturally very active.....so when their stressed, they're generally be lethargic rather then swimming around a lot. Sometimes they will have bursts of quick darting movement, but often they will sit on the bottom, hide behind something, or hover near the top in a corner or something.

After a while with your betta you'll get to know his behaviors and habits and you'll learn when hes happy and healthy and when something might be a little off. ;)

[AyalaCookiejar]

+1 for DragonFish :) very well explained, as always :p

[Twixies]

I thought the water might have been a little too warm for my fishie, the thermometer said it was like 86 degrees o.o It didn't feel warm though so I don't know why it said that

[AyalaCookiejar]

What kind of thermometer do you have? It should be around 78-80 degrees.