Betta stressed in 30 gal planted?

[Elena]

Hi everybody.
I am relatively new to bettas but have kept tropical fish for years. I got tricked into getting a betta fish for my daughter (4 yr old- wanted a hermit crab, mommy not so excited :) He is in a 2 gal container to which I am planning to adding a heater as soon as temperatures drop around here- but that's another thread. My second betta is in our community planted 30 gal tank- with female guppies and harlequin rasboras. No problem with tank mates so far. We only had the second betta for three days. To be quite honest, I fell in love with this particular betta at the store and thought that he could live in the community tank. After all I read, I thought that would be OK. He should in theory be doing much better than the one in the 2 gal, right? Wrong. That fish is stressed to the point that colors fade and I can see the horizontal stress lines. He hides all the time and looks miserable. He won't come up for feedings. I watched him and besides some flaring at the back at the tank (towards his reflection) I did not see anything that might be causing this. Water parameters are all normal. I do a 50-60% water change every week so that should not be a problem. The tank is over two years old and fully cycled. Lots of plants and hiding places.
Any ideas as to what might be wrong? I am almost to the point where I am thinking about putting him in a 2 gal just to see how he'd fare. The other betta is quite happy and active in his.
Thanks for reading and sorry for rambling.

[5green]

he is probably scared in such a big tank change him two the smaller tank and do complete water changes every week if he does not get better within 3 weeks go to your local pet store and get a betta fish stress coat
but remember MEDICINE IS THE LAST RESORT

[5green]

oh and welcome to bettafish.com

[doggyhog]

Some Bettas like big tanks, some don't. Your new one is probably just really overwhelmed. Imagine, going from a small cup, to a large tank with a bunch of other fish. It would be very stressful. If he doesn't relax soon, I would get him his own two gallon.

[Elena]

Thank you both for replying. I will give him a couple more days to adjust. The two gallon I am thinking about would be unfiltered and I am reluctant to do that. Although the other betta (Isabella- male betta named by my daughter lol) seems to be doing great in his. For him I am doing 100% water changes twice a week with 1 teaspoon of salt. I am looking into getting a small corner filter but that's not going to happen for a while. Is this OK long term? As long as I am keeping up with the water change schedule of course.

[dramaqueen]

I would put him in his own tank. Bettas are solitary fish and really do better on their own. Welcome to FishForum.

[AngelicScars]

2 gallons are fine unfiltered. I have a 2 gallon bowl for one of mine (he didn't like any larger spaces) and I do a full water change once a week and I do add a little salt to his bowl.
I hope that helps!

[Vikki81207]

Yeah I have the two gallon bowl that is unfiltered and it's okay. You just have to keep up with water changes. Like they said, he's most likely overwhelmed.

[Elena]

Thank you all for your help. He is going into his 2 gal tonight. Can't stand to see him looking so miserable anymore...

[Jazattackk]

Originally Posted by doggyhog

Some Bettas like big tanks, some don't. Your new one is probably just really overwhelmed. Imagine, going from a small cup, to a large tank with a bunch of other fish. It would be very stressful. If he doesn't relax soon, I would get him his own two gallon.

I agree. He lived in a small cup all his life, and now a 30 gallon. Give him a week, then start worrying.