New fighter something wrong!!!!

570 Views 21 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Taeanna, Jun 11, 2014

Prettygreeneyes

Discussion Starter · Jun 9, 2014

Hi all I bought my very 1st betta on Saturday he was extremely active for the 1st couple of hours now he just hides in plants has not taken any food
And is just basically off!!!
I have 200litre aquarium fully cycled Been going for about 5 weeks now
My other guys in there are thriving very active and feeding well
All my levels are spot on nitrate, ph etc
I did a 30% change on Sunday but still no change!!!
He is my 1st betta so not sure if this is just his temperament!!
Any advice?????
Thanks all
😀

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

Piyoteru

· #2 · Jun 9, 2014

First off, that's an impressively good tank size, and good on cycling it before getting your fish. Make sure there's a lot of plants and hiding spots, some fish might feel intimidated with suddenly having a huge expanse of water especially if he was in a tiny cup for a long time. If he keeps hiding and not taking food, he could be one of those bettas who might prefer a smaller tank (it's rare, but it happens). He could also be ill from being in the pet store.

Please fill out this so other people can have a better idea of what's going on.

Housing
What size is your tank?
What temperature is your tank?
Does your tank have a filter?
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration?
Is your tank heated?
What tank mates does your betta fish live with?

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish?
How often do you feed your betta fish?

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change?
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change?
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change?

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?

Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness:
Alkalinity:

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed?
How has your betta fish's behavior changed?
When did you start noticing the symptoms?
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how?
Does your fish have any history of being ill?
How old is your fish (approximately)?

Prettygreeneyes

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 9, 2014

Hi thanks for reply my tank is 200litre heated to 24 degrees filtered
With a fluval 205 canister filter I have coral rock
Live plants and dummy plants i do a 30% water change every 2-3 weeks
I use tap safe liquid to make water safe.
I feed with flakes and have 4 rummy's 2 balloon mollies
3 guppy's 2 barbs. Last test was a day ago and ph nitrate etc was balanced and normal. Iam so scared he is going to die&#55357;&#56862;

Prettygreeneyes

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 9, 2014

Also when I got him on Saturday and was first put him in tank his fins were very flowy but now they seem pointed like razors!!!!

Taeanna

· #5 · Jun 9, 2014

Are you able to provide a picture of him for us to take a look at? The shape of the fin marks are really telling in what caused them.

Now it hasn't been too long with him at home so he may merely be acclimatising, new bettas have some odd habits when getting into a new habitat. Pacing and glass surfing is often seen and then there is the other one of establishing a base camp in the tank somewhere and staying there exclusively, perhaps slowly venturing out to explore something before going back 'home' to rest.
Does his tank have a current that may be bothering him? Does he explore more if you keep his tank lights off? darker water can help to calm a new fish

Prettygreeneyes

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 9, 2014

At work at mo I can take pic soon yeah forgot to say
I have air bubbles at the back of the tank the tank lights are off all day and during the night we only have them on when we are in but will experiment tonight with them off when we are in &#55357;&#56836;

Prettygreeneyes

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 9, 2014

Guys how do you upload a photo on here???

Prettygreeneyes

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 9, 2014

Ok I have put pic of him in my albums in here
This is when I 1st got him within hrs he changed
I will post another of him now in a bit

Taeanna

· #9 · Jun 9, 2014

to pop a picture up into the thread press the 'go advanced' button under the reply box and click the small paperclip symbol.
It will open another page where you upload your picture.

Romad

· #10 · Jun 9, 2014

Welcome to the forum.

Barbs are not usually good companions for bettas. They're pretty feisty and are probably having a fun game or two of nip the tail.

Have you seen any aggression from them? They also do best in groups of 6 or 7 to keep the aggression and stress down.

I'd start with rehoming the barbs.

Prettygreeneyes

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 9, 2014

Romad I just said to my hubby on Saturday I want to rehome them they are very active lol but no signs of aggression do I just take them to my local aquatics store???

Prettygreeneyes

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 9, 2014

This is him when we 1st got him!!

See less See more

Prettygreeneyes

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jun 9, 2014

This is him now hiding in the plant!!!
Does he look healthy????

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Romad

· #14 · Jun 9, 2014

How long have you had the barbs? Any decent pet store should take them off of your hands if they're healthy. Your betta is probably hiding to get away from them. I've kept barbs for years and they are the tank bullies.

As for your fish, there sure is a big change in his fins. I'd also remove that plastic plant that you have in the picture. It could be part of your problem. Their fins are very delicate so even though it might not feel sharp to you, some damage could certainly be done to a long finned fish.

Stick to some silk plants or plastic plants with rounded leaves in betta tanks.

Do you have a tank that you could house the betta in until you can get rid of those undesirable tank mates?

Prettygreeneyes

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jun 9, 2014

ok i def think your right about the barbs he just swam out and straight away the showed up and he back hiding trip to garden centre in the morning is a definite!!!also i will remove the red plant but it is his hiding place at mo so will take it out in morning when barbs have moved out!!!
thank everyone for advice will put an update on after barbs have gone!!
and we said from day one they were bullies lol

Romad

· #16 · Jun 9, 2014

Prettygreeneyes said:
ok i def think your right about the barbs he just swam out and straight away the showed up and he back hiding trip to garden centre in the morning is a definite!!!also i will remove the red plant but it is his hiding place at mo so will take it out in morning when barbs have moved out!!!
thank everyone for advice will put an update on after barbs have gone!!
and we said from day one they were bullies lol

Or you could grab 6 or 7 more and set up a barb tank

Prettygreeneyes

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jun 10, 2014

Couldn't catch the barbs!!!! Sick as chip&#55357;&#56850;

sweetie

· #18 · Jun 10, 2014

Those fins look badly nipped to me. The barbs are almost certainly the culprits. No wonder your betta is hiding from them! Leave his hiding plant - it is probably not the problem. Take the barbs out and see if he improves.

Prettygreeneyes

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jun 10, 2014

Sweetie I totally agree it's catching the little bullies that am finding hard half an hour this morning and nothing!!! Going to buy a bigger net!!!

Taeanna

· #20 · Jun 10, 2014

A good technique I use in collecting my net-hating boys is to get a clear bowl, cup them from underneath when they least suspect it and LIFT them up. I usually end up with water everywhere and a really annoyed fish.

If this fails, lower the water level, cant run so well when there are less places to run!

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

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