New Betta - Page 2

Amanda263 · 11-08-2006, 06:46 PM

Hi I am wondering about my female beta fish. I have three, and when ever I clean out their tank(once a week) the one fish gets really weird. She floats down to the bottom, ands stays there she looks dead, but then all of a sudden she rushes to the top.....almost like she needs air. then she'll sink back down to the bottom. She does this for two days, and the last time I cleaned their tank she did this for two days, and then literally started to swim into the walls of the tank....what do I do?

Tommy Gun · 11-08-2006, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castor1011

oh and also...i read some more posts on this thread...being a profession fishkeeper, i have been taught that the most beneficial rule of thumb is this... 1 inch of tropical fish per gallon of water. for example a neon tetra only grows to at most 1 inch. so he should have a gallon of water for himself. 1 gallon tank= one neon tetra...2 gallon tank = two neon tetras.

First let me say that I am not here to start an argument, but Castor1011 should have expanded on this 'inch per gallon' rule of thumb to say that it ONLY applies to fish under three inches and no bigger than about a pencil's width. There are MANY exceptions to this rule and IMO the rule is outdated. One good exception to this rule could be the betta fish since it does not require a big tank as Firefiend points out, they are naturally inclined to live in small shallow pools of water. This is not to say that a larger tank is a bad idea, but I have read multiple sources of informtion stating that a betta fish can be stressed out from being placed in a tank that is too large. Other exceptions to the 'inch per gallon' would be high waste producing fish, the first that comes to mind is a plecostomus since even the smaller varieties (bristlenose, like mine) could foul up a 5 gallon tank in two days even though it is only 5 inches long at best.

Amanda, there could be many reasons why your female betta fish acts 'weird' when you do a water change. Do you keep a male in the tank as well? Does your tank have any plants (fake or real) or other sorts of hiding places that are easily accessable to your fish? How much water are you changing and do you use a dechlor conditioner? And what size tank are they kept in and with what other, if any, tankmates do you have.

As a tip, you may find it easier and faster to start your own thread on subjects like this (although I think you may have in the past, right?) since it will bring more attention to your spacific problem/question.

Tuffcents · 11-08-2006, 11:16 PM

after a while you would think the beta would get use to the water changes. It sounds like something must be in the water to make him act this way, or the water you are adding is so far out of range of what you already have in the tank. Fish can adapt to a lot of changes as long as they are slow. Maybe next time you do a water change you can do it a little slower. I would suggest a ratio for you to try. if the tank is a 2 gallon bowl and you would like to do a 25% water change, to do 2 mini 12.5% water changes in a 1 hour period. And to consistantly make sure the water you are adding to the tank has the same parameters(ph,gh ect.) that is already in the tank. That way the fish won't be as STRESSED out everytime you do a water change. Good Luck

Loman · 11-08-2006, 11:24 PM

Tommy is correct. It is a decent rule of thumb but water quality is the real measure of the fish load. One needs a bio load that balances with water quality given the maintenance performed.

firefiend · 11-09-2006, 12:31 AM

Yeah, I started out using that rule when before I got some experience. It's all about water quality when it comes to bio-load but you also have to take into account the activity level of the fish as well a few other things.

The rule might be good for beginners but you'll quickly see its inaccuracies as you advance.

lioness462 · 12-06-2006, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imlandys

I am receiving a betta from a friend at work tomorrow. I already have a 1 gallon aquarium from some previous fish we had, And he has like a built in bubbling stone, for the filter. Is this too much for the betta?

Thanks Lisa

this is not. i have a bettaand it's ben with a rock,and lots of shells.

lioness462 · 12-06-2006, 07:14 PM

no.don't.i won't.

wannaBbettamom · 03-13-2007, 09:56 AM

I'm new to the whole fish scene as well, and I'm looking to own a betta. It's been a long time dream of mine to have one of these beautifull fish in my home. I received one not long ago from a friendl. He was baught at a pet store, but my poor crown tail died in just 24 hours. He came down with a fungus. I know that fungus is a secondary infection but I don't know what caused it. I've treated my tank for the fungus, I still have my algie eater. He seems to be doing okay, but the fungus still seems to be stubbornly hanging in there. Does anyone know how often you can repeat treatment? I really don't want to lose my poor algie eater too. And I want to get another crown tail, but I'm unwilling to get another one until I know that he will be healthy and happy. I need help. I don't trust the stores as I've already gotten nothing but bad advice from them. If anyone can tell me anything I'd be very greatfull. Right now the only thing I know for sure about keeping fish is that they live in water.