Betta always at the bottom, doesn't move

[root81]

I have a 4 gal tank with a betta in it. Until recently, he was always active shooting around the tank, and eating everything that I'd drop in. For the last couple weeks, he's always been lying in the gravel. If I tap the tank, he'll shoot around for a minute, but then returns to the bottom, hiding if possible. He's often found behind the heater or the filter. Also, he's not interested in the flakes I drop in, but he's often seen nibbling on the JAVA Moss that I have in the tank.

Tank parameters are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 35 nitrate. Temperature fluctuate between 79.5 and 81.1.

I have very hard water, that's high in nitrate, so I tend to mix in about 1/4 RO water when I do my weekly 1 gal change.


Any ideas on what's wrong, and what I can do for him? I'm setting up to hatch some brine shrimp today to see if they interest him. If not, I'm sure my other tanks will appreciate the shrimp.

[platytetrafan]

Have you tried feeding freezedried bloodworms? I feed my bettas bloodworms once a week on Saturdays because Sundays they fast. Bettas love them you have to give them a variety of food not just flakes even thawed out frozen brine shrimp is something he might like. High nitrates isn't good you have to try to keep it to the lower side. 35 is kind of high.

[msjinkzd]

Any other symptoms? How long have you had him?

[Rbishop]

What is the hardness and nitrate readings on your tap water?

[root81]

My tap water reads about 20 for nitrate. unfortunatly I don't have a test kit for hardness for freshwater,

I dilute the water with R/O water so the nitrate measures about 15 when I add it to my tanks.

I've had the Betta for about 6 months, and it's just been the last few weeks that he's been inactive.

I have only been feeding flakes since I got him, so I've got a batch of brine shrimp in the hatchery right now, and I'll see if I can pick up some bloodworms this afternoon when I'm in town, but the local pet shops probably don't stock anything useful.

[mel_20_20]

I like the frozen bloodworms over the freeze dried ones. I worry about intestinal blockages with the freeze dried ones.

[lorindaleigh]

How does he look in general? Any fungus? Fins look ok? Hows his gills look? His coloration? Betta's coloration's change when they are stress and/or sick.

[serissime]

I might be wrong, but I think that plants can help absorb nitrates? I'm not sure.... (ie having a planted tank could help keep your nitrate lower IIRC)

sorry to hear your betta isn't doing well. Does he have a swollen belly? (In addition to lorindaleigh's questions)

[jpappy789]

Could water flow be an issue?

[missmeliss]

you could also try the betta pellets... i feed my guys those and they get a treat of bloodworm once a week your nitrates are pretty high and i would definately put some plants in there to absorb them - i have heard the moss balls do well but i personally put banana plants and corkscrew val in all of my betta tanks... i dont know if you have anything in there but he may be bored... try introducing a few plants and see how he does... good luck

[platytetrafan]

Yep I agree water changes and plants will help reduce the nitrate.

[Lady Ns]

Like what has been said before, put some plants in there. A few floating plants, along with some fine leafed plants, he may pick up.
Also, if possible, instead of live brine shrimp, try mosquito larvae or pupae, as they are FW foods, the true food for bettas, & lots of fun to chase.

If none of it works, your fish could just have become lame or have dropsy.
Possible photos may help, maybe a short recording of his activities aswell.

[root81]

Other than the inactivity, he looks good. I doubt it's the water quality, even with the elevated nitrate. I tested again this morning, and the nitrate is down to about 25, which it tends to stabilize at. (raising to aboi5 30-35 right after a water change.

The tank has no water flow at all. Tank is too small for most filters, and I detest the UGF systems that come with the smaller tanks. I'll try to add a couple more plants this week. I have some JAVA ferns that I can remove from my main display tank. I expect to have brine shrimp hatched by the time I get home tonight, but I'll stop at the LFS and see if I can find some mosquito larvae or microworms. I'll also see if I can find some pellets