Betta is trying to commit suicide?

W

wickedv6

El Mero Mero
Jan 15, 2006
10
0
0
43
Spring Valley, CA
I don't know what I should do about this, but for the past two days my betta has been allowing himself to get stuck to the suction tube of my emperor 400.

I first thought he got sucked, but as soon I tried to move him he just swam away like nothing; I didn't even touch him. Then I began to watch him and noticed that he was swimming ackwardly and not eating, so I moved him to the quarantine tank. This morning I awoke to find him wrapped around the suction tube of the filter again. It seems that he's doing this on purpose, because this does not occur with any other fish.

Upon close inspection half of his top fin (i think it's called dorsal) is missing. I don't think my guppies or platys would nip at him, but would this be caused by the suction of the filter?
 
A healthy fish should be strong enough to avoid being stuck against the intake. I suspect your betta is ailing.

How old is your tank? Is it fully cycled? What are your test results?
 
guppies may nip fins but it would be weird for them to nip the doral fin and not the tail fin as the betta would be trying to get away. anyway either he is sick or maybe hes too lazy swim to get oxygen so he hangs out near the intake? lol unlikely though
 
Bettas have long flowy fins and dont live naturally in current waters; how long was he in the original tank? If he was recently put in there he might jsut need adjusting time...
 
I agree with Mishi. A healthy fish does not purposely get sucked to the filter tube. I suspect there's something wrong with the fish in that he's ailing from something which makes him weak enough to be pulled to the tube.
 
My Betta did the same thing when I first moved him into his 2.5 gal tank. He would swim up to the intake, turn around, and let his tail get sucked up into it. When I would tap the tank, he would just run and hide behind the plant. He did that for a few days. After he stopped doing that, he made a huge bubble nest. I think he was just scared and liked the feeling of his fins being pulled on. I know that sounds stupid, but I have no other explanation for it.
 
TheMightyQueenPixie said:
A 400 Emperor has ALOT of kick...Bettas DONOT fair well in high velocity tanks...Get your betta out of there now...Amazing it hasnt killed him yet.
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The betta was the first fish I used to cycle my tank and he had no previous problem with the emperor. I would actually watch him and he would rather swim on the filters side instead of the other side.

I have shut off the filter in my hospital tank until I find out whats wrong with him. I'll have to stick with daily water changes for the time being.
 
gagaliya said:
why are you putting betta with guppy in the first place?
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I had a betta with guppies for a very long time and didnt have any problems until the BETTA decided he didnt like the guppies and started nipping THEIR fins. They never caused any problem for the betta at all.
 
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