Why Is My Betta Fish Staying Still?

Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are popular pets known for their vibrant colors and flowing fins. If you notice your betta staying still at the top or bottom of the tank, not eating, or having trouble swimming, it can be worrying.

Rest assured, there are several common reasons why your betta may be lethargic and ways you can help it feel better.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Your betta fish may stay still if it’s stressed from poor water quality, incorrect water temperature, bullying from tankmates, or an underlying illness.

Improving tank conditions, separating aggressive fish, and treating any diseases can help.

Check Water Quality

Keeping a close eye on your betta fish’s water quality is crucial for ensuring they stay active and healthy. Deteriorating water conditions like high ammonia, nitrites or nitrates can quickly make your fish lethargic. Be sure to regularly test and change their water to provide the best home possible.

Test for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates

Ammonia and nitrite levels at only 0.25 ppm can begin affecting your betta, while nitrate levels above 40 ppm are risky. Purchase an aquarium test kit and check levels once a week. If ammonia or nitrites are detected, immediately change at least 50% of the water.

High nitrates also warrant a water change.

Change Water Regularly

Even with perfect water parameter readings, refusal to eat or lethargy can still occur if water changes are infrequent. Change at least 25% of tank water weekly in filtered tanks, or every other day in unfiltered bowls, to eliminate toxins.

Use water conditioner to remove chlorine and heavy metals found in tap water that could otherwise poison your fish.

Maintain Proper pH Level

Bettas prefer a pH between 7.0-8.0, with drastic fluctuations causing stress. Tap water pH varies by region, so test both tank and replacement water. A pH adjuster can lower or raise pH if needed. Driftwood, rocks or substrate may also alter pH.

Check levels regularly when first adding new decor to ensure pH remains stable.

By staying vigilant of water conditions, you can avoid poisoning your betta or shocking them with unstable parameters. Test water yourself or take samples to local fish stores if you suspect an issue. With frequent water changes, proper pH and keeping ammonia and nitrites at 0 ppm, your fish will stay lively in their healthy home.

Ensure Proper Water Temperature

Bettas Prefer 78-80°F

Betta fish thrive in water temperatures between 78-80°F. This tropical temperature range mimics their natural habitat in the rice paddies and flooded fields of Thailand and Cambodia. At cooler temperatures, bettas become lethargic and may even experience health problems.

Their metabolism slows, causingpoor digestion and a weakened immune system. Fin rot and other bacterial infections are more likely in chilly water.

At the same time, temperatures above 82°F put too much stress on bettas. They will gasp at the surface and lose their appetite in overly warm water. High temperatures enable harmful bacteria to multiply rapidly in the tank.

Use an aquarium thermometer to monitor the temperature daily. Adjust the tank heater as needed to maintain 78-80°F. This comfortable tropical temperature will keep your betta active and healthy.

Get a Tank Heater

To heat the water to the ideal 78-80°F range, you need an aquarium heater designed for betta tanks. Mini preset heaters that stick to the inside wall are convenient options. They come in wattages like 25W or 50W to match different tank sizes.

Set the heater’s thermostat to 78°F. The built-in thermostat turns the heater on and off automatically to maintain a stable tropical temperature. Choose a heater with guard to prevent your betta from burning itself on the heating element.

If you live in a hot climate, you may only need the heater during cooler seasons. But it’s vital to have one on hand year-round. Room temperatures can dip at night and during winter.

Monitor Temperature Daily

Check the water temperature in your betta tank every day. Even with a preset heater, fluctuations can occur. The room temperature might change or the heater’s thermostat could get nudged accidentally.

Use an aquarium thermometer to get an accurate reading. The stick-on strip types are convenient and easy to read. Place the thermometer on the inside wall near the heater.

Check the temperature at the same time every day. Consistency allows you to notice even slight variations. If the temperature drops below 78°F or rises above 80°F, adjust the heater immediately to get it back into the proper range.

Daily temperature checks enable you to catch problems before the water gets too cold or hot. Keeping your betta tank at the ideal tropical temperature of 78-80°F will help prevent lethargy, poor appetite, fin problems, and infections.

With the proper heated home, your betta will stay active and display its best vibrant colors and flowing fins.

Reduce Tankmate Aggression

Separate Nippy Fish

One of the best ways to reduce aggression from tankmates towards your betta is to separate any overly nippy or aggressive fish into their own tanks. Some fish that are notorious for nipping fins and stressing bettas include tiger barbs, guppies, mollies, platies, and gouramis.

If you notice any fish relentlessly chasing or nipping at your betta, remove the offenders immediately to their own tank. This will create a much more peaceful environment for your betta.

Give Betta Hiding Spots

Adding plenty of plants, caves, and decor for your betta to hide in can reduce aggression from tankmates. Bettas are labyrinth fish that naturally live in dense vegetation. When they have sufficient places to retreat and break line of sight from harassing tankmates, it can dramatically reduce stress and fin nipping.

Ensure hiding places are sized appropriately so your betta can comfortably rest inside. Live plants like anarchis, java fern, and amazon sword provide both shelter and enriching environment. Position silk plants, rock caves, and driftwood around tank to give betta spots to duck away when needed.

Reconsider Tankmates

Sometimes the best solution is to remove inappropriate tankmates altogether. Bettas prefer the company of peaceful community fish that occupy different tank areas. Good options include small tetras, rasboras, corydoras catfish, plecos, and snails.

Avoid housing bettas with aggressive fish like tiger barbs, gouramis, cichlids, or goldfish which are prone to fin nipping. Also avoid placing with slower fancy species like guppies which may become targets for aggression. Ensure any tankmates have similar water parameter needs as bettas.

Overcrowding causes aggression, so follow general stocking guidelines of 1 inch of fish per 1 gallon of water.

Rule Out Illness

Look for Physical Signs

There are some clear physical indicators that your betta may be unwell. Keep an eye out for clamped fins, cloudy eyes, bloating around the belly area, reddened gills, excess slime on the body, frayed fins, spots, weird coloring, or rapid gill movements.

If you notice any of these signs, it likely means your fish has come down with an illness or infection.

Some common betta diseases to look out for are fin rot, which causes frayed fins; ich, which shows up as white spots; and velvet, which is a fine gold or rust-colored dust on the fish’s body. Make sure to quarantine any visibly sick fish immediately to stop the spread of disease.

Treat Bacterial Infections

Bacterial diseases are very common in betta fish. Fin rot, popeye, dropsy, and more are often caused by bacteria. If it’s a mild case with no open sores, you can try treating with aquarium salt or antibiotics like Kanaplex added to the water.

For more serious infections, combines treatments often work best. Try mixing Kanaplex or Furan-2 with an antibiotic food like Jungle’s Anti-Bacterial Fish Food. Make sure to remove any carbon filtration during medical treatments so it doesn’t filter out the medicine.

Improve Diet and Reduce Stress

An imbalanced diet lacking in nutrients can cause lethargy and illness. Feed a high quality betta pellet, like NorthFin Betta Bits, as the staple. Supplement with freeze dried or frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia for variety.

Too much stress can also depress the immune system. Make sure tank conditions are pristine, with 0 ammonia and nitrites and < 10 nitrates. Add plenty of plants and hides. Keep water temperature 78-80°F. Reduce tank traffic and stimulation during healing.

When to Seek Help

If Symptoms Persist

Bettas can sometimes exhibit concerning behavior like lethargy or loss of appetite, but these issues often resolve on their own. However, if your betta’s symptoms persist for more than a day or two, it’s time to take action.

Prolonged periods of inactivity, lack of interest in food, or difficulty swimming could indicate an underlying health problem that requires treatment.

Some signs that your betta needs medical attention include:

• Staying still at the bottom or top of the tank for over 48 hours
• Not eating for more than 2 days in a row
• Clamped fins that don’t relax
• Visible marks, wounds, or color changes on their body

Don’t hesitate to reach out to an exotic pet veterinarian if your betta’s condition doesn’t improve. The sooner treatment begins, the better their chances of a full recovery. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when your fish’s health is on the line!

For Difficulty Swimming

One of the most alarming signs of illness in bettas is trouble swimming. Healthy bettas are graceful swimmers, able to smoothly maneuver around their tank. However, bettas suffering from swim bladder disorder or other health issues may have difficulty staying upright, sink to the bottom, float helplessly at the surface, or seem unable to control their movements.

Some potential causes of swimming problems include:

• Swim bladder infection or obstruction
• Fin rot weakening their fins
• Bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections
• Stress
• Poor water quality

If your betta is struggling to swim, quarantine them right away and get in touch with an aquatic veterinarian. Proper diagnosis and prompt treatment increase the chances of getting your fish swimming normally again.

With aggressive support care, even bettas with severe buoyancy issues can make a full recovery.

If Unsure About Treatment

Caring for a sick betta fish can be challenging, especially identifying the cause of illness and choosing an effective treatment. Many common betta diseases like fin rot, velvet, and swim bladder disorder have similar symptoms that overlap.

It’s easy for well-meaning fishkeepers to waste time and money on inaccurate guesses or ineffective medications.

The best course of action if your betta shows signs of illness but you’re unsure how to help is to seek guidance from an expert. Qualified aquatic veterinarians have the knowledge and tools to accurately diagnose your betta’s condition.

After pinpointing the specific problem, the vet can recommend targeted medication, appropriate dosages, ideal water parameters, and necessary diet changes to support your betta’s recovery.

Rather than playing guessing games, consult true experts to ensure your beloved betta receives the best care possible when they’re under the weather. With the right guidance, even severe fin rot, body fungus, and stubborn swim bladder issues can be successfully treated!

Conclusion

In most cases, a betta fish staying still indicates that something about its environment needs to be improved. By testing and changing the water regularly, maintaining the ideal temperature range, reducing aggression from tankmates, and treating any illnesses, you can usually get your betta swimming and acting normally again.

Persistent lethargy or trouble swimming are signs to seek help from an aquatic veterinarian. With proper care, your vibrant betta fish can stay active and healthy for years to come.