It’s not easy to tell how your friend is doing like it is with other pets. Sometimes, the issue can be fixed, but if they’re too old, it might mean they’re about to die. Old bettas will start to behave a certain way which can hint that they are at the end of their life. Here are some of those hints:
- Loss of appetite
- Physical weakness and slowness
- Trouble breathing despite good water quality
- Faded colors and transparent skin
- Eye swelling
- Isolation and hiding away interaction
- Weight loss and a hunched back
- Longer sleeping hours than usual
Healthy vs. Unhealthy
You might think that fish don’t do much other than swim around. But, even they have specific behaviors they exhibit when they’re happy. You just need to know how to look for the signs.
Generally, a young and healthy betta fish will be active as ever. They’ll be willing to learn tricks and swim where you’re closest to them. They might even greet you when you come home – almost like a dog! Other than that, your fish will be more colorful than a rainbow. Their fins will be full of blues, reds, and purples. Even their gills should look reddish.
Another telltale sign of their health is their tail. To be more specific, we’re talking about their fins. When a young and healthy betta moves, it spreads its fins and almost glides through the water. And when you feed them, you’ll see them rush over to their food since they’re very aggressive eaters. If there’s a change in their appetite, something bad is going on.
Bettas can breathe oxygen right from the air and their gills. However, they only resort to breathing outside of the water if they’re not getting enough oxygen from the water. If they’re gasping for air on the surface, then you’ll want to check your oxygen levels.
Now that you know how a healthy betta acts, it’ll be easier to determine which behaviors are strange.
The biggest indicator of sickness is a loss of appetite. As we mentioned before, bettas are hungry little creatures. So any sort of change in their appetite can mean they might not be doing well, especially if they start eating less. If your Betta is young and looks pale, you must take action immediately. Sometimes, stress stripes or spots start to appear, which means your little fishy is not doing well.
Any sort of neglect in tank hygiene might cause fin tail rot. If the tank is dirty, the bacteria can eat up their tails which causes a lot of pain and irreversible damage. Other than that, a sick betta will try to scratch itself by rubbing against the side of the betta tank. It is your sign to examine your fish and clean the tank too.
Creating the best environment
Every fish owner wants to ensure their pets are happy in their homes. Like you would buy a cat a scratch post, you need to replicate a betta’s natural habitat. Here’s everything you’ll need for a wonderland for your betta.
- Temperature: Bettas like it warm, 75 to 82 Fahrenheit degrees Fahrenheit to be precise.
- Ph: Make sure the currents are calm and have a ph of 6.8 to 7.5.
- Decor: Add rock statues, caves, fish castles, and driftwood to your aquarium
- Plants: Live plants such as java moss, Java fern, and duckweed. Anubias nana, Amazon frogbit, and Marimo moss balls.
- Lighting: A simple LED lighting system that you can switch off at night will do the job. We recommend the one below.
| Brand | 24/7 CRV Aquarium LED Light |
| Brand | Finnex |
| Color | Sleek Black |
| Light Source Type | LED |
| Product Dimensions | 4″D x 24″W x 1″H |
Pros
- It can simulate natural light patterns.
- We feel the light provides great value for the money.
- It’s fairly bright as we had hoped.
Cons
- The programming took a minute to figure out.
- Some other fixtures are sleeker.
- Make sure it fits your tank.
- Substrate: Fine gravel or dark aquarium soil will make your Betta’s colors pop.
- Tankmates: You could keep your betta fish by itself or pair it with a corydora catfish, snails, shrimp, or even African dwarf frogs.
- Tank size: Your tank should be able to contain a minimum of 5 gallons.
