Anybody else's betta sleep on the bottom of the tank at night?

During the day---our fish is all over the place---he weaves through the roots of the floating plants....and swirls around his moss ball---and just explores every nook and cranny of his tank. At night---I like to check on him to see where he "sleeps"---and 90% of the time he is sleeping at the bottom of the tank--like kind of all tilted over and everything---though if he notices me (I know it's mean for me to be disturbing him, but I get curious) he will wake up and just be his normal little crazy self. I had read that bettas like to sleep near the surface---so I kinda started to think this was odd behavior---he does have leaves perched near the surface he could sleep on---but he seems to prefer the hard gravel..

Anyone else's betta sleep at the bottom?

Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are all 0 today and his temp stays around 79-80. Side note---it's been 5 weeks since we first put our fish in the tank---and we have really never had above .25 of ammonia... not sure it's even ever quite hit the .25 to be honest...never had nitrites or nitrates--and I check daily. I honestly was starting to think our apI test kit was faulty...but we started fishless cycling (I do wish I'd learned more about fishless cycle before buying our betta because I'm constantly worried his tank is gonna spike one day) a 20 gallon today and I dosed ammonia to that tank and it was the first time I've ever seen my test tube turn green. At least now I trust my test kit when it tells me no ammonia in the betta tank....

 

My two betta have different habits, but both on the bottom too. One will nestle under plant leaves or the corner of the back glass. The other actuality stays in his hollow stump at night or while resting in the day

 

During the day---our fish is all over the place---he weaves through the roots of the floating plants....and swirls around his moss ball---and just explores every nook and cranny of his tank. At night---I like to check on him to see where he "sleeps"---and 90% of the time he is sleeping at the bottom of the tank--like kind of all tilted over and everything---though if he notices me (I know it's mean for me to be disturbing him, but I get curious) he will wake up and just be his normal little crazy self. I had read that bettas like to sleep near the surface---so I kinda started to think this was odd behavior---he does have leaves perched near the surface he could sleep on---but he seems to prefer the hard gravel..

Anyone else's betta sleep at the bottom?

Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are all 0 today and his temp stays around 79-80. Side note---it's been 5 weeks since we first put our fish in the tank---and we have really never had above .25 of ammonia... not sure it's even ever quite hit the .25 to be honest...never had nitrites or nitrates--and I check daily. I honestly was starting to think our apI test kit was faulty...but we started fishless cycling (I do wish I'd learned more about fishless cycle before buying our betta because I'm constantly worried his tank is gonna spike one day) a 20 gallon today and I dosed ammonia to that tank and it was the first time I've ever seen my test tube turn green. At least now I trust my test kit when it tells me no ammonia in the betta tank....

Mine sleeps on the bottom sometimes. Occasionally in the pot I have as a "cave" in the tank. I would imagine if there were something wrong you'd see odd behaviors during the day as well. If he's active and happy then it sounds like there's no problem.

 

Now sure about the cycling question.

But my Betta sleeps on the bottom under his drift wood, so that's completely normal

 

Regarding the cycling, there are other members who can help more. But have you added any bacterial supplement? Something like Seachem stability or Tetra Safe Start Plus

 

I haven't added any bacteria....I've been worried about the whole no 2 weeks of water change thing with tetrasafestartplus and I think I read where you get super high readings of ammonia with it (though not supposedly harmful because it's ammonium I think that the bacteria live off from the bottle---I just worry about not knowing how high levels are---and then leaving the fish with no water changes and not knowing if he's distressed or hurting) I've really thought about the safestart---I'm using it for a fishless cycle with ammonia on the 20 gallon---but it kind of freaks me out about doing it on the 5 gallon even though I know lots of people have used it with great success---and it's actually meant for a fish-in cycle....I probably need to bite the bullet and do it.....

 

I haven't added any bacteria....I've been worried about the whole no 2 weeks of water change thing with tetrasafestartplus and I think I read where you get super high readings of ammonia with it (though not supposedly harmful because it's ammonium I think that the bacteria live off from the bottle---I just worry about not knowing how high levels are---and then leaving the fish with no water changes and not knowing if he's distressed or hurting) I've really thought about the safestart---I'm using it for a fishless cycle with ammonia on the 20 gallon---but it kind of freaks me out about doing it on the 5 gallon even though I know lots of people have used it with great success---and it's actually meant for a fish-in cycle....I probably need to bite the bullet and do it.....

I tried to use it in a 2 gallon and the ammonia built up too much on day 9 and the fish was effected so I did water changes and ended up transitioning to a 10 gallon where everything is going well so far with more of the TSS. If you're concerned about the water changes, I've seen other members suggest Seachem Stability as you can do water changes while using it. CindiL Aquaphobia Mothercrow might be of more help to you than me as I am still learning too!

 

I'll look into the stability. Thank you!!!

 

What size is the betta tank? How often are you doing water changes? What is your ph? Tss should keep the betta safe and you shouldn't get those crazy high ammonia readings. My tap water is at or above 1ppm and it's never tested over .5 after 24 hours with tss+. As long as you keep testing and depending on your bioload you may actually get a smooth fish in cycle that doesn't pose a hazard to your beta. If you have a high ph then the story changes a bit.

If you haven't already it may also be a good idea to test gh and kh of your source water.

 

The betta tank is 5 gallons. I do 50 percent water changes once or twice a week. My ph is 7.4 I still need to order the GH and KH test---because I don't have those particular tests. If it matters---I have dwarf water lettuce floating, a marimo moss ball, and an anubias in the tank as well.

 

Yup mine sleeps either in the plants or in his empty baby food jar cave on the bottom.

 

I think your plants are helping more with your bioload currently. Throw a half a bottle of them small tss+ in the tank and don't change the water for 2 weeks unless nitrites go too high or nitrates do. If ammonia reads higher than 1 then do a pwc. I'm not sure that you can get a good cycle with your current setup though.

Is it possible to never get a cycle or need one?

 

In the cave, wedged behind the sponge filter, on the sand under an anubias, literally draped over some floating plants (I thought he was dead!), on top of the heater suction cup... oh and this

 

Floating plants can be really heavy feeders, it may be that they're taking up all the fish waste.

Have you tried testing for ammonia first thing in the morning and again just before lights out to see if there are detectable levels of anything? I'm not sure if nutrient uptake happens at the same rate when the lights are off.

Also, it sounds like your Betta is a happy, healthy guy! If he wants to sleep on the gravel, what can you do?

 

If you're worried about no water changes I would just use Seachem Stability

My betta used to sleep in his hollow log at night. I think they sleep where they feel safe. When I had a lot of floating plants he would sleep up near the surface on top or in the leaves.

 

Thank you so much for all the help!!! I'm really interested in learning to use the stability as that allows me to change water and add good bacteria. So I'm going to read more about that. I check water around 2 in the afternoon usually--but I will definitely try twice a day to see if I get different readings. I did twice a day first few weeks when I was complete freaking out after realizing I should have cycled the tank before adding Lily. .

Is stability ok to use with declorinator or should I wait 24 hours after dechlorinating to treat with it? I have prime on hand if they work well together--but have been using apI stress coat as my betta is healing up after what I think was a fin tear from an uncovered filter intake.

 

They will work together I believe. I would think the stress zyme would be ok with them but tbh I don't know offhand.

 

I do know that you can safely use prime with stability, but I think any dechlorinator will be just fine

 

Almost everything I know about cycling, I learned from CindiL. I did successfully cycle a 20 gallon with Prime and Stability, using instructions that CindiL gave me.

The betta I have now is the first I've had in 15 years, and the first that I actually have some accurate knowledge about betta care. I've had him for almost two weeks, and I'm currently cycling his 3.96g tank using Prime and Stability. I don't believe that it is a problem to use other water conditioners with Stability, but I like Prime because it helps bind the ammonia and nitrites into a form that's less harmful to fish, while leaving them available for the bacteria to use.

My betta sleeps on his lotus lounger (it's a big flower), but yesterday I caught him snoozing on a large conch shell. They have distinct personalities!

 

Thanks guys! Ya'll are awesome! I picked up a bottle of stability. Checked my levels this afternoon---and they were ammonia: somewhere between 0 and .25. Nitrite 0. And Nitrate 0. We did a water change on Sunday. Picked up a bottle of Stability---so I think tonight I'll add the amount recommended for starting a new aquarium....and then follow dosing instructions on bottle.

I know this is a stupid question---but Prime is 2 drops per gallon, right? So dosing 2 drops from a kid's medicine dropper would be ok, you think? I worry about sizes of drops being un-uniform. Hahahaha.

 

I always add a few extra drops from the bottle. I had a 2.5 and wound up using 7 over the directed 5.

A kids dropper would work for uniformity sake, too, though

 

My measuring tool in my aquarium app tells me to add .1 ml per gallon. I use a small syringe to dose mine, and I've heard of people using pipettes to dose theirs. I know 2 drops doesn't seem like a lot, but Prime really does go a long way. It's ok to get a bit more than a dose in there. ONLY use the kid's medicine dropper if it has never been used, and rinse before using.

The firmula given to me by CindiL, which I use to cycle my tanks, is as follows:
When you test, if your ammonia + nitrites = less than 1ppm, dose Prime for the entire volume of the tank, and add Stability

If your ammonia + nitrites = more than 1ppm, do a large (at least 50%) water change, then dose Prime for the entire volume of the tank and add Stability.

It took me about a month to cycle my first tank using this formula.

 

I know this is a stupid question---but Prime is 2 drops per gallon, right? So dosing 2 drops from a kid's medicine dropper would be ok, you think? I worry about sizes of drops being un-uniform. Hahahaha.

When I need to use drop doses of anything I use the same tip that my API liquid test gave me: Make sure the dropper (whatever it is) is perfectly stable and straight upside-down, and they'll generally be uniform. I like to rest the dropper bottle directly on the rim/edge of the container or tank if I can, to keep it still.

For the sleeping question, my betta sleeps on the tank floor for sure, though I've also seen him sleep in his (sunken) log or on his higher plants and hammock near the surface. He's been ill for a while and favouring the floor more lately, but I think that might be because his fins aren't doing well and his QT has no substrate (so it's nice and smooth to rest on).