Betta by heater

The night before we got my Betta fish I put tap water in my tank and put the conditioner in, put in decor, substrate, and then I put on the filter and heater. Then we got the fish and when I got him home I put in safe start by tetra not the plus. Then we let him acclimate for 2 hours then we opened the bag put 3 Dixie cup full of the tank water in his bag every 10 minutes for 30 minutes then we put him in the tank. I have noticed he is hanging out by the heater. He has been swimming around a lot comming to me but he is by the heater. I don't know if this is normal. My first fish that I got a couple of days ago hung out by the filter a lot and then the day after I got him he died. I used Betta water and then just poured that in the tank and let him acclimate for 20 minutes then put him in but I don't think the water was warm enough because he acted weired. I did not have a heater and the water was cold. I didn't understand what the pet store person told me. She said the water was ready to use right away and you don't have to do anything. And because he died I am never using Betta water again. So I used tap this time. And the conditioner. But he is hanging around by the heater and I am really scared I really want some insight. To see if that is normal.

 

Well, he probably likes the warmth and also doesn't look like he got a lot of places to hide, so may just feel safest by the heater, being new and all.

 

My betta did the same the first few days he was introduced to his tank. Make sure your heater is working properly by using a thermometer to check the water temperature (I use a cheap digital one I got from Amazon and a stick-on thermometer strip).

It seems like you are in the process of a fish-in cycle. It would really help if you read some posts/articles about tank cycling. Don't worry too much, as long as the water parameter is kept in a safe range your fish will be fine.

 

I have done some research and it sounds like betta fish are not very active fish, is this correct?

 

I have done some research and it sounds like betta fish are not very active fish, is this correct?

It really depends on different betta personality. My fish swims almost all the time when he’s awake, especially when he see me approaching. When I’m in front of the tank he’ll pace against the front glass to beg for food. However, it is normal for betta to be more inactive when first introduced to a new environment. I almost thought I killed him when I first put him in the tank because he would just float and ignores the food. Give him some time he’ll be fine.

 

So I got a new betta yesterday July 7, 2021. he explored a lot but now i have noticed he is being inactive. i am wondering if that is due to him being in new surroundings and he just needs to get used to things. i notice he goes in his treasure chest shelter a lot and hangs out around the bottom of the tank and just is very inactive i am really scared he is going to die, and i don't want that. is this normal for a new betta?

 

what are the parameters please & tanks size?

filling out the emergency template might help.

 

So I got a new betta yesterday July 7, 2021. he explored a lot but now i have noticed he is being inactive. i am wondering if that is due to him being in new surroundings and he just needs to get used to things. i notice he goes in his treasure chest shelter a lot and hangs out around the bottom of the tank and just is very inactive i am really scared he is going to die, and i don't want that. is this normal for a new betta?

Personally, my betta was very inactive except for when it came time to eat for a while until he got used to his big new tank. I would give it a few days to a week so he can get used to his new home.

 

I noticed in your other thread that there were not many hiding places for him and way too much open space. Adding tall silk or live plants, a floating betta log and open ended caves/tunnels will help him feel more safe. Ideally you want something for him to hid in/behind on every level of the tank (bottom, middle, top). If he is a shyer betta these changes will help a lot and make him more inclined to explore his environment.

 

I noticed in your other thread that there were not many hiding places for him and way too much open space. Adding tall silk or live plants, a floating betta log and open ended caves/tunnels will help him feel more safe. Ideally you want something for him to hid in/behind on every level of the tank (bottom, middle, top). If he is a shyer betta these changes will help a lot and make him more inclined to explore his environment.

So I do have a little treasure chest hiding spoti got at my local pet store when I bought him. So if I was to go to Walmart right now, how much fake plants would be ideal for my peety ( my betta). I have also heard that you can get a mirror for them and that is supposed to be good when they flare.

 

So I do have a little treasure chest hiding spoti got at my local pet store when I bought him. So if I was to go to Walmart right now, how much fake plants would be ideal for my peety ( my betta). I have also heard that you can get a mirror for them and that is supposed to be good when they flare.

You're going to want to get 1-2 tall silk plants since I see your tank is quite small. Do not get plastic plants, they may not seem rough but they can tear your bettas delicate fins. I would also recommend a floating log. Mirrors are ok in very small doses, however exposing your betta to his reflection for too long will stress him out. It is not a decoration that you leave in the tank.

More importantly, have you checked your water parameters, if so what are they, and when was the last time you did a water change? These numbers are essential to know and understand when keeping aquatic pets. The nitrogen cycle is really the bare minimum knowledge needed to keep fish healthy. I would suggest researching the nitrogen cycle since your profile says you do not know what it is. You'll be doing a fish-in cycle so it will be incredibly important to perform frequent WCs to remove toxic ammonia and nitrite from your tank. Hope that helps.

 

Got a few plants andtest kits, peety seems to love them.
Nitrate:20ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Ph: 7.8
Ammonia: .25ppm

 

So peety died last night. I have had 2 fish in 5 days that have both died. I have gotten them both from the Franklin pet store in my town. I noticed a lot were not healthy there. Both my fish had swim bladder disease. They swam vertically, when they would swim they would float, they laid on their sides, swam erratically, etc. Would you guys recommend trying somewhere else to get a fish? I had a heater and everything I needed but they just seemed like they were sick the day after I got them.

 

I would suggest completely cycling the tank without fish in it first. Fish are very sensitive to fluctuations in ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate so getting them stable and establishing a good cleaning and water change routine will give the fish the best chance. A fish going into stable parameters will last much longer than one that doesnt. You also need to acclimate the fish correctly or they can be shocked by the changes between the 2 water sources.

 

Sorry for your losses!