Betta has no appetite, inactive and hiding more since a water change and slight rescape.

[fantahsmic]

Tank
What is the water volume of the tank? 5.5g
How long has the tank been running? 4 months
Does it have a filter? Yes
Does it have a heater? Yes
What is the water temperature? 80°F
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.) Just a halfmoon plakat betta

Maintenance
How often do you change the water? Once a week
How much of the water do you change? 10-15%
What do you use to treat your water? Top Fin water conditioner
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water? Light vacuum on the surface to get plant debris and any visible poop

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish? Yes
What do you use to test the water? API Freshwater Master Test Kit
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5ppm
pH: 6.8

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish? Twice a day
How much do you feed your fish? 2-3 obvious pieces plus any crumbs that fall out
What brand of food do you feed your fish? Fluval Bug Bites
Do you feed frozen or freeze-dried foods? No

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish? Just over 3 weeks
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms? March 21
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms? No appetite (not interested in food), hiding, overall more inactive than usual
Have you started any treatment for the illness? No medications, just covered up half the tank to keep it dark
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase? No
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? Hiding a lot, appears darker

Explain your emergency situation in detail.
On Saturday night, I did my weekly 15% water change on my betta's tank and replaced a fake plant with a new live plant from my LFS. When I was taking out the fake plant, I accidentally broke his bubble nest, but he has since made a new one. I also added a root tab during the water change.

He didn't eat all on Sunday and this morning. I haven't changed his food, he's been getting Fluval Bug Bites twice a day since I brought him home 3 weeks ago (even ate the night I brought him home). He'll either completely ignore the food or swim up to the food like he's about to eat then leave.

He's also not as active as normal, staying more towards the back of the tank and resting more than usual. He seems to hide/rest toward the back of tank near another plant in his tank, by the bonsai piece I have (right under his bubble nest) or under the "roots" of the bonsai. Seemingly stares out the tank every now and then and will swim at the glass.

Someone on Reddit suggested that I do small daily water changes because I probably stirred up the water quality despite having normal readings (0, 0, 5), so I did one yesterday and one a few hours ago.

Is he just stressed from the rescape with the new plant, me accidentally breaking his bubble nest, the water change or could there something else? I'm starting to get worried

 

[darkcat]

I recommend you getting other foods, frozen bloodworms (my betta and my fishes LOVE that.) and pellets or flakes. You should also vacuum the gravel once a week because there's poop and the remaining of foods. I think it is stressed. Is the food big?? I'm not sure. Just keep up with the water changes.

 

[Mcasella]

Sounds like he is stressed by the new "environment", bettas can be as big of drama queens as oscars sometimes. Give him time and make sure the water stays clean and he should realize the live plant won't hurt him.

 

[longneckloach]

He probably just needs a little bit of time to adjust! He should perk up soon.

 

[fallfever]

I agree. He sounds annoyed Certainly wouldn't want to do another water change if the water parameters are good. Weekly changes and vacuuming is plenty. He'll eat when he is hungry.

 

[LadfromLondon]

I agree about the variety of food^, he may also just be getting bored of eating the same food everyday.

 

[fantahsmic]

I agree. He sounds annoyed Certainly wouldn't want to do another water change if the water parameters are good. Weekly changes and vacuuming is plenty. He'll eat when he is hungry.

I wasn't sure if daily water changes were necessary when it was suggested to me on Sunday night, but I'll stop doing daily water changes and go back to weekly to keep his stress down.

I recommend you getting other foods, frozen bloodworms (my betta and my fishes LOVE that.) and pellets or flakes. You should also vacuum the gravel once a week because there's poop and the remaining of foods. I think it is stressed. Is the food big?? I'm not sure. Just keep up with the water changes.

It's not very big at al, he usually gets it all in 1 or 2 gulps. I'll go pick up a second food for him this weekend (I don't have a car so I need to wait for a ride), but hopefully, he'll come around.
Thanks for all the advice guys! As of today, he still hasn't eaten and is still hiding. I still have his tank half blacked out to keep it dark in there! Still quite stressed about the situation, 4 days and counting...

 

[FoldedCheese]

I personally found the fluval betta bug bites to be way too small for my full grown male plakat. I switched him to the s/m cichlid bug bites instead and feed him one piece at a time, usually 6-8 small pieces per day if he's really hungry.

If you're going to pick up frozen foods I would recommend cutting off small pieces of the cube and thawing in tank water before feeding. I also usually use tongs to feed small pieces at a time to minimize waste, although anything that sinks he will "hunt/scavenge" for after so it's good enrichment too.

 

[darkcat]

I personally found the fluval betta bug bites to be way too small for my full grown male plakat. I switched him to the s/m cichlid bug bites instead and feed him one piece at a time, usually 6-8 small pieces per day if he's really hungry.

If you're going to pick up frozen foods I would recommend cutting off small pieces of the cube and thawing in tank water before feeding. I also usually use tongs to feed small pieces at a time to minimize waste, although anything that sinks he will "hunt/scavenge" for after so it's good enrichment too.

Use sheets so it's more easier to break it.

 

[fantahsmic]

UPDATE: he ate a little! Only a single tiny piece of the bug bites but progress nonetheless! Still more inactive than usual, so I hope that changes as his appetite starts to pick up!

Use sheets so it's more easier to break it.

From what I can tell, my nearest Petsmart only has cubes so I'll definitely keep my eye out for the sheets when I go into my LFS this weekend!

 

[Jayce0]

As others have stated, he's most likely stressed, but going off of your description there's nothing that I'd worry about (I've seen other fish have worst reactions to change of scenery). Make sure to not bug him too much and turn off the light earlier, or maybe even for a full day (it helps them relax + encourages rest). If you ever decide to change things up, I'd doing it slowly to give them time to adjust. And don't do a water change and a change of environment together/right after each other.

 

[Rachaeljuno]

Seems like he may just be adjusting to his new environment. But as stated above, I definitely recommend frozen blood worms or something along those lines, both my bettas love them .

 

[Catappa]

I find myself repeating the same advice Bettas are much happier and comfortable with low light and lots of floating plants, shady areas.