Has My Betta Gone Crazy???

So earlier I purchased a 10 gal tank for my betta and it is a pretty reflective, my fish is going CRAZY for the last couple hours he has been just swimming ALL over and like I said, he has yet to just chill out. I don't know if he is just really happy seeing as how he was in a 1.5gal or what but he has more energy than I have ever seen before. Oh and he constantly looking at his reflection and I'm worried that that's all he is going to do. The filter I have in there is the old one because the one they gave me was way to powerful. No I have never cycled the tank. The tank I had him in was heated and had a filter and I did a FULL clean once a week and that has seemed to work just fine. I did acclimate him I just took some water from his tank put it in a ziplock bag then put him in and let the bag floating in the water until the temp in the bag was similar to the temp in the tank and then netted him out. Yes I did add conditioner.

 

Did you cycle the new tank and did you acclimate him ? Condition the water ?

What are your parameters? Bettas are very sensitive fish

 

He probably sees his reflection and thinks it's another fish. Betta fish are sometimes referred to as 'Siamese fighting fish' because if they see other betta they often fight to the death.

If mine sees himself he starts flaring and gets hyped up, or if he sees fish from a different tank, or if I add colorful decor or wear pink. He hates pink lol.

 

Did you cycle the new tank and did you acclimate him ? Condition the water ?

Umm...no I have never cycled the tank. The tank I had him in was heated and had a filter and I did a FULL clean once a week and that has seemed to work just fine. I did acclimate him I just took some water from his tank put it in a ziplock bag then put him in and let the bag floating in the water until the temp in the bag was similar to the temp in the tank and then netted him out. Yes I did add conditioner.

He probably sees his reflection and thinks it's another fish. Betta fish are sometimes referred to as 'Siamese fighting fish' because if they see other betta they often fight to the death.

Will he chill though, I mean all he does it try to get to the " other " betta.

What are your parameters? Bettas are very sensitive fish

Ummm...I also don't know but I have test strips coming in the mail soon. I hope that isn't something wrong, what I have been doing has seemed to work just fine!?!?

 

Yeah that would be a huge issue too. Either move him back to the old tank until the new one's cycled (to cycle a tank add liquid ammonia to the water until you test and see nitrates), or put the old filter into use in the new tank until it is cycled.

 

Umm...no I have never cycled the tank. The tank I had him in was heated and had a filter and I did a FULL clean once a week and that has seemed to work just fine. I did acclimate him I just took some water from his tank put it in a ziplock bag then put him in and let the bag floating in the water until the temp in the bag was similar to the temp in the tank and then netted him out. Yes I did add conditioner.

Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle

Sounds like you need to cycle your tank. Until it’s cycled, use something like Seachem Prime to protect your fish.

 

Yeah that would be a huge issue too. Either move him back to the old tank until the new one's cycled (to cycle a tank add liquid ammonia to the water until you test and see nitrates), or put the old filter into use in the new tank until it is cycled.

The filter I have in there is the old one because the one they gave me was way to powerful. Is he gonna die or something thing??!! Are seriousious about putting him back in his old tank?? I haven't dumped the water yet??

 

Ummm...I also don't know but I have test strips coming in the mail soon. I hope that isn't something wrong, what I have been doing has seemed to work just fine!?!?

Small tanks cycle fast, but it does stress fish to do a fish-in cycle having the ammonia (produced when fish breathe and excrete waste) from live fish cycle the tank. I think you will be good if you have your filter in there, get a sponge filter to cycle and use in the new tank, but the old one will have to do until then.
Fishless cycles are when you use liquid ammonia to cycle the tank and wait for nitrates THEN adding fish.

 

Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle

Sounds like you need to cycle your tank. Until it’s cycled, use something like Seachem Prime to protect your fish.

I don't have anything like that all I have is conditioner and the stuff that came in the kit.

 

The filter I have in there is the old one because the one they gave me was way to powerful. Is he gonna die or something thing??!! Are seriousious about putting him back in his old tank?? I haven't dumped the water yet??

If you are using his old filter you are probably fine on the cycle. The filter has enough bacteria for just him since that's what he's always had.

 

Small tanks cycle fast, but it does stress fish to do a fish-in cycle having the ammonia (produced when fish breathe and excrete waste) from live fish cycle the tank. I think you will be good if you have your filter in there, get a sponge filter to cycle and use in the new tank, but the old one will have to do until then.
Fishless cycles are when you use liquid ammonia to cycle the tank and wait for nitrates THEN adding fish.

So you saying I need to get a sponge filter and get rid of my old one and he will be fine?

 

If you are using his old filter you are probably fine on the cycle. The filter has enough bacteria for just him since that's what he's always had.

Do we know that the first tank was fully cycled? Doesn’t sound like the water has ever been tested.

 

LivebearerMom

NevermindIgnoreMe

Could I add some shrimp to help the process or something?

Do we know that the first tank was fully cycled? Doesn’t sound like the water has ever been tested.

No it hasn't i'm new and have no clue what I'm doing.

 

You should be good for now, but do get a sponge filter to cycle and use long term. It is super gentle and you just need to get an airstone and set it up and leave it in the tank (with the old filter) for a month to be safe then you can remove the old filter or keep it in.

You should be good for now, but do get a sponge filter to cycle and use long term. It is super gentle and you just need to get an airstone and set it up and leave it in the tank (with the old filter) for a month to be safe then you can remove the old filter or keep it in.

How long was your old tank running?

 

How long was your old tank running?

Since the 27th of jan , but the tank I had him in was heated and had a filter and I did a FULL clean once a week and that seemed to work just fine.

 

Yeah I would say the cycle for your filter is probably done if it's been that long.

 

Since the 27th of jan , but the tank I had him in was heated and had a filter and I did a FULL clean once a week and that seemed to work just fine.

That's not a very long time, you probably aren't cycled and moving him may have disrupted whatever cycle was starting.

Do regular 50% water changes every day and go get some Seachem Prime conditioner which will detoxify ammonia while your cycle is getting up.

 

Small tanks cycle faster, but you don't know its done for sure until tests show nitrates.

 

Yeah I would say the cycle for your filter is probably done if it's been that long.

I don't know how long it takes to cycle a tank fully but you think two weeks is enough? I thought it was supposed to be closer to a month? (could be wrong here)

 

Yeah I would say the cycle for your filter is probably done if it's been that long.

Wait..my filter cycles??
LivebearerMom
I'm gonna put a pic of my setup.

 

Yeah I would say the cycle for your filter is probably done if it's been that long.

I disagree. BettaLover133 Please read my link to Nitrogen Cycle.

 

Do not add shrimp. They are going to be a very expensive meal for your betta. And they are extremely sensitive to water parameters and need a cycled, mature tank that has been set up for months.

 

Wait..my filter cycles??
LivebearerMom
I'm gonna put a pic of my setup.

ill try to simplify it.
bacteria grows on filter media. This bacteria eats the fish waste. It eventually turns it into nitrate. Without a cycled filter your fishes waste will just foul up the water. Leave the filter in the tank and when you get a sponge filter put that in the tank and wait about a a couple weeks before you take out the old filter.

 

Wait..my filter cycles??
LivebearerMom
I'm gonna put a pic of my setup.

So basically decaying things and waste (food and poop) put ammonia in your tank, which is toxic to fish. the ammonia turns to nitrite, and then to nitrate. Good, beneficial bacteria help that process. Without bacteria, the ammonia will build up and poison the fish. The bacteria mostly live in the filter. There's a lot of good information on this website about the nitrogen cycle that you should read up on.

If you are doing a fish-in cycle (meaning there are living fish in your tank while beneficial bacteria are growing), then they will go through some serious ammonia spikes. This can be toxic and kills many fish. A way to reduce the ammonia is to do a LOT of regular water changes and also use Seachem Prime conditioner which helps makes the ammonia non-toxic.

 

Dunk2
LivebearerMom
NevermindIgnoreMe
CoryFan

Thank you guys so much I'm just so confused I literally have been owning fish for like 4 weeks and have 0 clue what I'm doing.

 

Dunk2
LivebearerMom
NevermindIgnoreMe
CoryFan

Thank you guys so much I'm just so confused I literally have been owning fish for like 4 weeks and have 0 clue what I'm doing.

That’s why it’s important to research and read. And then research and read again.

 

So basically decaying things and waste (food and poop) put ammonia in your tank, which is toxic to fish. the ammonia turns to nitrite, and then to nitrate. Good, beneficial bacteria help that process. Without bacteria, the ammonia will build up and poison the fish. The bacteria mostly live in the filter. There's a lot of good information on this website about the nitrogen cycle that you should read up on.

If you are doing a fish-in cycle (meaning there are living fish in your tank while beneficial bacteria are growing), then they will go through some serious ammonia spikes. This can be toxic and kills many fish. A way to reduce the ammonia is to do a LOT of regular water changes and also use Seachem Prime conditioner which helps makes the ammonia non-toxic.

I just added water to the tank it is brand new, so it is clean and there is only one fish in there.

 

You can add a 3D background if your Betta is constantly flaring at the reflection.

 

The filter I have in there is the old one because the one they gave me was way to powerful. Is he gonna die or something thing??!! Are seriousious about putting him back in his old tank?? I haven't dumped the water yet??

Yeah he will die that's why he is freaking out cause the water is basically burning him . Please research on bettas and how to cycle a tank .

****YOU NEED TO CYCLE THE TANK***

please or he will just rot and die oml

 

Hey! I thought I’d tap in cause uh lol I did this exact same thing back in November. However, this forum helped me be able to eliminate all the stress.

just like LivebearerMom said, you’re going to have to do a good amount of water changes to keep things steady. Since I started with absolutely nothing I did 50% water changes every 4 or 5 days. I have live plants so it helped me even more in the process (I thibk live plants make the process go smoother? Cause they eat up the bad stuff).
After a month of doing this, I got myself an API test kit and tested my water (0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 20 nitrates!) so it cycled well with just water changes. Just like most people said, do water changes VERY frequently and you’ll be fine.
I think people got you with the whole filter fiasco, so I don’t think I need to give my 2 cents on that haha

 

Yeah he will die that's why he is freaking out cause the water is basically burning him . Please research on bettas and how to cycle a tank .

****YOU NEED TO CYCLE THE TANK***

please or he will just rot and die oml

Also never do a FULL tank clean ?? You're never supposed to dothat unless you're getting rid of the tank or just buying it .

All you need to do is buy a siphon and vacuum the substrate


Also *DO NOT BUY TEST STRIPS*
They do not work and they do not test ammonia which is a main one you need to test as well.


You'll save money in the long run buying the API FRESHWATER TEST


Please read on cycling a tank and help him

Umm...no I have never cycled the tank. The tank I had him in was heated and had a filter and I did a FULL clean once a week and that has seemed to work just fine. I did acclimate him I just took some water from his tank put it in a ziplock bag then put him in and let the bag floating in the water until the temp in the bag was similar to the temp in the tank and then netted him out. Yes I did add conditioner.

Did you even cycle the 1.5g he was in?? or did you just throw in some water and toss him in ??

If you are using his old filter you are probably fine on the cycle. The filter has enough bacteria for just him since that's what he's always had.

His old tank was never cycled ...

Yeah I would say the cycle for your filter is probably done if it's been that long.

Lol it's no where near cycled . It takes longer than . Don't give false knowledge

 

Yeah he will die that's why he is freaking out cause the water is basically burning him . Please research on bettas and how to cycle a tank .

****YOU NEED TO CYCLE THE TANK***

please or he will just rot and die oml

Also never do a FULL tank clean ?? You're never supposed to dothat unless you're getting rid of the tank or just buying it .

All you need to do is buy a siphon and vacuum the substrate


Also *DO NOT BUY TEST STRIPS*
They do not work and they do not test ammonia which is a main one you need to test as well.


You'll save money in the long run buying the API FRESHWATER TEST


Please read on cycling a tank and help him

Did you even cycle the 1.5 gallon he was in?? or did you just throw in some water and toss him in ??

His old tank was never cycled ...

Just stop. We all made mistakes at first and we learned from these mistakes. If you were In this situation would you want someone berating you for not knowing better?
and tetra test strips are pretty accurate.
this video for side by side proof.

 

I had a 5 gallon that cycled in two weeks, it's definitely a possibility the tank is cycled. No offense or anything btw, it's just my experience. Definitely buy the API test kit *EDIT* (for ammonia, it's the only thing you can't get with the test strips, I actually use strips too, thanks CoryFan for pointing that they are useful). Also add live plants they are a huge help.

 

and tetra test strips are pretty accurate.
this video for side by side proof.

Thank you! I keep trying to tell people the tetra test strips aren't trash. They're cheap, quick and will last you a while while giving you good enough results. But it seems 95% of this forum hates them with a burning passion because they aren't the equivalent of an expensive monitor system that gets it perfectly right. I measure my nitrates exclusively by test strips the API master kit takes way too much work and time and in the end it all looks the same exact color so it accomplishes nothing.

 

Thank you! I keep trying to tell people the tetra test strips aren't trash. They're cheap, quick and will last you a while while giving you good enough results. But it seems 95% of this forum hates them with a burning passion because they aren't the equivalent of an expensive monitor system that gets it perfectly right. I measure my nitrates exclusively by test strips the API master kit takes way too much work and time and in the end it all looks the same exact color so it accomplishes nothing.

As said in the video Most inacuracy comes from apI or other brands of test strips.