Is It Normal For A Betta To Go From Hyper To Lazy?

Hey, I just got a male betta from Petsmart a few weeks ago, and when I got him home, he was *very* active. Almost hyperactive!
This went on for about a week, and then he gradually seemed to become calmer, until now (almost a month later) he's slower than when I got him -- but not really lethargic. Just...lazy?
He's still interested in food -- he gets fed 1x per day. He's not as interested in me, doesn't come to the front of the tank with enthusiasm like he did when I got him. But still curious. He's at the bottom a lot, but moving around and poking his nose into plants and exploring. He does often hang in the middle of the tank. Has no trouble swimming or breathing.
. 76-77° temp
. 8 pH
. about 1 tbsp of aquarium salt
. 5 gallon tank
. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate: "OK" (as per Petsmart; Mom wouldn't let me order the API Test Kit

Is there anything wrong?? Or is my boy just calming down from new-tank stress? Input and/or advice appreciated!!

 

Hey, I just got a male betta from Petsmart a few weeks ago, and when I got him home, he was *very* active. Almost hyperactive!
This went on for about a week, and then he gradually seemed to become calmer, until now (almost a month later) he's slower than when I got him -- but not really lethargic. Just...lazy?
He's still interested in food -- he gets fed 1x per day. He's not as interested in me, doesn't come to the front of the tank with enthusiasm like he did when I got him. But still curious. He's at the bottom a lot, but moving around and poking his nose into plants and exploring. He does often hang in the middle of the tank. Has no trouble swimming or breathing.
. 76-77° temp
. 8 pH
. about 1 tbsp of aquarium salt
. 5 gallon tank
. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate: "OK" (as per Petsmart; Mom wouldn't let me order the API Test Kit

Is there anything wrong?? Or is my boy just calming down from new-tank stress? Input and/or advice appreciated!!

I think he may be fine, but I would try to get clear test results. Even though you can't buy a test kit, would you be able to go to Petsmart to have your water tested again and ask what the exact readings are? Was your tank cycled before adding him to it?

 

its common to have a betta be a bit lazy. It's a good sign that he is eating and he could just be more comfortable in his surroundings.

Do you know if your tank is cycled? Is it filtered? Any way you can make the tank a tad warmer to see if that helps? My betta seems to enjoy the 79-80 range the best.

 

get some test strips if you can. tetra makes good ones. people will try to convince you just how bad test strips are but a) theyre better than nothing and b) if you're not trying to keep discus theyll do a good enough job imo

 

To everyone: thanks for the quick responses!!
Yes, the tank was cycled (well, I hope it was -- like I said, Mom wouldn't let me buy a test kit; she already thought I was wasting money on a 5 gallon tank when bettas can be "so happy" in bowls.)
Heck yeah, its filtered!! With water changed 25% each week.
And, no, I can't make the tank warmer...its one of those preset heaters!!!
The fish looks fine, not pale or anything, just hope this is normal.

 

To everyone: thanks for the quick responses!!
Yes, the tank was cycled (well, I hope it was -- like I said, Mom wouldn't let me buy a test kit; she already thought I was wasting money on a 5 gallon tank when bettas can be "so happy" in bowls.)
Heck yeah, its filtered!! With water changed 25% each week.
And, no, I can't make the tank warmer...its one of those preset heaters!!!
The fish looks fine, not pale or anything, just hope this is normal.

He is probably okay then!
For good measure, from now on I would up the water changes to 50% once a week. I would also suggest going back to PetSmart and ask for them what the exact parameters are. If you are able, many family-owned pets shops use the liquid test kit to test customer's water (which is more accurate than the test strips) and if you call around maybe you can find one who uses a liquid kit to test your water. You say you think it was cycled, did you use anything to cycle it before adding the fish?

 

He is probably okay then!
For good measure, from now on I would up the water changes to 50% once a week. I would also suggest going back to PetSmart and ask for them what the exact parameters are. If you are able, many family-owned pets shops use the liquid test kit to test customer's water (which is more accurate than the test strips) and if you call around maybe you can find one who uses a liquid kit to test your water. You say you think it was cycled, did you use anything to cycle it before adding the fish?

Well, I didn't use anything to cycle...as I hadn't heard about that aspect of cycling at the time, just thought you set up the tank for weeks and regularly tested the water... (remember, any bettas I've had before this were in BOWLS! So...you could say I'm a little new to this whole taking-care-of-your-fish thing )

 

Well, I didn't use anything to cycle...as I hadn't heard about that aspect of cycling at the time, just thought you set up the tank for weeks and regularly tested the water... (remember, any bettas I've had before this were in BOWLS! So...you could say I'm a little new to this whole taking-care-of-your-fish thing )

I understand! The nitrogen cycle can be confusing at first but there are many threads on this forum that explain it well. I would suggest reading up on it because your tank is most likely uncycled. I've heard that if a tank is uncycled and has fish in it, there should be water changes done every other day to avoid the build-up of ammonia. I would suggest doing this. If you get your water tested and it is not cycled, I would suggest purchasing Seachem Stability or Tetra Safe start to help the cycle jumpstart.

 

I understand! The nitrogen cycle can be confusing at first but there are many threads on this forum that explain it well. I would suggest reading up on it because your tank is most likely uncycled. I've heard that if a tank is uncycled and has fish in it, there should be water changes done every other day to avoid the build-up of ammonia. I would suggest doing this. If you get your water tested and it is not cycled, I would suggest purchasing Seachem Stability or Tetra Safe start to help the cycle jumpstart.

Yeah, thank you! I'll see if I can get the water tested again (with exact parameters) and maybe grab one of those products!
But, woah, wouldn't 50% water changes every other day stress the fish?

 

Yeah, thank you! I'll see if I can get the water tested again (with exact parameters) and maybe grab one of those products!
But, woah, wouldn't 50% water changes every other day stress the fish?

some even say 50% every day, especially in small tanks. if you temp match and condition the water, it will definitely be less stress for the fish than swimming in toxic waste

 

some even say 50% every day, especially in small tanks. if you temp match and condition the water, it will definitely be less stress for the fish than swimming in toxic waste

Wow. OK then. I thought that with a filtered 5 gallon, 25% per week was enough!! Please excuse my ignorance!

 

Wow. OK then. I thought that with a filtered 5 gallon, 25% per week was enough!! Please excuse my ignorance!

Oh no it's okay! I am no expert either! I've only had my betta since January, and I remember when I posted questions, other members suggested that for my betta's filtered 10 gallon that I do large water changes every two days until the tank is cycled, and then 50% water change once a week when it is cycled I'm just going based off what I've heard. Sorry if I sounded rude

 

Oh no it's okay! I am no expert either! I've only had my betta since January, and I remember when I posted questions, other members suggested that for my betta's filtered 10 gallon that I do large water changes every two days until the tank is cycled, and then 50% water change once a week when it is cycled I'm just going based off what I've heard. Sorry if I sounded rude

No problem!! I really will try to get that water tested so I can kinda know where to go with water change + cycling!!

OK everyone. Here's a quick video of my boy.. (Click link below or type it into your browser)

 

for a cycled tank, 25% per week is perfect! but if there is no cycle going, you need to get pretty serious about it. don't worry, once you have it established you can return to your previous wc schedule ^-^

 

OK everyone. Here's a quick video of my boy.. (Click link below or type it into your browser)

He looks fine to me! (Also he looks beautiful, and so does his tank!) What a lucky boy!

 

He looks fine to me! (Also he looks beautiful, and so does his tank!) What a lucky boy!

*breathes long sigh of relief*
Well, I guess I'm just paranoid.
I did, however, do a 50% WC (he's in his cup, acclimating)

for a cycled tank, 25% per week is perfect! but if there is no cycle going, you need to get pretty serious about it. don't worry, once you have it established you can return to your previous wc schedule ^-^

So, 50% every other day?

 

So, 50% every other day?

bit hard to say if I don't have your water parameters. you can do 50% every other day now, but if he starts acting weird (bottom sitting, floating, lethargy, visible discomfort, swimming into decor, rapid breathing, black or red patches of skin that are not his own colour, and such, you'll notice if something is wrong), you need to go with 50% every day. but unless that happens, 50% every other day is fine too. I hope that's what you were asking, I feel like I'm being confusing, sorry ._.

 

bit hard to say if I don't have your water parameters. you can do 50% every other day now, but if he starts acting weird (bottom sitting, floating, lethargy, visible discomfort, swimming into decor, rapid breathing, black or red patches of skin that are not his own colour, and such, you'll notice if something is wrong), you need to go with 50% every day. but unless that happens, 50% every other day is fine too. I hope that's what you were asking, I feel like I'm being confusing, sorry ._.

No problem! So, did you see the video I posted -- would you say he's acting "weird" from what u saw?

 

No problem! So, did you see the video I posted -- would you say he's acting "weird" from what u saw?

nope hes totally fine in the vid

one thing though, the temple(?) style decoration - you should check if it has a hole on the bottom, there have been cases of bettas getting stuck in such a hole in similar decorations. if there is, you can simply cut a sponge for it or stuff it with filter wool. its just a quick check, yours might not have a hole, but better safe than sorry!

 

nope hes totally fine in the vid

one thing though, the temple(?) style decoration - you should check if it has a hole on the bottom, there have been cases of bettas getting stuck in such a hole in similar decorations. if there is, you can simply cut a sponge for it or stuff it with filter wool. its just a quick check, yours might not have a hole, but better safe than sorry!

What do you mean by hole? There's an opening at the bottom for him to swim thru, is that what you mean?

 

What do you mean by hole? There's an opening at the bottom for him to swim thru, is that what you mean?

no, not between the legs, that's fine. but if you flip it over, there might be one in the main body

 

no, not between the legs, that's fine. but if you flip it over, there might be one in the main body

Oh, in the main body, no. Thanks for checking, though!!