My betta is boring. Please help me XD

Why is my betta so boring?? haha. This is a serious question. I may have asked before but I have since taken even more steps and the previous thread is months old so I made a new one. My betta does not eat or move around much. He acts as though he is seriously depressed. But he has perfect water parameters and a five-gallon tank. He lived alone in his tank for over a year with plenty of plants and a little hideout building. He also had a snail and lots of open water so he wouldn't get squished. I've tried putting mirrors in front of him for short periods, giving him ping pong balls, and brushing the glass lightly to see if he would follow my finger. He wasn't interested in any of it. I also tried feeding him tons of different foods such as bloodworms, many betta composite foods, lettuce, and brine shrimp. Nothing.

So finally, I went to my LFS and they recommended getting him a couple of well-behaved gold tetras since he didn't seem aggressive. After a little convincing by this person, I took three tetras and went home. I put them in the tank with him. The tetras are overjoyed and have been eating normally and following my finger. They have bright coloring and play with one another. They do not fin nip and seem very kind to the betta. I have never caught them bullying him and every once in a while they will go and inspect him.

He seemed interested in them for a solid 24 hours LOL. After that he went back to his mopey ways and still doesn't eat or come out of his house. Is there anything else I can do for him? Not only is he no fun to watch, but I feel bad for him. I've tried everything. Clean water, food, friends, no friends XD. He just doesn't like me.

 

Why is my betta so boring?? haha. This is a serious question. I may have asked before but I have since taken even more steps and the previous thread is months old so I made a new one. My betta does not eat or move around much. He acts as though he is seriously depressed. But he has perfect water parameters and a five-gallon tank. He lived alone in his tank for over a year with plenty of plants and a little hideout building. He also had a snail and lots of open water so he wouldn't get squished. I've tried putting mirrors in front of him for short periods, giving him ping pong balls, and brushing the glass lightly to see if he would follow my finger. He wasn't interested in any of it. I also tried feeding him tons of different foods such as bloodworms, many betta composite foods, lettuce, and brine shrimp. Nothing.

So finally, I went to my LFS and they recommended getting him a couple of well-behaved gold tetras since he didn't seem aggressive. After a little convincing by this person, I took three tetras and went home. I put them in the tank with him. The tetras are overjoyed and have been eating normally and following my finger. They have bright coloring and play with one another. They do not fin nip and seem very kind to the betta. I have never caught them bullying him and every once in a while they will go and inspect him.

He seemed interested in them for a solid 24 hours LOL. After that he went back to his mopey ways and still doesn't eat or come out of his house. Is there anything else I can do for him? Not only is he no fun to watch, but I feel bad for him. I've tried everything. Clean water, food, friends, no friends XD. He just doesn't like me.

Sounds like your fish is super lethargic and has a deeper issue here (parasites or malcare maybe?). I can't help much but a setup picture may be helpful to other more experienced users, best of luck

 

Sounds like your fish is super lethargic and has a deeper issue here (parasites or malcare maybe?). I can't help much but a setup picture may be helpful to other more experienced users, best of luck

Do you think he could have parasites for over a year??? I don't know how I could malcare for him with good water parameters (API Master test) and plenty of food.

 

Sounds like your fish is super lethargic and has a deeper issue here (parasites or malcare maybe?). I can't help much but a setup picture may be helpful to other more experienced users, best of luck

Ah, I've just thought of lack of oxygen. What kind of filtration and surface disturbance do you have going on?

Do you think he could have parasites for over a year??? I don't know how I could malcare for him with good water parameters (API Master test) and plenty of food.

Not an expert on parasites or really in general on fish, but it is a liable issue if you can narrow down what parasites or diseases are possible

 

Ah, I've just thought of lack of oxygen. What kind of filtration and surface disturbance do you have going on?

Oh, great idea!! Well, the tank is a Minibow 5 from Aqueon and has the matching filter. To be fully honest it doesn't have a gal/hr discretion on the box, but I've had a betta in the exact tank before that lived for three and a half years and was very energetic and loving towards me. It is about an inch above the water and causes a relatively large surface disturbance, along with traveling through the air, so I'm not super worried about oxygen. But its definitely a good thought

 

It's a betta lol, oxygen is a non issue. They have a labyrinth organ for that.

I would highly suggest looking into your water parameters. Some bettas are just lazier than others and never do much. I would however be concerned it isn't eating? Get an api test kit if you can and run a proper panel on your water to figure out if it's a water issue. If the you take your water to the LFS and they test it with strips, I'd take that with a grain of salt as strips aren't accurate.

Do you have a heater for your betta? Whats the temperature in the tank?

The LFS gave you bad advice. Tetras need at least 6 to be comfortable and you most definitely can't fit any active schooling fish in something as small as a 5 gallon. Especially with a betta already inhabiting it. Not to mention with those tetras darting around your betta will most likely become more stressed. IMO they do not like overly active tank mates.

 

It's a betta lol, oxygen is a non issue. They have a labyrinth organ for that.

I would highly suggest looking into your water parameters. Some bettas are just lazier than others and never do much. I would however be concerned it isn't eating? Get an api test kit if you can and run a proper panel on your water to figure out if it's a water issue. If the you take your water to the LFS and they test it with strips, I'd take that with a grain of salt as strips aren't accurate.

Do you have a heater for your betta? Whats the temperature in the tank?

The LFS gave you bad advice. Tetras need at least 6 to be comfortable and you most definitely can't fit any active schooling fish in something as small as a 5 gallon. Especially with a betta already inhabiting it. Not to mention with those tetras darting around your betta will most likely become more stressed. IMO they do not like overly active tank mates.

I just told yall twice I ran API master lol. 0 ammonia 0 nitrate 10-20 nitrate. Temp in tank is 78 yes I have a heater. Please read the post.

I don't know but LFS has owned multiple fish tanks between 5-150 gallons for over 20 years.

 

I just told yall twice I ran API master lol. 0 ammonia 0 nitrate 10-20 nitrate. Temp in tank is 78 yes I have a heater. Please read the post.

I don't know but LFS has owned multiple fish tanks between 5-150 gallons for over 20 years.

You never posted the actual parameters, but I apologize for not noticing it was the api liquid.

It's a personal choice on your stocking, it's your tank, but generally inadvisable with a 5 gallon. Especially if your main concern is your betta's well being. Since you seem to have it figured out I suppose I'll leave you to it. Good luck!

 

I just told yall twice I ran API master lol. 0 ammonia 0 nitrate 10-20 nitrate. Temp in tank is 78 yes I have a heater. Please read the post.

I don't know but LFS has owned multiple fish tanks between 5-150 gallons for over 20 years.

You don't mention other parameters, I assume these would also be in the correct range?

 

Your HOB may be too strong for him with the big fins.

 

He could be getting old too
I have a grandpa betta and 98% of the time he looks like he’s dead lol

 

If you've had him for quite awhile and he's always been healthy then maybe that's just his "personality" (or lack thereof).

Maybe some live food, such as brine shrimp, would make him active temporarily.

Although now that he has tankmates, maybe him being chill isn't such a bad thing. Better a chilling betta than a killing betta. (Personally, I would remove the other fish - it's not like he's lonely.)

 

If any of you are still subbed to this thread I would like to say thank you for your concern! The tankmates actually brightened him after a couple more weeks for him to get used to them. He now comes out and says hi all the time, eats all of his food, has gained lots of color, and does not fear the tetras at all.