Weak Betta

About 3 weeks ago before I took my vacation I noticed my Smaragdina female was hiding more then usual and when she did some out to greet me seemed to be dragging her tail as it it were too heavy or she was having a slow start out of bed that morning. That weekend started my vacation which I intended to do a major cleaning on multiple tanks, hers at the top of the list. It's been the longest set up tank and the gravel was compacting/getting lots trapped in it which affected the plants and they began dying from the roots up. I completely tore down the tank and thoroughly cleaned the gravel, rearranged the driftwood for a better hide, and planted some replacement plants in hope they grow in to give her more cover then before.

Since redoing her home tank I've been letting the plants settle in while she is in quarantine so I can make sure she's eating as I suspect she has become malnourished and is feeling weak. She is currently in a 2.5 tank with about an inch of water so she doesn't have to work for air, 2 java ferns to provide some cover and resting points, and a small preset heater with a box around the sides so she isn't bothered by anything outside the tank. She is quite timid and doesn't seem very happy in the quarantine tank but she does eagerly chase down dinner. She doesn't seem lacking in energy because if I'm too abrupt trying to feed her she will almost literally bounce off the walls of the tank zooming back and forth, it actually scares me. I've been feeding her mainly frozen brine shrimp and daphnia, I try the occasional freeze dried blood worm but she's a bit more picky with them and I have to find a small one she can actually fit in her mouth, then I have betta bites and new life spectrum dry foods but those are sort of a last resort if she isn't eating any of the other options. This weekend I am considering picking up some live food, my LFS carries blackworms but I absolutely despise trying to keep them edible for the fish however it would be worth her health improving. I would really like to put her back in the home tank soon but not until I know she's improving. Any 2 cents on some beneficial foods would be great or anything else I can try. She does have quite the appetite.

 

Go with bugs or live food(bloodworms, daphnia etc) She will like those better and possible eat.

 

About 3 weeks ago before I took my vacation I noticed my Smaragdina female was hiding more then usual and when she did some out to greet me seemed to be dragging her tail as it it were too heavy or she was having a slow start out of bed that morning. That weekend started my vacation which I intended to do a major cleaning on multiple tanks, hers at the top of the list. It's been the longest set up tank and the gravel was compacting/getting lots trapped in it which affected the plants and they began dying from the roots up. I completely tore down the tank and thoroughly cleaned the gravel, rearranged the driftwood for a better hide, and planted some replacement plants in hope they grow in to give her more cover then before.

Since redoing her home tank I've been letting the plants settle in while she is in quarantine so I can make sure she's eating as I suspect she has become malnourished and is feeling weak. She is currently in a 2.5 tank with about an inch of water so she doesn't have to work for air, 2 java ferns to provide some cover and resting points, and a small preset heater with a box around the sides so she isn't bothered by anything outside the tank. She is quite timid and doesn't seem very happy in the quarantine tank but she does eagerly chase down dinner. She doesn't seem lacking in energy because if I'm too abrupt trying to feed her she will almost literally bounce off the walls of the tank zooming back and forth, it actually scares me. I've been feeding her mainly frozen brine shrimp and daphnia, I try the occasional freeze dried blood worm but she's a bit more picky with them and I have to find a small one she can actually fit in her mouth, then I have betta bites and new life spectrum dry foods but those are sort of a last resort if she isn't eating any of the other options. This weekend I am considering picking up some live food, my LFS carries blackworms but I absolutely despise trying to keep them edible for the fish however it would be worth her health improving. I would really like to put her back in the home tank soon but not until I know she's improving. Any 2 cents on some beneficial foods would be great or anything else I can try. She does have quite the appetite.

How many years old is she?

 

How many years old is she?

I think going on 2 or 3 years, middle aged haha

Go with bugs or live food(bloodworms, daphnia etc) She will like those better and possible eat.

Oh she eats alright. She chases down the brine shrimp and daphnia like there's no tomorrow when she sees it floating around. Not too enthused about the pellets though I'm not surprised on that. It's weird that she has so much energy to zip around and chase food but seems to struggle carrying herself properly so the low water level definitely helps.

I was trying to vary the diet because the daphnia and brine shrimp are the only sure fire foods right now and I don't really want to feed her those every day almost twice a day. I think she'd go crazy for the live worms though.. Would live daphnia be any better too? Last time my LFS had them but no worms.

 

I think going on 2 or 3 years, middle aged haha

haha, lol! The only thing I can think is age is catching up to her, unfortunately.

 

haha, lol! The only thing I can think is age is catching up to her, unfortunately.

I would have to disagree as I've never had a betta act this way healthy or sick. I've had a betta pass from velvet and old age and they were just very relaxed/lethargic but never had issues swimming properly. My moms betta got sucked a into the filter a bit and tore up their fins pretty bad and they had some issues swimming but that was to be expected, unfortunately they also passed.

Mine does appear rather skinny compared to her mate from a top down view but that's the extent of her physical appearance. A bit skinny from the side but harder to tell. I'd feel better if it seemed to be just old age..

Go with bugs or live food(bloodworms, daphnia etc) She will like those better and possible eat.

Got some blackworms this weekend and she ate like 4-5 pretty sizeable ones. It was a blast watching her go for them, I was just as excited watching her eat them as she was gobbling them up! I think it'll be a welcomed treat for all of the bettas but she thoroughly enjoyed them it seems.

 

I would have to disagree as I've never had a betta act this way healthy or sick. I've had a betta pass from velvet and old age and they were just very relaxed/lethargic but never had issues swimming properly. My moms betta got sucked a into the filter a bit and tore up their fins pretty bad and they had some issues swimming but that was to be expected, unfortunately they also passed.

Mine does appear rather skinny compared to her mate from a top down view but that's the extent of her physical appearance. A bit skinny from the side but harder to tell. I'd feel better if it seemed to be just old age..


Got some blackworms this weekend and she ate like 4-5 pretty sizeable ones. It was a blast watching her go for them, I was just as excited watching her eat them as she was gobbling them up! I think it'll be a welcomed treat for all of the bettas but she thoroughly enjoyed them it seems.

Now, I am not sure of the cause. I am sorry and wish I could help but I don't know.

 

Now, I am not sure of the cause. I am sorry and wish I could help but I don't know.

I appreciate it! I'm stumped as well so I'll tank anything into consideration.