Do you have a betta fish, and are you concerned about your betta fish? Learn to recognize the signs that your betta fish is unhappy and find out what you can do to restore his wellbeing.
You can tell that your betta fish is happy if they are active and eat well, if they have retained their clear, vibrant colors, and if they respond to you when you approach the tank.
This article will look at the signs that indicate a happy and healthy betta fish and what you can do to reestablish their wellbeing if these signs are absent.
How active should a betta fish be?
It is usual for a happy betta fish to be constantly on the move. They are also very responsive to interaction – to other aquarium fish and their owners.
If your bettas are sluggish, still, or just out of character, check, and if necessary, alter the following details of their environment:
- The water temperature is too low.
- The water temperature is too high.
- The tank water is too acidic, water quality is important.
- Your tank is too small.
- Your fish is either not getting enough food, or he is getting too much, or the wrong food, does it get live food.
- Your fish is unwell – many diseases can afflict betta fish. Follow expert advice to diagnose and treat these.
How much does a happy betta fish eat?
Your betta should be eating two small meals a day of commercially available betta fish pellets. Experts recommend about 1.8 g of food per fish, depending on the age of the fish. 1.8 grams is about 4- 6 pellets.
It’s possible to feed adult bettas just once per day, but younger fish need two meals.
Betta fish also like their food “live.” This refers to fish food that is freeze-dried, frozen, or living and includes insects such as bloodworm and brine shrimp. These are all available in good pet stores.
If your betta fish is eating less than usual or nothing at all, then something may be bothering him. Consider the following causes:
- The tank is too cold. Bettas in a tank with water that is too cold become lethargic and won’t eat.
- There is a change in water makeup. Bettas are very sensitive to water chemicals.
- You feed your betta fish the same food all the time. Bettas can be fussy! Try offering a wider variety of foods or alter between pellets and live foods until you find something he likes.
- Your betta tank is too light for too long, and there are no aquarium plants to soothe the environment. Try altering the light to follow patterns of natural light and add some flora to the tank. A stressed fish will not eat.
What color should my betta fish be if he is happy?
Your bettas should be bright and vivid. Betta fish can lose their colors naturally as they get older, but they may also fade because of stress, illness, disease, and injury.
Fading can also be because of poor diet or poor tank conditions. If your fish are becoming less colorful, check the position of their fins. They will also hold their fins close to the body when they are stressed or unhappy.
Try the following strategies as soon as you notice color changes in your once bright bettas:
- Install a less powerful filter. If the betta fish tank is too noisy or over agitated, bettas will become stressed. This can cause their colors to fade.
- Check your betta for signs of injury and disease. If you see anything that concerns you, consult expert help.
- Adjust the tank lighting. Your bettas won’t flourish in-tank light that is overly bright or too dim. Try and simulate natural light as much as possible.
- Add plants and other natural features. A happy fish will constantly explore and hide in the environment that pleases him. A particular sign to look for that indicates betta satisfaction is that he will begin making a bubble nest.
How can I keep my betta fish from getting bored?
It would help if you made their living place a great place to be in. This means being super creative when you design and build their little ecosystem and includes making sure that your tank is big enough. No fish ever enjoyed the little round fishbowl scenario.
Ensure the tank water is clean and running at the correct temperature. Experienced betta owners recommend placing an ornament or structure in front of the filter to soothe the water flow. Add decorations, ornaments, rocks, and plants, and keep all of these clean.
Betta fish like to interact – with each other and with their owners. They will regularly look for and respond to your presence at the tank.
An excellent sign that your fish is happy is that he begins to make a bubble nest. He’ll do these at the top of the tank and will usually attach the nest to something. This is another reason to add flotsam and plants to the tank.
Why is my betta fish not the same as when I bought them?
Betta fish are intelligent and very receptive to their environment. If your fish is not the same as when you bought him, something has probably changed in his environment.
This could include:
- The addition of other fish to the tank. Betta fish do not all get on with each other. it is a very territorial fish.
- You are not as vigilant with the tank cleaning as you used to be.
- You have changed the food he usually enjoys.
If you alter the environment and he remains glum and inert, there is likely something physically wrong, and, once again, the best thing to do here is to look for expert help.
Conclusion
Betta fish are very sensitive to the environment, and if all is not to their liking, they will communicate their disappointment in various ways. Fortunately, it’s possible to learn to recognize these signs of displeasure and apply a few renovation strategies to the fish tank.