FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I got a new fish today, actually my first fish ever, and she is a female betta. She seems healthy, and relatively happy, but she is staying mostly in one corner of the cage near the surface and coming up for air around every 10 seconds. Is this normal, or is there something wrong with her?

I also did something kinda stupid, I bought a liquid water cleaner (you're supposed to be able to use it while the fish is in there, but I did it 2 hours before I got her). However, the bottle had no instructions on it, so I just poured about a spoonful into the tank, which is a small Critter Keeper, and let it sit while I cleaned the room and got other things ready for the fish. Could that be related, if there is something wrong with my fish?

try moving her into her own bowl with tap water,or bottled. with tap use stress coat. sounds like she is just scared. if she is in the coner and taking air every 10 seconds she is scared. but try moving her to her own new bowl and water.

Thanks!
I was also in a Yahoo chat room, and they said that maybe there wasn't enough oxygen in the water. I'll try using bottled water and if that doesn't work I'll find something at the vet's office to help I guess.

dont need to do that. all she needs is a gallon bowl with tap water and add stress coat. with the bowl there should be no cover so she can take in air. with in a few days she should be fine.

Stress coat?

Like I said, she's my first fish
Anyways, I just refilled her cage with tap water and a little bottled water. Should I use any liquid cleaner? The cleaner I have is Kent Freshwater Betta Bowl Essential. It doesn't have any instructions on it as I said earlier, so do you have any idea how much I should use if any at all?

Melanuke,
I tryed to look up the cleaner you talked about, but can find nothing on it. I see no reason for using cleaner in a fish bowl with the fish still in it.
All you need is fresh clean water and perhaps a little conditioner, something like AquaSafe or Stress Coat (about a 1/2tea spoon -- don't add too much).
The bowl will need a complete cleaning, at least once a week, for a one gallon bowl. Take the fish out using a net or small cup, and put her in another container; the cup she came in, or another clean container with fresh water to hold her until you get her usual bowl cleaned. Rinse her bowl out with plain water, no soap, and add the clean tap or bottled water, then the betta and you are all done.
Bettas take some time to get adjusted to their new enviroments, so it is normal behavior. In time she will be swimming all around the bowl. Females are a lot more active, in my opinion, than males.
Good luck with your new fishy.

Melanuke,
I found something called, Kent Marine Betta Bowl Essential's, on several pet supply websites and believe this is the same product that you have? It is a water conditioner for tap water to remove the clorine, etc. It is OK to use it as it is basicly the same thing as AquaSafe and Stress Coat, just made by a different company.
I hope this helps.

The betta bowl cleaners often cause more problems than they solve. Does your product have an ingredient list or does it say HOW it cleans the bowl ad what it 'removes'?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

You can go to Kent Marine's website (www.kentmarine.com) and get information on the conditioner. Just click on freshwater and then conditioners and then Betta Bowl Essential. The site has instructions for how much to use.
Hope that helps. And welcome to the wonderful world of fish keeping.

All you need is a water conditioner that removes Chlorine and Chloramines. You can probably get some in your local grocery store. Just check the label and make sure it removes those two chemicals.

Mermaiden

First, congrats on the new betta and welcome to the site

After reading all these posts and whatever other information you've checked into decide what you want/need to do, even making a list if necessary. No need to be messing around with chemicals, disturbing the fish, potentially changing the water temp, etc.

The Kritter Keeper is be fine, they have vented covers to allow air circulation.

Go to PetSmart, PetCo, or any other store that sells fish supplies and pick up some AquaSafe or Stress Coat. You don't need a large bottle, and the small containers usually have dosage directions for small bowls/tanks. If you measure the L, W, and H of your Kritter Keeper you can actually calculate the volume of it here

If you don't already have one, pick up a thermometer. It's important when making water changes to refill the container with the same temp water. Not doing so can stress the fish and cause illness.

Do you have any decorations in the tank? You might also want to get a small plant, they come in a big variety of sizes. Most people will get silk over plastic for bettas to protect their fins. A plant might help her feel more secure in her new home.

Now, as gently as possible remove her from the tank-I use a soup ladle for bettas-and put her in another temporary container like a bowl with some of the current tank water. Check the water temp. Get rid of the old water and rinse the tank. Refill with fresh water of the same temp and add your water conditioner (Stress Coat, Aqua Safe, etc). Rinse and add the plant. Then replace your betta.

With all this recent activity she may seem nervous for a few days, she may not even eat so don't be surprised. Watch for signs of stress...white spots, horizontal lines, etc.

If you have any other questions or problems feel free to post again. And good luck


Last edited by Theresa_M at 12-Jun-2005 10:02

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean