Walking by your betta fish tank and seeing them sitting at the bottom every time will make us worry. However, there can be numerous reasons behind your betta fish sitting at the bottom.
You must know about your betta fish’s behaviors and should be able to understand when they are suffering or going through issues. This article will discuss why betta fish sit at the bottom of the tank. So, Why do betta fish sit at the bottom of the tank? Let us find out.
Resting is the common reason behind your betta fish sitting at the bottom. However, stress, illness, and poor water conditions can make them sit at the bottom. Provide them with adequate water parameters, a regular supply of food, and ideal living conditions to prevent such issues.
We will also discuss when it is normal for our betta fish to sit at the bottom of the tank and how we can prevent our betta fish from such issues. So, let us get into it.
Contents
- 1 Why is my betta fish sitting at the bottom of the tank?
- 2 Is it normal for a betta fish to sit at the bottom of the tank?
- 3 15 reasons behind your betta fish sitting at the bottom of the tank
- 3.1 1. Your betta fish is living in poor water conditions.
- 3.2 2. Your betta fish tank parameters are not appropriate.
- 3.3 3. Your betta fish is under stress.
- 3.4 4. Your betta is suffering from swim bladder disorder.
- 3.5 5. Your betta fish is suffering from illness.
- 3.6 6. Your betta is suffering from physical injury.
- 3.7 7. Your betta fish is living with their non-compatible tankmates.
- 3.8 8. You are not feeding your betta appropriately.
- 3.9 9. You are keeping your betta in a small-size tank.
- 3.10 10. Your betta tank filter has a high current flow.
- 3.11 11. Your betta fish is suffering from nitrate poisoning.
- 3.12 12. Your betta fish is suffering from ammonia poisoning.
- 3.13 13. Your betta fish water temperature is too high.
- 3.14 14. Your betta fish water temperature is too low.
- 3.15 15. Your betta fish is dead.
- 4 How to prevent betta fish from such issues?
- 5 Conclusion:
Why is my betta fish sitting at the bottom of the tank?
There can be numerous reasons behind your betta fish sitting at the bottom of the tank, of which the primary reasons are stress, poor water conditions, and inadequate water parameters.
It is also possible that your betta fish is resting at the bottom.
Look for any sign of stress and illness in your betta fish, and if you notice any unusual behavior in your betta fish, there is something wrong going on.
Bettas are easy to take care of fish, but keeping them in inadequate living conditions can make them suffer from critical conditions.
Illness, injury, high filter current, and lack of energy in your betta fish can also make them sit at the bottom of the tank.
Let us know when it is normal for your betta fish to sit at the bottom of the tank.
Is it normal for a betta fish to sit at the bottom of the tank?
It is not always a matter of concern when your betta fish sits at the bottom of the tank.
It is normal if these are the reasons behind your betta fish sitting at the bottom of the tank:
- Your betta fish is resting.
- Your betta fish is old.
Resting
It is the primary reason your betta fish sits at the bottom of the tank.
Bettas require rest from time to time. So they will take a nap for some time at the bottom of the tank.
If your betta fish is healthy, eats nicely, and every time energetic, resting is the reason behind sitting at the bottom of the tank.
They need to rest their large flowing fins, and for that, they will rest at the bottom of the tank.
Old age
Old age is the second most common reason behind your betta fish sitting at the bottom of the tank.
Aged betta will lack energy and be less interested in swimming from one place to another.
You will see them most of the time sitting at the bottom of the tank and resting.
It is quite normal as it is natural, and we cannot do anything about it.
Let us now discuss the 15 reasons which make your betta fish sit at the bottom of the tank.
Also read: Why Is My Betta Fish Not Active?
15 reasons behind your betta fish sitting at the bottom of the tank
All these are the reasons behind your betta fish sitting at the bottom of the tank:
- Poor water conditions
- Inadequate water parameters
- Stress
- Swim bladder disorder
- Illness
- Physical injury
- Non-compatible tankmates
- Poor supply of food
- Small size tank
- High filter current
- Nitrate poisoning
- Ammonia poisoning
- Too hot water
- Too cold water
- Death
1. Your betta fish is living in poor water conditions.
Bettas are tropical freshwater fish and prefer to live in clean water conditions.
Betta fish living in poor water conditions will become lethargic and spend most of their time sitting at the bottom.
Poor water quality will lack oxygen in the tank, making your betta fish suffer breathing.
Your betta fish will come under stress and become prone to diseases.
All these issues will weaken your betta fish, and they will lay at the bottom of the tank as they will be less interested in moving.
2. Your betta fish tank parameters are not appropriate.
Bettas are sensitive to water parameters and can suffer through critical conditions when kept in a tank with inappropriate water parameters.
A high pH level will affect your betta fish gills, skin, and eyes.
Inappropriate water parameters will make your betta fish prone to diseases and parasites.
They will lose their appetite and avoid eating, making them weak and stressed.
Stressed betta fish will lay at the bottom of the tank most of the time.
Also read: What Is A Good Water Temperature For Betta Fish?
3. Your betta fish is under stress.
Stress can be the primary reason behind your betta fish showing such behavior.
Numerous reasons can make your betta fish come under stress, of which the primary reasons are inadequate water parameters, poor water conditions, poor supply of food, and small-size tanks.
You must know that any fish being under stress for a long time will lose its appetite and become prone to diseases and parasites.
All these issues will make them weak, and they will become lethargic, resulting in showing such behavior.
4. Your betta is suffering from swim bladder disorder.
Swim bladder disorder can also be the reason behind your betta fish sitting at the bottom of the tank.
Fishes have a swim bladder that helps them to maintain their buoyancy.
It can get affected because of various reasons like overfeeding, gulping air, blowing itself on a hard object, and parasitic and bacterial infection.
When you overfeed your betta fish, their belly gets extended, which affects their swim bladder.
Also, it happens when we feed dry food to our fish. The dry food gets extended in the belly when it gets wet, which enlarges the intestinal tracts of your betta fish and affects the swim bladder.
Betta fish with affected swim bladders are unable to maintain their buoyancy and will sit at the bottom of the tank.
5. Your betta fish is suffering from illness.
Your betta fish may be suffering from some illness, and because of that, it is showing such behavior.
Betta fish suffering from diseases like ick will spend most of their time at the bottom of the tank rubbing their body against objects and plants.
Ick causes itchiness to your betta fish, and they have to rub against objects to get relief.
Illness makes your betta fish stressed and weak, resulting in strange behavior like sitting at the bottom of the tank.
Also read: Why Is My Betta Fish Losing Color And Turning White?
6. Your betta is suffering from physical injury.
Your betta fish suffering from physical injury can also be the reason behind sitting at the bottom of the tank.
Betta can injure itself by hitting itself on a hard object or by mistake.
In such conditions, they will come under stress because of pain and will become weak.
Weak betta fish will not move much and will be at the bottom of the tank most of the time.
7. Your betta fish is living with their non-compatible tankmates.
Bettas come under the category of aggressive fish in a fish world.
Their temperament stops us from keeping them with any fish we want.
So, you have to be choosy when adding mates to your betta tank.
Avoid adding bigger, more colorful, and more aggressive fish than betta fish to your betta tank.
Also, avoid adding two male bettas in the same tank, as they will end up fighting and will fight till one is dead.
We all know that bettas are aggressive fish and will fight with the fish threatening them. But, when the fish is more aggressive than the betta, the betta will tend to hide and stay in one place, like the bottom of the tank.
Also read: How Many Betta Fish Can Live Together?
8. You are not feeding your betta appropriately.
Not feeding food to your betta fish appropriately can also be the reason your betta fish sit at the bottom of the tank.
Overfeeding and underfeeding both can make your betta fish suffer.
Overfeeding will make your betta fish suffer from bloating and constipation.
When your betta gets overfed, it will sit in one spot and be less interested in moving.
Also, when you underfeed your betta fish, they don’t get many nutrients for energy, resulting in them sitting in one spot and not swimming much.
9. You are keeping your betta in a small-size tank.
Keeping your betta fish in a small tank can also be the reason behind such issues.
Many people think that betta fish live in a bowl. But, in reality, we should keep them in a nano-tank instead of a bowl.
Bettas are active swimmers and require enough space to move comfortably.
When there is not enough space for them, they will rather be interested in sitting in one place than swimming.
10. Your betta tank filter has a high current flow.
Not only adding a good filtration system will do great for your bettas.
If your filter has a high current flow, your betta will not be able to swim comfortably.
The high current flow of a filter will suck up all your betta fish energy, and they will not be interested in swimming.
Imagine walking on a road against the wind. It will take more energy than it takes when we usually walk.
So, in such a case, your fish will avoid fighting the water’s movements and choose to sit at the bottom.
11. Your betta fish is suffering from nitrate poisoning.
Nitrate poisoning means a spike of chemicals in your fish tank water.
When suffering from nitrate poisoning, your betta fish will show symptoms like heavy breathing, losing color, looking pale, and lethargy.
Suffering from such issues, your betta fish will spend most of the time sitting at the bottom of the tank.
12. Your betta fish is suffering from ammonia poisoning.
Ammonia poisoning happens due to elevated pH levels in a fish tank.
Poor water conditions, dead and rotten fish and plants in a tank and excessive waste in the tank result in ammonia poisoning.
Betta fish suffering from ammonia poisoning will have red gills, darkened bodies, more mucous production, and gasp air at the surface.
However, it will weaken your betta fish, and you will also see them sitting at the bottom of the tank.
Not performing a regular water change and cycling your new tank before adding a fish results in ammonia poisoning.
13. Your betta fish water temperature is too high.
Bettas are very sensitive when it comes to water temperature.
If you keep your betta fish in a water temperature above or below their ideal range, they will suffer.
Too hot water temperature loses oxygen, making your betta fish suffer breathing.
Your betta fish will gasp at the surface or the tank’s bottom.
14. Your betta fish water temperature is too low.
When the water temperature is too low, your betta fish will have a reduced metabolic function.
Because of the cold water temperature, your betta fish will become lethargic.
They will have a weak appetite and cannot digest the food fast.
They will either sit at the bottom of the tank or will float at the surface.
15. Your betta fish is dead.
This is the worst scenario behind your betta fish sitting at the bottom of the tank.
If your betta fish has no fin movement and has been sitting at the bottom for a long time now, it may be dead.
Try moving your betta fish using a fish net. If they don’t do any movement, your betta fish has passed away.
Let us now discuss how we can prevent our betta fish from such issues.
How to prevent betta fish from such issues?
Ensure all these things to prevent your betta fish from such issues:
- Provide your betta fish with good water conditions.
- Ensure adequate and stable water parameters of your betta fish tank.
- Keep your betta fish in a large enough tank.
- Feed your betta fish regularly with high-quality food.
- Choose the right tankmates for your betta fish.
- Provide your betta fish with a stress-free environment.
Good water conditions
Providing good water conditions to your betta fish will prevent them from such issues.
To ensure good water conditions, perform a weekly water change of at least 30% to keep the water clean.
Make sure to treat the water with a water conditioner to dechlorinate the water.
We recommend using the API water conditioner to treat the tap water, as it will help you eliminate chlorine, chloramine, ammonia, nitrite, and heavy metals from the water.
Particulars | Betta Fish Requirement |
---|---|
Water temperature | Between 75-82 °F |
Water pH level | Between 6.5 and 8 |
Water TDS level | Between 200-400ppm |
Ammonia | 0ppm |
Nitrite | 0ppm |
Nitrate | Below 20ppm |
You can buy this product on amazon: API TAP WATER CONDITIONER.
Add a good filtration system to keep the water clean and protected from harmful toxins like ammonia and nitrite.
You can consider buying AQUA-TECH POWE FILTER as it will help you clean your betta fish tank from excessive waste and prevent harmful toxins.
You can buy this at amazon: AQUA-TECH POWER FILTER.
Also, keep a regular check on your betta fish tank’s ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate level and maintain ammonia and nitrite at 0 ppm, whereas nitrate should be below 20 ppm.
We recommend using the API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT as it will help you check the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and high pH.
You can buy it from amazon: API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT.
Adequate and stable water parameters.
Providing your betta fish with adequate and stable water parameters will help prevent such issues.
Maintain the water temperature between 75-82 °F.
With adequate water temperature, stable water temperature is also necessary as the unstable water temperature will cause stress to your betta fish.
Consider adding a heater to your betta fish tank for stable water temperature.
You can consider using a TETRA HT SUBMERSIBLE HEATER as it will help you maintain the water temperature of 78 °F.
This heater is available in different size tanks, which vary from 2 gallons to 55 gallons.
You can buy this from amazon: TETRA HT SUBMERSIBLE HEATER.
The water pH level of your betta fish tank should be between 6.5 and 8.
To ensure stable water pH, perform a regular water change, remove all dead and decaying plants and fish from the tank, and add an air pump to your betta fish tank.
The water TDS level of your betta fish tank should be between 250-280ppm.
Large size tank
Provide your betta fish with a large size tank to prevent such issues.
Betta fish are active swimmers and require large enough space to swim.
We should follow the one-inch gallon rule when housing a fish in a tank.
The one-inch one-gallon rule means one inch of fish per gallon of water.
Betta fish can be as long as 3 inches in size.
Some of the space will be covered by plants, hiding spots, and other decors.
So, you should provide your betta fish with a five-gallon tank to live comfortably.
Feed regularly with high-quality food.
Food is necessary to ensure your betta fish’s faster growth and healthy lifespan.
Bettas are carnivore fish and require a meat-based food high in protein in their everyday diet.
Consider feeding your betta fish with betta pellets. Betta pellets are specially made for betta fish.
Consider feeding your betta fish with Hikari Betta Pellets, as they contain all the nutritional value required to thrive.
You can buy this product at amazon: Hikari Betts Pellets.
Consider feeding your betta fish with live, freeze-dried, and frozen food once a week as a treat.
You should know that betta fish have a stomach equal to the size of their eye.
So, feed your betta fish two to three pellets at a time, two times a day.
Also read: Can Betta Fish Eat Earthworms?
Choose the right tankmates.
Bettas are aggressive fish and cannot be paired with any fish.
You can’t keep them with bigger and more colorful fish than your bettas.
These are some of the best tankmates of your betta fish:
- Guppy fish
- Corydoras
- Red cherry shrimp
- Amano shrimp
- Nerite snails
- Mystery snails
- Neon tetras
Provide stress-free environment
Providing a stress-free environment for your betta fish is necessary to prevent them from such issues.
You should take care of numerous things to provide your betta fish with a stress-free environment.
Ensure all these things to provide your betta fish with a stress-free environment:
- Provide good water conditions by performing a regular water change.
- Ensure adequate water temperature by keeping the water temperature between 75-82 °F.
- Keep your betta in a well-heated tank to ensure stable water temperature.
- Add plenty of live aquatic plants and hiding spots to your betta fish tank to mimic their natural habitat and ensure their ideal living conditions.
- Avoid adding two male bettas in the same tank.
- Provide your betta large-size tank so that they can live and swim comfortably.
- Add a good filtration system with biofilter media to prevent harmful toxins like ammonia and nitrite.
Conclusion:
There can be various reasons behind your betta fish sitting at the bottom of the tank.
Resting is also a primary reason behind your betta fish sitting at the bottom.
Other common reasons include stress, poor water conditions, illness, injury, high filter currents, and inadequate water temperature.
Providing your betta fish with good water conditions, adequate and stable water parameters, a regular supply of food, and ideal living conditions will prevent them from such issues.
Reference: ResearchGate, Maryvillecollege, Researchgate, Wikipedia