A Stressed Betta
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Question From Sue:
I have a male betta who suddenly has been showing some strange behaviour. Taz stays at the top of the bowl, snug to the edge, with no movement other than his mouth. Wont eat. Then every twenty mins he just goes beserk, racing around the bowl on the water top as if he is trying to get out. Litterally out of the water. I did find my cat drinking water from the bowl. Could this be stress, scared or what. His colouring is way off as well. Hope you can give me some advice. I have moved his bowl to a better place where kitties cant get near him.
Since I have had a betta get eaten by a cat I think that it is a big concern for fish. I have also had betta fish jump out of their tank before too, so that can happen also, they can jump very high sometimes. I think he is both scared and stressed, especially with the cat drinking from the water, good idea to move him away.
As for him losing color – it could be nothing.. but it could be what is called “Velvet” check out this page on bettatalk.com for more information on the diesease including treatment.
From bettatalk:
Velvet is hard to spot, but can be best spotted with a flashlight. Shine the light on the betta’s body: if it looks like it is covered with a fine gold or rust mist, then it has velvet. A betta with velvet will act sick, so look for clamped fins, scratching against rocks/gravel/tank, loss of appetite, loss of color etc…
dana 3 tears on 
betta fish lover 20 on 
Betta Fish are what I blog about.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Um.. quick question. Anyone know where I could get some java moss?
My betta isn’t very happy with his silk plants.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:34 am
I have seen it at pet store. One specifically i have seen it at is petsmart.
October 5th, 2008 at 3:13 am
I just recently bought a betta and when I put him in his tank and fed him, he was eating fine. But the next day when I tried to feed him again, he wouldn’t eat. Could this mean that he’s just not hungry or could there be something wrong with him? What are the signs of a stressed out betta and how do you take care of that?
April 10th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
My fish is doing the same thing, I thought he had a fungus when I started to see some weird coloring on his forehead, but brushed it off because he was doing fine. When it started to spread I freaked, and now that he’s not eating I’m super freaked because my bettas are fat little piggys (i don’t over feed, they just beg all the time) So I found out he has velvet, he’s been burying himself under the rocks in his aquarium and clinging to the walls not moving, and then he’ll dart and flip like he’s trying to get out (i put a magazine on top of his tank overnight so he doesn’t do it while I’m asleep) I bought him Mardel Coppersafe, added some aquarium salt (wasn’t aware that they liked the stuff until i started looking online), an dput him in the dark to slow the growth. I was hoping for an instant perk, enough to get him to eat and stop itching so much, but he’s acting the same. I just want to pour calamine lotion on him,
— not really just saying that’s what i’d want if i were him– If anyone has any tips on medication I can find at a Petsmart that will help him eat again, I’d love you forever 
. He just can’t go another night like this.
August 7th, 2009 at 5:09 am
im really sorry april i wish i could help but i have no experence with that stuff but….water changes r really good for bettas and next time u go to petsmart u can just ask someone who works there about it and i hope its okay…..but the not eating thing is really worrying cuz food supplies energy and is hes always jumoing and swimming franticly he could run out of energy……and fish stores like ones that speacialize in fish r really good cuz i mean they speacialize in fish sooo hope ur betta gets better!and about the eating thing…he just might not like the food u should try a variety of foods u know like different brands or something