Why is my fish sleeping so much?
While fish do not sleep in the same way that land mammals sleep, most fish do rest. Research shows that fish may reduce their activity and metabolism while remaining alert to danger. Some fish float in place, some wedge themselves into a secure spot in the mud or coral, and some even locate a suitable nest.
One common cause is improper water temperature. If your fish's water is too hot or too cold, they will be very inactive. Check your heater and verify that your aquarium is at the right level. Other possible causes are overfeeding and improper water quality.
Sleeping fish remain stationary but upright; they do not turn sideways or upside down. A fish that is leaning, is upside down, or lying on the bottom isn't sleeping but is likely sick.
If you have logged an increase in your betta's sleeping time, the first thing to check is your water temperature. Remember, bettas need warm water and their aquarium will require a heater. Do not rely on stick on thermometers, but rather use an in-tank thermometer. This will give you the most reliable temperature.
Stress or illness: Fish that are stressed or sick may become lethargic and inactive. This could be due to poor water quality, improper temperature, inadequate nutrition, or the presence of diseases or parasites. It's important to monitor the fish closely and address any underlying health issues.
Poor water quality can also cause lethargic, listless behavior. The symptoms are usually due to improper temperatures or overfeeding, however. Gasping for air at the top of the tank can point to poor water quality. Test your water in this case and consider an aerator for your aquarium.
Strange Swimming: When fish are stressed, they often develop odd swimming patterns. If your fish is swimming frantically without going anywhere, crashing at the bottom of his tank, rubbing himself on gravel or rocks, or locking his fins at his side, he may be experiencing significant stress.
These are some of the most common signs of disease seen in pet fish: Appearing disoriented, such as swimming upside down. Leaving food uneaten. White spots on fins or body.
Clean the tank once every three days. Add either Ampicillin or Tetracycline into the water to treat it. Repeat until your fish's fin ceases to show signs that it is still losing tissue. Put some fungus eliminator in the water to facilitate recovery.
Symptoms of Ammonia Poisoning
The fish will become listless and sit at the bottom of the tank motionless. They will have no desire to eat food or even attempt to forage for food. Other symptoms are red streaking on the body and through all of the rays on fins and the eyes of the fish may go cloudy due to ammonia burn.
Why is my fish dying for no symptoms?
There are some things which kill lots of fish rapidly with no symptoms: If the fish died just after a water change: With chlorinated water and a large water change, a chlorine pulse can be to blame (VERY common). With well water and a large water change, low oxygen and/or high carbon dioxide can be to blame.
As oxygen levels drop further, the fish will begin to show labored breathing and more rapid gill movements as they desperately attempt to get enough oxygen from the water by passing more water over their gills. Eventually, fish will begin gasping at the surface of the water.
Behavior of Underfed Fish
Once you notice fish picking at the substrate or behind plants, this is a sign they're looking for food. The exception in this case would be scavengers and bottom feeders such as Plecostomus and shrimp. Overly aggressive feeding behavior may also suggest the fish aren't getting enough food.
'New tank syndrome' is commonly experienced in the first weeks of a new aquarium and is caused by an immature filter and excess waste. New Tank Syndrome refers to the problems that can arise in an aquarium when there is a build-up of invisible, toxic compounds.
Betta fish are known to recognize their owners and get excited to see them, swimming to the front of the tank and dancing around the water in your presence.
What we do know through observation is that some fish seem to get down or sad when another fish they are accustomed to is taken away or passes away. This seems to indicate that fish can miss someone, but it's hard to know exactly what kind of bond they form with their humans.
Yes, fish most certainly have feelings. Scientists have made great strides over the past couple decades in recognizing the sentience of fish.
Rapid breathing could indicate a number of things. It could be stress from traffic in your home, or from a harassing fish. New fish will breathe rapidly from the shock of being transported. You should also test your water for high ammonia, nitrate, pH, and nitrite levels.
The most obvious behaviors to observe are the movements of a fish. Some types of movements include swimming, hovering, perching, and lying on the bottom. Some fishes swim all the time—either moving around from place to place or hovering in a single area for long periods.
Shimmying is a symptom often seen in mollies and other livebearers where the fish rocks its body from side to side in a snake-like slithering motion. The shimmies can be caused by: Low temperatures where the fish may be “shivering” to get warmer.
How do you cheer up a fish?
Treat the water and keep it clean so the fish stays healthy and happy. To stimulate your fish's brain, give it toys like floating rocks and caves for it to hide in. You can even train your fish to do tricks like swim through a hoop or jump out of the water with a little practice.
Dr Lynne Sneddon, with her colleagues, Braithwaite, and Gentle, were the first to discover nociceptors (pain receptors) in fish. She stated that fish demonstrate pain-related changes in physiology and behaviour, that are reduced by painkillers, and they show higher brain activity when painfully stimulated.
A depressed (flattened, top-to-bottom) body shape is common in bottom-dwelling fishes. Goosefishes (family Lophidae) and batfishes (family Ogcocephalidae) are examples of bony fishes with a depressed body shape.
Change the water every 1-2 days by throwing out the old water, replacing it with water from the tank and adding new medication. Not only is this safer for the remaining healthy fish in the tank, but it also water changes the tank, reducing toxins which may have precipitated the disease.
Once the panic has passed, the fish must also regain its natural balance. This can take hours or days, even after only a short period of stress. Long-term changes, such as a poor or unsuitable environment, are handled with the same initial response – an alarm message to escape.
