Betta sluggish, reluctant to eat [Sad Ending :(]

[Arcteryx]

Last week I moved my betta from his 3G cube to the Fluval Ebi, which is moderately planted with a dozen pygmy cory's which have been in there for 2 weeks.

He took to it pretty well, and a couple of days ago he built a bubble nest, but yesterday morning I noticed he didn't chow down his pellets as he usually does.

I didn't feed last night, thought it would be best to lay off, and tried again this morning. Very reticent but he eventually took 2 pellets. He mouthed them gently instead of wolfing it down as per usual.

Water parameters are good - pH is 7.4, ammonia nitrites & nitrates are 0/0/0, gH and dH are both 4-5, water temp is 26. The filter output is turned right down, there's a large area that's current-free where he hangs out.

He's hanging around low to mid-water, and isn't his usual active self.

The cory's are zipping around as usual.

What should I do next?

[kid4life]

try blood worms

[Atom]

How often do you feed him and how much?

Is your spray bar pointed at the water surface? Maybe he is stressed out by the current.

[Arcteryx]

He was getting some Hikari freeze-dried bloodworms as part of his feeding... I had hesistated to get the frozen b/c I don't have a lot of fish (just him & a dozen cory's). He usually chows those down but he ignored the piece I offered him this morning.

[Arcteryx]

How often do you feed him and how much? Is your spray bar pointed at the water surface? Maybe he is stressed out by the current.

He usually gets 2 of the betta pellets in the AM and 2 in the evening, with a small piece of freeze-dried bloodworm in the evening.

Spray bar is above the water surface and aimed at the Ebi's backdrop. It is turned down so that as he swims, I'm not seeing his fins billow around like a kite. I wondered the same thing about the current this morning, so I've turned it down even more - it's now only barely a trickle.

[Scherb]

Hello. how big is your Betta ? sounds like you might be feeding to much. i give mine 3 Betta pellets a day. i have a smaller twin tail that only gets 2 pellets a day. plus he might be eating whatever you are feeding the cory's. all that together would be too much for him. Hope that helps Cheers

[Arcteryx]

Hello. how big is your Betta ? sounds like you might be feeding to much. i give mine 3 Betta pellets a day. i have a smaller twin tail that only gets 2 pellets a day. plus he might be eating whatever you are feeding the cory's. all that together would be too much for him. Hope that helps Cheers

Do you give 1 pellet 3x a day? I've backed off while he's feeling lethargic... hopefully he comes around.

[JohnnyAppleSnail]

My Betta sometimes gets that way and may not eat for a couple days,but when it comes out of it's Funk eats normally,all foods Flake and Froz. I'd try Froz. Bloodworms or Br.Shrimp.,I usually put some on My fingertip and put near Betta's face let it fall and He snaps it up,whatever may go to the bottom Your Cories will love to eat them.

[Arcteryx]

Came home and found him under the driftwood, on his side, unable to float or swim - it was difficult but I thought it was for the best to euthanize him and put him out of his misery.

Dammit.

[Atom]

Sorry to hear that.

Sounds like it could have been a swim bladder issue. I think I read that diet and how much you feed them can be the cause of it. Worth looking into.

I only feed my bettas 3 to 4 pellets a day. They fast
one day a week to clear things out.