How To Calm a Stressed Betta Fish? [My 13 Ways Worked]

If you’re reading this, you likely have a betta fish who is feeling a little stressed.

One of the most common problems when it comes to these fish is that they can be easily stressed from changing their environment.

In this article, you will learn how to calm a stressed betta fish by following 13 different ways.

What Does a Stressed Betta Look Like?

A stressed betta fish looks like they have scaly, rough skin, a wide-open mouth, and wide, sunken eyes.

They look like they’re not interested in anything and their color has changed.

It’s a little difficult to describe but you’ll know it when you see it.

They will look like they are stressed because they will have a pale appearance and they will have a lack of color in their fins.

They will also be unable to swim and they will lack energy.

If you are seeing any of these signs, your betta is likely stressed.

Conditions That May Cause Stress

It is important to know first what is causing stress to your betta fish.

In this section, we will be discussing the things you are doing that are causing stress to your betta fish.

Many different conditions may cause stress in betta fish.

Betta fish are very sensitive to changes in water quality, and even small changes can cause stress. 

Conditions that may cause stress to bettas include:

Your Tank Is Too Small

If you have a tank that is too small, you may notice that your betta fish will not be able to swim and play as much as they would like.

If your betta fish is in a tank that is too small, they will be stressed.

This may cause them to not be able to breathe and will eventually cause them to die.

Your betta fish needs a tank that is at least 5 gallons, and ideally 10 gallons.

This can be also a problem if you are looking to breed your betta fish.

A large tank will help your betta fish to have more room to swim and play, and also make it easier to breed them.

It will also help them to be able to have a more comfortable environment.

In addition, if you have a small tank, you may notice that your betta fish will not be able to hide properly.

This will cause them to be stressed and not be able to relax.

You Are Doing Overcrowding In The Tank

If you are overcrowding your betta fish, they will be stressed.

Overcrowding your betta fish will cause them to have less room to swim and play.

This will cause them to not be able to breathe properly, and can even cause them to get sick.

Overcrowding will also cause them to be more likely to bite each other.

You can tell if your betta fish is overcrowded if you see them floating on the surface of the water.

Do You Have Good Condition In The Tank?

Betta fish need to have good water quality in their tank.

This is because they will be breathing through their gills, and if the water is not of good quality, they will be stressed.

If your betta fish is in a tank that has bad water quality, they will not be able to breathe properly, and this can lead to them dying.

You can tell if your betta fish is having a hard time breathing if you see them floating on the surface of the water.

Are You Providing Hiding Places To Your Betta Fish?

In addition to having a good water quality, you also need to provide hiding places for your betta fish.

You can provide hiding places for your betta fish by using a plastic tunnel.

This will help your betta fish to be able to hide, and will also help them to feel more comfortable.

Also if you are looking to breed your betta fish, you will want to make sure that they have enough hiding places to hide in.

As for hiding places, you can use caves, plants, and driftwood. 

Do Your Betta Fish Have Aggressive Tank Mates

If you have a tank that has aggressive tank mates, you may notice that your betta fish will be stressed.

If you notice that your betta fish is being aggressive, you will need to separate them from their tank mates.

You can also tell if your betta fish has aggressive tank mates if you see them biting each other.

They will be more likely to fight with them, bully them, and sometimes may kill them.

Here is a list of fish you should not keep with betta:

• Plankton
• Pumpkinseed
• Blue-Ringed Octopus
• Blennies
• Blenny Eggs
• Rasboras
• Cichlids
• Anemones
• Clownfish

If you are looking to breed your betta fish, you will want to make sure that you are not keeping these fish in your tank.

And here is the list of fish that won’t stress your betta at all:

• Goldfish
• Pond Snails
• Leaf Shrimp
• Lemmings
• Lionfish
• Pufferfish
• Anemonefish

As you can see, many different types of fish will not stress your betta.

Please Don’t Make Sudden Changes In The Tank

While keeping betta you need to know their environment.

This will help you to understand them better and will help you to understand their behavior.

You should not make sudden changes in the tank, such as adding a new fish, adding new food, or adding a new betta.

If you are making sudden changes in their environment, they may be stressed and not be able to adjust.

You can also use the betta fish behavior chart [Below] to see if your betta fish is happy or not.

Are They Ill or Injured?

If your betta fish is not acting right or is acting strange, it is important to know if they are sick or injured.

If you notice that your betta fish is not moving around, or if they are not eating, you should make sure that they are not ill or injured.

They may not be able to heal, and they may die.

If your betta fish is acting sick, you will need to get them to a veterinarian.

Check Your Water Temperature Frequently

If you notice that your betta fish is not moving around, or if they are not eating, it is important to make sure that the water temperature is correct.

You can use a digital thermometer to check the water temperature.

This will help you to know if your betta fish is having a hard time.

It is important to know that betta fish will be fine in a tank that has a water temperature of between 76 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

You should also make sure that you are checking the temperature of your tank regularly.

Improper Diet Or Wrong Feeding Or Irregular Feeding Time

If you have an irregular feeding time for your betta fish, you will notice that they may not be able to eat.

Make sure that they are fed at the right time.

If you are feeding them too late, they may not be able to eat.

If you are feeding them too early, they may be stressed and not be able to eat.

In another case, they may be stressed and not be able to eat.

Make sure that you are feeding them regularly.

This will help them to grow.

Check Ammonia and Nitrate Levels

You have to check the levels of ammonia and nitrate in your betta fish tank.

check the ammonia and nitrate levels in your tank.

This will help you to know if there are any issues in the tank.

If you notice that the ammonia or nitrate levels are high, you will need to change the water.

You can also use the ammonia and nitrate test strips to check the levels.

Ph Fluctuations

You will notice that the water levels in your betta fish tank may be fluctuating.

This is because of the different factors that affect the water levels.

Make sure that you are checking the water levels regularly.

If you notice that the water levels are fluctuating, you will need to change the water.

You can also use the water test strips to check the water levels.

How Can You Tell If Your Betta Fish Is Stressed?

There are a few signs that you can look for to tell if your betta fish is stressed.

First, look at the color of your betta fish. If it is normally a bright color, and it starts to look dull, this could be a sign of stress.

Additionally, if your betta fish starts to hide more often than usual, this could also be a sign that it is stressed.

If you notice either of these signs, there are a few things that you can do to help calm your betta fish.

Other important signs may help you to find stress in your betta fish. (Link mentioned below)

Since this article only focuses on ways to calm a stressed betta fish. You can follow the link mentioned.

Helpful article for you: 11 Signs of a stressed betta fish!

13 Methods to Calm Down a Stressed Betta Fish

Now that you have read the causes above, let’s talk about how to help your betta fish calm down.

There are many ways to help your betta fish relax.

Here are my personal 13 ways to calm down a stressed betta fish:

You Should Do Frequent Water Changes

The first thing you need to focus on is water changes.

Betta fish like to be in a clean, freshwater environment.

This is why you should do frequent water changes.

A water change will help to reduce the number of bacteria in your betta fish’s tank.

This will help to make sure that your betta fish is always clean and safe.

Use Strong Sponge Filter

Next, you should use strong sponge filter media.

Strong sponge filter media is also easier to clean than other filter media.

You should change your sponge filter media every week.

You can do this by removing the old filter media and replacing it with new filter media.

Sponge filter media is perfect for betta fish because it is soft and can easily be cleaned.

Because it is soft, it will not harm your betta fish.

Also, large sponge filters will be able to filter more water than smaller ones.

The larger the sponge filter, the better.

Remove Aggressive Fish From The Tank

You should remove aggressive fish from the tank.

Betta fish are very sensitive to other fish.

If there is another fish in the tank that is aggressive towards your betta fish, you should remove it.

If you do not remove it, your betta fish will feel unsafe and stressed.

This can lead to the death of your betta fish.

Add Some Hiding Places For Bettas

Next, you should add some hiding places for your betta fish.

You can use caves, plants, or even pieces of driftwood.

Hiding places will help your betta fish feel more secure and safe.

You can also try adding a hiding place near the water’s surface.

This will help your betta fish feel safer and more comfortable.

Give Betta High-Quality Food

You should provide your betta fish with high-quality food.

This will help to make sure that your betta fish is always healthy and strong.

Betta fish are also very sensitive to the food they eat.

If you provide them with a poor quality of food, your betta fish may not be able to grow properly.

If your betta fish is not growing properly, they will not be able to reach their full size.

This can lead to the death of your betta fish.

Here is a list of high-quality food you must feed to bettas:

• Frozen Mosquito Larvae
• Live/Frozen Brine Shrimp
• Live/Frozen Bloodworms
• Live/Frozen Wingless Fruit Flies
• Live/Frozen Mysis Shrimp

Also, check out my friend’s detailed article on feeding betta fish.

Give Your Betta Enough Space To Swim / Tank Size

The next thing you should focus on is giving your betta enough space to swim.

You should make sure that your betta fish has enough space to swim.

This will help them to feel safe and comfortable.

Betta fish are very sensitive to their environment.

If your betta fish is too small, they will feel unsafe and stressed.

This can lead to the death of your betta fish.

Also, make sure that your betta fish is not swimming in the middle of the tank.

Use Medication When Necessary

If you notice that your betta fish is not feeling well, you should use medication.

This will help to make sure that your betta fish is always healthy and happy.

Medication can also help to reduce stress.

If you notice that your betta fish is feeling stressed, you should give them a dose of medication.

This will help them to feel better and relaxed.

Don’t Let Them Be Alone

You should never let your betta fish be alone in the tank.

This will make your betta fish feel unsafe and stressed.

Betta fish are very sensitive to their environment.

If your betta fish is not able to swim, they will not be able to move around the tank.

This will make them feel unsafe and stressed.

This can lead to the death of your betta fish.

This is why you should always keep your betta fish in a group.

Keep The Ammonia and Nitrate Levels Low

Next, you should focus on keeping the ammonia and nitrate levels low.

If your betta fish is swimming in water with high ammonia and nitrate levels, they will feel unsafe and stressed.

This can lead to the death of your betta fish.

You should make sure that the ammonia and nitrate levels are low in the water.

This will help to make sure that your betta fish is always happy and healthy.

Check Water Temperature Frequently

You should check the water temperature regularly.

This will help to make sure that your betta fish is always comfortable and happy.

You should make sure that the water temperature is always between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

This will help your betta fish to feel safe and comfortable.

If the water temperature is too cold, your betta fish will feel unsafe and stressed.

If the water temperature is too hot, your betta fish will not be able to swim properly.

Prepare a Feeding Schedule

You must have a feeding schedule.

This will help your betta fish to feel safe and comfortable.

You should feed your betta fish at specific times.

If you feed your betta fish at the wrong time, they will not be able to grow properly.

You should feed your betta fish at the following times:

Morning:

6 am – 10 am

11 am – 1 pm

2 pm – 4 pm

Afternoon:

 4 pm – 7 pm

7 pm – 10 pm

10 pm – 1 am

You should make sure that your betta fish has access to food at least once every 24 hours.

Make sure that your betta fish has access to food for at least 10 hours every day.

Also, make sure that your betta fish is not starving.

Put Them In Quiet Place Or Near Window

You should put your betta fish in a quiet place or near a window.

Betta fish are very sensitive to their environment.

If your betta fish is swimming in a noisy place, they will feel unsafe and stressed.

This can lead to the death of your betta fish.

You should also make sure that they are not in direct sunlight.

If your betta fish is in direct sunlight, they will not be able to swim properly.

If your betta fish is in a noisy place, they will not be able to focus on swimming.

Watch Them Closely

You should watch your betta fish closely.

This will help to make sure that they are happy and healthy.

You should watch them closely to make sure that they are not sick.

If your betta fish is sick, they will not be able to swim properly.

This will make them feel unsafe and stressed.

This can lead to the death of your betta fish.

You should also watch them closely to make sure that they are not injured.

Before and After Stressed Betta – Difference You Must Know

It is very important to know the difference you see in a betta when stressed and before stressed!

A before-stressed betta will be looking very calm, not bothered by anything around him, he will be swimming normally.

The after-stressed betta will have dark-red or black finnage, and his whole body will be inflated.

A before-stressed betta fish will be more active, he will be swimming normally.

He will have a smooth and clear body.

The eyes will be clear, bright, and colorful.

When looking straight at him, you won’t notice any difference in his appearance from a non-stressed fish.

The after-stressed betta will have dark-red or black finnage, his whole body will be bigger than usual.

Sometimes the eyes are not that visible anymore because of the color change.

Also, read this detailed article: Before and after stressed betta [7 things you missed!]

Types of Stress and How Does It Affects Betta?

There are generally two types of stress that affect betta fish: acute stress and chronic stress. 

Acute stress is caused by sudden changes in the environment, such as a move to a new tank or the addition of new tank mates.

This type of stress is typically not harmful to bettas and will go away on its own once the fish has had time to adjust to the new situation.

Chronic stress is caused by long-term problems in the environment, such as poor water quality or insufficient food.

This type of stress can be harmful to bettas and can lead to serious health problems if not addressed.

Chronic stress can also make bettas more susceptible to acute stressors, such as a move to a new tank.

Is Your Betta Fish Stressed After Water Change?

Yes, it is normal for your betta fish to be stressed after a water change.

This is because they are sensitive to changes in their environment.

When you change the water, it can cause them to become disoriented and stressed.

There are several things you can do to help your betta fish calm down after a water change.

First, make sure that the new water is at the same temperature as the old water.

This will help them to acclimate more quickly.

Second, add some of the old water back into the new water.

This will help to ease their transition and make them feel more comfortable.

Finally, provide them with plenty of hiding places in their tank. This will help them to feel safe and secure.

If you follow these steps, your betta fish should be able to calm down quickly after a water change.

Can a Stressed Betta Recover?

Yes, a stressed betta can recover. There are several things you can do to help your betta fish relax and feel more comfortable.

First, you should make sure that the water in their tank is clean and at the correct temperature. 

Betta fish-like water that is around 78 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a water heater to maintain the correct temperature.

Next, you should provide your betta with plenty of hiding places. This could be caves, plants, or even just pieces of driftwood.

Hiding places will help your betta feel safe and secure.

Finally, you should try to reduce the amount of noise and activity around their tank.

This means avoiding loud music or TV near their tank and not tapping on the glass.

Creating a calm environment will help your betta feel less stressed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I was a little stressed, but now I’m not at all.

I would say that the key to making your betta fish calm down is by being consistent.

Be calm around your betta fish and make sure to not scare it away by being too loud or making sudden movements.

Make sure to spend time around your betta fish, because it needs to feel secure and calm so it can focus on its new surroundings.

This article describes my top 13 ways to calm down a stressed betta fish.