When your betta fish becomes stressed, they will often display aggression.
This aggression may come in the form of biting, snatching, or snapping.
You mustn’t allow them to do this.
REASON:
Bettas are very territorial. This is one of the reasons why it’s so important to keep them in a suitable environment.
SOLUTION:
You need to ensure your betta fish has a big tank.
#3 It Loses Its Appetite
When a betta fish becomes stressed, it will often start to lose its appetite.
It doesn’t mean it’s not eating, but it does mean that it no longer seems interested in food.
If you see your betta fish acting like this, then it’s time to think about moving them into a bigger tank.
REASON:
The stress is getting to them and this is affecting their ability to eat.
SOLUTION:
Make sure to give your betta fish lots of attention and provide them with a wide variety of different foods.
#4 It Wants More Room To Swim Or Has Trouble Swimming
If your betta fish is constantly struggling to swim, it’s a good sign that it’s feeling stressed.
It’s important to remember that when it comes to betta fish, swimming is a big part of their lives.
Your betta fish will usually swim around happily in the water. But if it has trouble swimming, then this is another sign of a stressed fish.
REASON:
Stress can cause the muscles in your betta fish’s body to get tight. And this will often result in the fish struggling to move around.
SOLUTION:
You should make sure you give your betta fish plenty of space to swim around in the tank.
#5 It Becomes More Aggressive
When a betta fish gets stressed, it’s going to start acting differently.
They are normally very calm and peaceful. But when they become stressed, they can start to become aggressive.
This aggression may come in the form of biting, snapping, or even just looking at you angrily.
REASON:
When a betta fish gets stressed, it’s not usually able to focus on anything else.
SOLUTION:
The best thing you can do is to provide your betta with lots of attention and interaction.
#6 Its Skin Looks Thin, Shriveled, and Scaly
If you see your betta fish’s skin beginning to look a little scaly and thin. Then this is a good sign that it’s feeling stressed.
REASON:
Stress will often cause the skin of your betta fish to become thin and scaly.
SOLUTION:
The best thing you can do is to keep them swimming around in the water. And also provide them with lots of different foods.
#7 It Tends To Hide From You In The Tank Or A Corner
When a betta fish gets stressed, it’s going to start to act differently.
It’s going to try to hide in the corner of the tank or a corner of the aquarium.
REASON:
When your betta fish is stressed, it’s going to try to hide from anything that makes it feel uncomfortable.
SOLUTION:
You need to make sure that your betta fish is provided with enough space in the tank to swim around.
#8 It Shows Signs Of Lethargy
If your betta fish is showing signs of lethargy, then this is a good sign that it’s feeling stressed.
REASON:
Your betta fish will often start to act less energetic and interested in life when it’s feeling stressed.
SOLUTION:
The best thing you can do is to provide them with lots of attention and interaction.
#9 Its Breathing Is Abnormal
When a betta fish becomes stressed, it’s going to start breathing differently.
It may start to have a very deep or heavy breathing pattern, or even stop breathing for periods.
REASON:
When your betta fish is stressed, its breathing patterns are going to become more shallow.
SOLUTION:
You need to make sure that your betta fish has plenty of space to swim around in the tank. Also that it’s provided with enough food.
#10 It’s Getting Sunken Eyes
When a betta fish gets stressed, it’s going to start showing signs that it’s feeling uncomfortable.
One of the signs that your betta fish is stressed is that it’s going to start showing signs of having sunken eyes.
This is usually caused by stress hormones. That is being produced causing the pupils to become smaller.
REASON:
The eyes of your betta fish will start to get sunken and this will happen when it’s feeling stressed.
SOLUTION:
The best thing you can do is to make sure that your betta fish has lots of room to swim around in the tank.
#11 It Appears Dull And Lacking In Energy
If your betta fish appears dull and lacks energy, then this is a good sign that it’s feeling stressed.
REASON:
When your betta fish feels stressed, it’s going to start to show signs that it’s lacking in energy.
SOLUTION:
The best thing you can do is to provide them with plenty of attention and interaction.
These are some possible signs of a stressed betta fish.
If you’re worried that your betta fish is stressed, then you should look at these signs as soon as you can.
In addition, you should also try to calm down your betta fish. Discussed in the next section.
How Does a Stressed Betta Act?
You can figure out that if your betta fish is stressed, it will begin to act differently.
This can be very frustrating if you don’t know why it’s behaving in this way.
Here are some common ways that a stressed betta will act.
#1. It Gets Aggressive
When a betta fish feels stressed, it’s going to start showing signs that it’s feeling uncomfortable.
It’s going to start acting aggressively toward you.
#2. It Shows Signs Of Lethargy
Signs of lethargy is a common signs of stress. It’s when a betta fish starts acting less interested in life and even stops swimming for periods.
If your betta fish shows signs of lethargy, then it’s going to start to act less interested in life and more like a zombie.
#3. It Hides In A Corner or The Tank
If your betta fish hides in a corner of the tank’s wall, then it’s usually a sign that it’s feeling stressed.
This is a good way to know that it’s stressed because your betta fish is feeling like it wants to escape from you.
It’s going to start hiding in this area when it’s feeling uncomfortable.
#4. It Has Sunken Eyes
Betta fish’s sunken eyes represent stress.
A betta needs to have enough space in the tank and an adequate food supply to help it recover from stress.
This can be achieved by making sure that it has lots of space to swim around in the tank. And that it’s provided with enough food.
#5. It Appears Dull And Lacking In Energy
As I said earlier, when a betta fish gets stressed, it’s going to start acting differently. The next thing you need to do is find out why it’s acting in this way.
It appears dull and lacking in energy because it’s not getting enough oxygen.
#6. You Can See Stress Strips
Stress strips are yellowish-white lines that form on your betta fish’s body.
These are formed when a betta fish is stressed, and they’re very obvious if you look at the fish closely.
Stress strips are a good way of telling if your betta fish is stressed.
These are the lines that are usually caused by the stress hormones that are being produced.
#7. Betta Fish Keep Darting
Fish keeps darting in and out of the water. Swimming around in circles, or sometimes even jumping up out of the water.
Darting means that your betta fish is acting like it’s trying to escape something. Or that your betta fish is feeling uncomfortable. And so it needs to swim away from the place where it’s feeling stressed.
This sign shows that your betta fish is stressed.
#8. Check For Clamped Fins
Stressed betta fish will often begin to show signs of having their fins clamped together. If you notice this, you should try and gently unclamp the betta fish’s fins.
Clamped fins are caused when the fish is stressed and this can make its fins stick together.
If you notice that your betta fish is getting stressed, then you should begin to look at its behavior.
How to Calm Your Betta Fish
It is important to note that if you’re worried that your betta fish is stressed. Then it’s going to need your help to calm down.
You can do this by using the following methods:
#1 Remove Any Stressful Objects from The Water
One of the best ways to help your betta fish to relax is to remove any objects that are causing stress to the fish.
If you have anything that you’re not using in the tank, then it’s a good idea to put them outside or give them away.
#2 Ensure Your Fish Has Plenty of Space To Swim Around
If your betta fish is getting stressed because it doesn’t have enough room to swim around in. Then you need to ensure that it has lots of space.
You should also make sure that it has enough food and clean water to help it recover from stress.
#3 Make sure The Water Quality is Perfectly Balanced
The water quality of your tank should be perfect so that your betta fish can keep calm.
You should make sure that the water is not too warm or too cold, but you also need to make sure that it’s perfectly balanced.
If the water temperature is too high. Then your betta fish will start getting stressed because it will not be able to survive in the water.
#4 It Will Feel Uncomfortable and Begin To Act In a Nervous Way
If the water is too cold. Then it can lead to health issues like a fish being unable to produce enough waste or a loss of appetite.
You should always make sure that the water is perfectly balanced.
#5 Don’t Leave Your Fish Alone for Longer Than An Hour
It’s important to remember that if you’re leaving your betta fish alone for longer than an hour. It will begin to get stressed.
The reason for this is that it will need to use up its energy stores. And if you don’t help your betta fish to recover, then it will become stressed.
The stress will lead to your betta fish becoming lethargic and sluggish.
#6 Be Consistent With The Feeding Schedule
Your betta fish needs to be fed once a day, and the best time to feed your betta fish is in the morning.
Make sure that you remove the food from the tank during the night so that it doesn’t eat the same food twice in a row.
You should also make sure that the food that you give to your betta fish has a good amount of vitamins and nutrients. But it should also be something that it likes.
You should also make sure that you have an active tank filter system. Because if you don’t, then the water will not be clean.
#7 Use A Stress Ball
If you have a betta fish that is getting stressed, then you can use a stress ball.
The stress ball will help to help your betta fish to relax.
You can use a stress ball when you are feeling stressed or worried.
You should take the stress ball out of your pocket or handbag and place it on the side of your betta fish’s tank.
The stress ball should be placed on the top of your betta fish’s head.
The reason for this is that if you place the ball in the water. Then it will begin to swim around the tank and become agitated.
By placing the stress ball on the top of your betta fish’s head. Then it will swim in a straight line, and this will help your betta fish to calm down.
