Why is my betta hanging at the Bottom of the tank??

I have had him almost a week.
At first he swam around as usual and I feed him once a day usually pellets or flakes.
But now he is hanging around the bottom of the tank most of the time.
What could be the reason? What to do to save him before he dies?

this happened to mine also. Are you sure your tank is fully cycled? that is the only problem i thought of with mine.

Is there uneaten fish food at the bottom of the aquarium? It's possible to buy a healthy looking but sick fish, and it's also possible to make a healthy fish sick by introducing him to the new tank too fast, putting him in a tank that has not been cycled, or not maintaining the aquarium. How big is the aquarium? Before I read your reply, some guesswork may be instructive. Bettas can't eat much, so you have probably been over feeding him, and that's doubly bad in a small aquarium. Assuming some of that is correct, a series of partial (20 or 25 percent) water changes will give the Betta his best chance at survival. Do the changes every day for a few days, then go to a once a week schedule. When you replace aquarium water, make sure it's at approximately the same temperature as the old water, and use a good water conditioner. The Betta can go a week or so without eating, so don't try too hard to feed him.

Please let me know if some of this helps.

It's a 2.5 gallon tank.
I had it up and running 2 days before I put the betta in.
When I feed him it is usually a small amount such as 2-3 betta pellets or a small amount of flakes that he can eat in a min. or two ONCE a day.
There is no uneaten food at the bottom of tank.

I did a small water change today and I won't feed him tommorow and see if he perks up.
He may have been constipated after going from the pet store cup and being un fed to an actual tank and fed....
Looking at him right now he seems to be swimming around the tank every so often.
I think thats a good sign.

Keeping fingers crossed.

P.s How long do you have a betta tank up and running before putting the betta in?????
If 2 days wasn't enough...

Longer cycling would be better. 2 days isn't nearly long enough. 4 weeks is a basic time... Maybe a little less in that small of a tank.

Some floating plants may be a good addition for your beta... and to help the cycling of the tank.

A water test kit would be a good investment. Check your water, and watch for ammonia spikes. Do your water changes. In a tank that small... Try 25% every 3 days or so. Please don't forget to use water conditioner.

Good Luck!

Angela

Ok I'll put a pin on haveing the tank up and running longer next time before putting a betta in. Don't worry I condition the water with Bowl Buddies fizzing tabs.

BTW: Update
After the partial water change yesterday by the evening my betta was swimming with energy and has been staying at the top today.
Not swimming a whole lot but at least he isn't at the bottom of the tank.

I havn't fed him today because I was worried also that he might have been constipated from not being fed at the pet store to being fed.
(I only feed him 2-3 betta pellets a day and sometimes flakes for a change).
Hard tell what exactly was the prob since he can't talk..

Are you sure those bowl buddy fizzier things are actually made for aquarium use?

Bettas can breathe air, but they also need to use their gills, and the toxins (ammonia and nitrite) in an un-cycled aquarium can burn their gills. You'll need to keep up the partial water changes until both toxins stay at zero.

Well I don't have the box for the Jungle Bowl Buddies Fish Tank Water Conditioning Tablets and Fish Food for Bettas to look at if it says bowl only not for use in aquarium.
I'll go by the store and double check though.
Here is a link that shows the box.
Its for the betta and in the reviews some speak about putting it in there aquariums.
That they are just like the drops.
When fizz is gone.... water is safe for fish. http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp? productId=2753398&cp=&sr=1&origkw=betta&kw=betta& parentPage=search&keepsr=1#RatingsDetail

MY bad!

I thought the name was funny, because it reminded me of a TV commercial for some fizzy stuff that goes into another kind of bowl. I can just see a guy named Billy doing a TV pitch for Betta Buddy Fizz Buster Tabs

On a more serious side, I know that some fish medications work and have read good things about Jungle brand products. Medications, however, do not address the reason behind an aquarium problem. More often than not, the reason has something to do with water quality. Once the aquarium water reaches a healthy biological balance, sick fish have a chance to recover, and diseases are infrequent.

Again, I apologise for exercising my slightly weird sense of humor. It must be a generation gap or something.

hey you know my girlfriends betta did the same thing and he has be doing it for th epast year and he is still alive idk wats wrong with him

Male Bettas are not the most active fish, and they do get sick sometimes. A healthy fish usually acts hungry; if he doesn't want to eat, he probably doesn't feel well.

Another Update:
My betta was very active today...lots of swimming...
He must be feeling better.
But I'll still keep an eye on him.

Added info: I brought him home the week of Valentines Day.
He is a creamy white color with red spots on his fins.... Fitting for the holiday I thought...
So I have named him Romeo.

That's great!

And a cute name!