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I bought a female betta fish and i put it with my other 6 fish in my 3.5 gallon tank and it has unusual behaviors, it's staying my the bottom and it's barely swimming and eating. I put the fish in the container it came in with some water and food and the food is still there. Also, some of my other female betta are always by the filter so i don't know if that's usual for them in a new tank or not
Updated On August 10th, 2017
Pet's info: Fish | Unknown - Fish | Female
Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT 44
Licensed Veterinary Technician
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Your tank is overstocked. At most, you should have no more than 2-3 fish depending on size. The general rule is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water (goldfish are the exception).
Check the water quality. Toxins such as ammonia or nitrites can build up in an overcrowded tank or one without adequate filtration. Consider a larger tank or multiple tanks to reduce population. Perform a water change using aged or conditioned water to prevent shock. Make sure your filter is rated to handle at least twice the volume of the tank.
Monitor your fish for bullying. This can cause stress which may account for the symptoms you are seeing. Remove aggressors if necessary.
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