Betta Fish Stop Growing and Then Started Growing Again

Marie's betta fish, Fredrick, reached an old historic period. She learned how to keep him comfy and wants to share tips with other betta owners.

Review some of the signs of old historic period in betta fish, and become communication on keeping your elderly fish comfy.

The Signs and Symptoms of One-time Historic period in Betta Fish

In the following listing, all these symptoms must happen gradually over the span of 3–viii months, not mere days. If any of these symptoms surface within a few weeks, and so information technology is virtually probable the result of an disease, frequently brought on past poor water conditions (but not e'er). Also, an one-time betta may only show a few of these symptoms.

one. Has Fading Colors

Our hair color fades with quondam age, and then practise scales. Once-vibrant bluish scales may slowly turn into a shade of brownish or gray over time, with only a hint of their onetime colour.

two. Stops Making Chimera Nests (If He Ever Did)

Some healthy, in-their-prime bettas make bubble nests every few weeks in the hopes that a female will come by and mate with them, and some bettas only make a few nests within a year. Some may never brand chimera nests and are still healthy, viral boys.

Bettas are individuals and won't all behave in the same way, but their sex activity drive will lower once they're past center age. If chimera nests become less frequent over time, this would advise an aging betta that isn't interested in procreation anymore (or at least isn't preparing for it).

3. Takes Frequent Naps

Yeah, they sleep a lot. How ofttimes they slumber depends on their age, just the older they get, the more frequent the naps.

4. Has Ragged/Curling Fins

Did your betta have cute, perfect fins in the commencement, and at present they look ragged and curled at their ends? Similar hair losing its lushness in old historic period, old betta fins may become frayed or twisted over time. If information technology'south not affliction or old age, information technology may be the pH, as harder h2o tends to make the ends on fins scroll.

5. Has an Appearing and Disappearing White Dot

I cannot notice an commodity that states what this is exactly, but I have read at least one commodity proverb this is a symptom of old age, and I tin confirm it with one of my oldest bettas. You might think it's ich, just ich will look like the fish has been sprinkled all over with salt.

This mysterious lone white dot will announced on your betta'south face, and a week later it volition disappear on its own. Every bit the betta gets older, this white dot will keep popping up and vanishing more than oftentimes on the different parts of his caput. It appears harmless, but I would check water parameters to make sure that's all information technology is.

vi. Misses Food

In time, bettas can lose their vision due to old age. This will result in bettas lunging for their food and missing their target.

7. Slims Downwards

Despite eating similar he e'er has, a betta will slim downward once he's over the loma. His appetite may also subtract, but this isn't ever the case. Either way, they become slim.

Remember: Symptoms Appear Gradually

Again, these symptoms should happen gradually, worsening as months proceed. Long fins are an indicator that he is at least a 1 twelvemonth onetime, but bettas in their prime number should not have any of these symptoms unless they are ill or stressed.

Ensure Your Betta's Tank Provides a Good for you Environment

Always check ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate in your tank h2o to be certain your fish are living in a healthy surround. These fish should take at least two.v gallons of h2o, merely v gallons is platonic. They also tin't live in water libation than 78 degrees, and filtration is a must in 5-gallon tanks.

My betta, Fredrick, a twelvemonth agone.

Fredrick a twelvemonth subsequently. His gradual change in appearance and activeness happened over a span of 12 months, more so in the last three months.

Ringlet to Proceed

Read More From Pethelpful

Caring for an Old Betta

Based on my experience with my elderly betta, Frederick, here is some advice on taking care of your older fish and keeping them comfortable.

1. Lower the Water

The water level should be low enough and then the fish doesn't exert himself to breathe but still loftier enough for adequate filtration. The water level depends on how advanced the betta is; if one-half the fourth dimension you catch him napping or resting on a foliage, it would exist best to proceed the water no college than 8 inches. If he seems to be resting virtually all the fourth dimension, I would keep it at 5 inches maximum.

two. Plow Upwardly the Heat

They aren't pond effectually called-for energy like they used to. For older bettas, keep the temperature on the higher range, such equally 81–82. This volition ensure they are kept warm when they're napping, and it reduces the hazard of disease.

3. Provide Lots of Leaf

Old bettas take naps throughout the day, then provide them with plenty of comfy sleeping spots. Plentiful silk or live plants will do, peculiarly taller ones—equally they volition allow the betta to sleep near the surface, in case he needs to breathe apace.

4. Wiggle Food or Apply Frozen/Moisture Food

If they're bullheaded or practically bullheaded, exist sure they know nutrient is around. If wiggling the food doesn't become their attention, then you may have to change their nutrition to wet nutrient, equally these will provide a strong odor. Thawed bloodworms, beef heart, and brine shrimp are ideal choices. I've fifty-fifty used tiny pieces of moisture true cat nutrient with no ill side furnishings. If you can odour it, your betta will find information technology.

five. Perform More than Water Changes

It doesn't take much to kill an one-time fish. The tiniest amount of ammonia, nitrites, or fifty-fifty nitrates passing 20ppm can atomic number 82 to fin rot and internal bacteria for an sometime fish, dooming him. So keep the water as clean every bit possible. With an onetime betta, I wouldn't let nitrates get past 10ppm, and I would try to keep it around 5ppm if his wellness is failing.

6. Use Freshwater Aquarium Salt (Carefully)

Freshwater salt can help prevent diseases and infection in fish with low immune systems, and then I'd recommend a teaspoon for every v gallons for an old betta. If your betta does exhibit fungal or bacterial infections, alter it to a tablespoon per 5 gallons until he is cured. This amount is condom for invertebrates. Always dissolve the common salt in a separate container of h2o before adding it to the tank, every bit dissolving common salt can burn gills.

Note: Apparently salt is a controversial item, with some saying it doesn't do anything for fish. I've never had ill furnishings from using table salt for my bettas, and I usually don't utilize salt unless I suspect they are ill. Common salt can hurt scaleless fish, though.

7. Consider Medication

In one case an old betta gets sick, it's likely he won't survive. If yous don't desire to use salt—or, in addition to salt—y'all may try medication as a last resort. Because fish meds tin do more than damage than good, I wouldn't use meds unless he stops eating, and I'd accept to exist certain which affliction he has. Maracyn I and 2 combination is a rubber and wide treatment, but it most likely will kill your benign bacteria, so go on an heart on ammonia levels—this goes for all medication.

How Long a Betta Lives Depends on Where It Comes From

If y'all buy a chain store betta, he won't live as long as he should, because they are treated so poorly in their showtime 6–12 months of life. It'southward a gamble how long he volition live if he came from Walmart or a poorly run pet store. So don't beat out yourself upwards if his crumbling process seems premature. As long every bit he has a heater, filtration, is fed once or (in very modest amounts) twice a day, and you perform a fractional h2o modify every week, then you're doing everything right.

If you want a betta that will live 3–four years under your intendance, I'd suggest buying from a breeder. They're all over the place online, only aquabid is a good place to first. They're expensive, but for proficient reason: They take care of their fish, and they will alive much longer than the poor neglected bettas in cups.

Either way, you lot should pat yourself on the back if your betta starts showing signs of former age; so many live brusk, insufferable lives due to the widespread ignorance of how to intendance for bettas, which is perpetuated past companies who sell divided one/2-gallon tanks for bettas.

Continue Your Old Betta Comfortable

If the betta seems to be inching closer to expiry'south door, all you tin practise is try to brand him as comfortable equally possible, helping him with nutrient, keeping the water clean and warm, and making sure he can get to the surface on his ain.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author'south cognition and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional person.

AddieIsMe on Baronial 16, 2020:

My Betta is almost 3.v years. He's a Walmart Betta. Only he'south turning pale, not eating, and starting to struggle to get to the height.

Himel on June 29, 2020:

My betta is turning white, I use four gallon tank and footing water. I know he is old and about 2+ years. I use marina betta water conditioner. Nutrient I use Tetra tropical, terra and blood worms. I observed he did not like high illumination.

mariekbloch (author) on May 18, 2020:

Its possible yous got a very sometime betta, but unlikely. They dont last long in those cups. Turning white? Make certain there isnt chlorine in the water when you perform h2o changes. Prime is a wonderful conditioner that gets rid of chlorine, adds salubrious slime coat, and temporarily makes toxins in the tank not-toxic. Bank check your chemic balance. Is there ammonia? Nitrites? Adding prime volition help if you lot dont know. Wait up the nitrogen wheel in tanks. Is the temp 75-80 range?

Seda on May eighteen, 2020:

My betta is not eating and barely swimming around I got him from my local petco nigh a month or and so ago and he is merely getting worse

He has a big tank and is turning white and hugging the bottom and sides of the tank

I call up he is getting old and maybe dying what should I do!?

s on March 25, 2020:

thnx

KBW on March 09, 2020:

My little old betta human was looking exhausted every time he swam to the surface for food or air. The needs of the rest of my fish family meant i couldn't lower the water level. I added a hammock etc only he completely ignored them. He likes the company of his tankmates so i didn't desire to move him. I made him a cave at the very top of the tank using a solo cup (classy!). I'g not savvy enough to mail a motion picture but he hangs out there. He ventures out and near sometimes simply this is definitely his new go to spot.

mariekbloch (author) on December sixteen, 2019:

I'd say let nature takes its course. Since he stopped eating, it may just exist his time. Endeavor wiggling wet food in forepart of him. Sorry to hear he may laissez passer.

Dee on December 12, 2019:

I have a betta who is almost 7 years old. He sleeps A LOT. I always go along his h2o level simply low enough he tin get up to exhale when he needs. I feed him 5-vi betta pellets every 2-3 days. I believe he is also simply at present starting to lose his vision a scrap because hes been lunging and missing his food sometimes. And so when I feed him i stay past his small-scale bowl to make certain he eats, before leaving him be again. his name is Caeruleus and hes the oldest betta ive ever had the privilege to ain. Ill exist a bit sorry when he decides to become, simply for now hes happy despite existence an erstwhile man haha

L on December 10, 2019:

I take a beta who is over 4 years old and was gifted to me by my 6th grade instructor who moved away this year and didn't have enough infinite for her fish. I saw him when he was younger. I don't know if the Illnesses he had before I got him. He has recently got fin rot and a fungal infection on his side. This by calendar week he stopped eating completely. He but floats around using 1 of his fins to go on himself afloat. I believe he is starving himself to expiry. I tell my friend nigh him all the fourth dimension and his state. She recommended recently to freeze him merely my mom refused to kill him on purpose. I don't know what to practice and the medicine I use always fogs his tank. Should I go along using information technology? What's going on?

C on September 03, 2018:

My betta Arizona Ruddy is dying from old historic period information technology's kind of sad just I knew this was coming. Although I've been a proactive caregiver for him I gauge 3 yrs is all the time he is going to permit me have with him.

I'm keeping him in a warm tank and I hand feed him tiny flies (he loves them) twice a solar day. The steps y'all provided I have already taken, similar the warmer water and adding salt to his tank. Thanks for this commodity it was comforting to know that I have been doing everything I tin to make my betta comfy.

In the 3 years I was blest with Scarlet he never once was sick and that was with 3 relocations and countless scape changes. What a joy bettas tin can be and I will get some other one and aye his proper name volition exist Arizona Red :)

mariekbloch (author) on August 25, 2018:

Yous're welcome.

Kee on August 22, 2018:

My betta, Pluto, has got to be around 2. I've had him going on ii years (will be two years dec. 16), he'south a Walmart fish. He has e'er been very social..rather active. He'due south had a ceramic tunnel I made him that he's always like to sleep/chill out in. Anytime you talked to him he would wait in your management, he would swim up to the superlative of his tank when yous walked in the room. Bubble nests werent common for him anyhow. In the terminal few weeks I've noticed the color on his body (he'south blue/purple and silvery-ish) changing to exist more silver than blue where it used to be vibrant. He doesn't swim around as much, doesn't actually respond to anyone talking to him, my young man who currently has him at his house (I have cats where I live now and he'due south close) says he hasn't been eating as much.

I love my little guy. He's a spoiled fish...he has a iii gallon tank which he loves. I'm agape his time is coming shortly, I only kinda feel information technology. Cheers for the warning signs. Nosotros will be keeping a close eye on the lilliputian guy.

Susan on July 06, 2018:

Thanks for this article. My Male Beta "Clifton" is going on 6 years old in a couple months. He is a very friendly and personable fish. I take him at work and my co-workers are very fond of him also. He is doing well but does sleep a lot at present, has lost color and has the white dot that seems to reappear. He loves getting a alkali shrimp treat once a week. The cardinal with him is to change his water and I gave him a small-scale institute that he can rest on at different levels in the tank. He has heat and aeration likewise. He'south a happy beta. We all volition miss him when his time comes.

Steff on June 28, 2018:

You can tell him how you feel past talking in your mind in your listen while putting one hand on the manus on the tank and he volition be happy trust me I used to talk to my betta fish and information technology used to awnser by getting excited or shaking its caput.Y'all can try asking it a few questions.Your likewise lucky considering my betta fish only lived ii and 1/2 years.It's not weird to scout your fish considering everyone watches their fish and it makes them happy to see their fish happy.Every bit you said your fish is at the acme of the tank a lot because it'southward getting air you should put something in the tank that that reaches close to the top so your fish tin residual on information technology and breathe or become a living large leaf rooted plant that makes air so your fish can breathe at the bottom of the tank while sleeping.You can too change the h2o more oft to give it more oxegen because if it's at the top that means oxegen is also depression.On a website I searched up it says your betta needs 24 litres of water a filter and temperature around 26 degrees to keep your betta healthy but your betta lived 6+ years so you lot should be happy and give yourself a pat on the back. It is good that your fish can at least stay at the top of the tank considering mine ate to much and so It couldn't swim up to the top.And then good job taking care of your fish.

Robin on June 27, 2018:

I accept a beta that's probably 6+ Twelvemonth's erstwhile. I have nursed him back from infections many times. I call up probably his Time is running out. His face up is turning gray and he floats at the top all the fourth dimension now. I'm a hospice nurse and would like to make his death as comfortable every bit possible. I know this sounds weird, but I accept had endless time of enjoyment watching him for years. I don't desire him to endure, how tin I make his death equally peaceful as possible, like I've been doing for people.

Steff on June 24, 2018:

My betta fish died this morning, I was really deplorable. When I bought it its colours where already fading/it wasn't that bright and it still lived almost three years I fed it everyday and inverse its water every 3 weeks it was also happy and excited all the fourth dimension. Did it live long crusade information technology was happy because it

Had all the symptoms of oldness since the last 4 months and information technology usually got sick but cured itself.It had fin rot and it might have eaten to much so how come up it lived so long?

mariekbloch (writer) on June 20, 2018:

I dubiousness you lot sleeping adjacent to him bothers him.

SlugLady28 on June 16, 2018:

Hey my betta is old and spends most time sleeping. he is next to my bed. when i wiggle my finger, he flares at me (he always had. its his thing) but then goes back to his bed or moves to hide/sleep elsewhere. I worry that i bother him. I wonder if information technology would be better to movement him further away from me so he has more peace and quiet?

mariekbloch (author) on June 06, 2018:

Y'all're welcome

Joann on June 01, 2018:

Thank you and then much my beta is four and he is literally my first fish and iloce taking intendance of him and ive started to find lots of naps

Gabby on February 04, 2018:

Thanks this helped me very much i have a 5 year old Betta that i have care of.Thanks for making this article

Don on January 19, 2018:

Thank you for the smashing article. I've got a 2 ane/2+ year old that shows all the signs/symptoms mentioned. Unfortunately, nosotros've been contesting what appears to be a slow fin rot, even-though I've always washed full water changes on his two.5Gallon tank 3 times a week (basically every-other-day). I suspected this was because a lower/weaker immune system due to his age. It appears I've done everything correctly. Merely the inevitable.

steve on January eighteen, 2018:

It is a shame they accept such curt lives ,,,My ii and a half twelvemonth erstwhile guy is napping a lot more than he did when I first got him. But other than that , he seems quite happy ...

Marie on Dec 27, 2017:

Give thanks you likewise my betta nosotros inherited from my begetter in law as it was my mother in laws and she past abroad a year ago. We had him for a yr and I found out mother in law had him 2 + years making it 3+ years old and who knows how old when she got him. Anyhow all symptoms you explained almost identical to the betta passing abroad yesterday but I experience a lot better and wish I had read this a cple months ago.

Maurizia on Dec 12, 2017:

This was a nerve saver for me! My male betta has been cared for impeccably since I got him over three years ago. Near 3 months ago I noticed his colors outset to fade and he got cataracts and started missing food... I was certain I had done something incorrect at some signal, but then he started napping throughout the twenty-four hour period a lot. Thank God I found this article it saved my fretfulness as I was beating myself up... I saved him from the horrible intendance of Walmart and take never had such a connectedness to a fish equally my boy Virgil (blue/grey crowntail male) I'thousand glad he is i that got to live his whole life and leave every bit a fiddling erstwhile homo fish :) cheers for the info. Very informative and my heart is not equally heavy as information technology was.:)

Kiley Garrett on Oct 26, 2017:

This article is very informative. I knew about some of these symptoms and I knew my betta was getting upward in that location in years, merely some of these things I was concerned nigh, like the fin curling and him missing his nutrient.

AlexisChamberlain on September 28, 2017:

Thanks! I thought my betta was sick but I've had him for over 2 years and he has all of the symptoms described. Thank you once more and I will definitely take your advice!

Connie on August 28, 2017:

Thank you. Good information. Thank yous especially for explaining about the white spot on the confront. Noticed that on our betta today. And he is starting to take longer naps. All in all, he is still quite active for an quondam betta and likes making bubble nests. Your postal service was very helpful. Thanks again.

Jolene on Baronial 22, 2017:

My male beta has been acting normal, but he has a lump on his side and it almost looks clear, the scales are not really protruding and he swims and act pretty normal eats well. .i have been treating his v gal tank due west/o carbon filter with neoplex medication for 3 weeks considering of fright of dropsy, but im convinced that its not whats wrong with him... fish store says it could be just old historic period...im scared he'due south gonna popular.

Any thoughts on this?

wolfman jenkins on May 21, 2017:

My bettafish will nonetheless exist the aforementioned when he gets old even at five years old or 6 years sometime he will yet be aggressive and beat out up any bettafish out there like I said in another post my bettafish volition exist the greatest bettafish since MUHAMMAD ALI.

mawa on March 21, 2017:

our betta is old, we have had him for virtually four years. All signs are nowadays that he is aging. He has inverse colors, not coming upward for air as often...I am getting ready to lower his water level after reading this. And I call up his vision may be getting weak. He is not in a large tank only a gallon size with filtration since nosotros have had him. Makes me lamentable...I know nothing lives forever, but I have taken such good care of him that information technology is hard to see him as what appears to be suffering from the ravages of erstwhile age. This article was so useful. Thanks.

hamzah patel on March 05, 2017:

I have a 2.v gallon tank with a divider with a male betta on one side and a female on the other . For the past week the male has been sitting at the bottom of the tank and refusing to consume.i thought I was doing somethin wrong with the heat or something just the female seems only fine.yesterday I realized he burned himsef on the heater and the top part of his tail cruel off.i quickly put him in a one-half gallon tank temporarily and put some fin medicine drops in his water. He cant swim properly and doesnt want to eat he is about ii yrs old. Delight help me! I dont desire him to die! Whatsoever suggestions?

Fruit Loops on Nov fourteen, 2016:

Tin you delight share more than data on the food yous recommend? My poor fish is non eating--lunges and misses followed by a nap--and I'm agape he's beginning to starve!

MargeC. on July xiv, 2016:

Thank you for the info! A betta I bought from Walmart a few months agone arrived with fringed fins. Non knowing whatsoever better I thought this was the way he was supposed to look. At present after reading your commodity I volition be watching him closely. His appetite and colors seem OK simply he does seem rather sluggish and hangs out at the top of the water a lot. he still flares when I put a mirror up to the tank though (which is fun to scout), A week ago I moved him from and one/2 gal tank to a i.5 gal tank thinking he would exist happier. I've never purchased a betta from a breeder before merely will the adjacent fourth dimension. I experience badly that he won't live as long every bit I had hoped. Usually a betta lasts for well-nigh a year fifty-fifty from Walmart. Thanks once more, I have enjoyed reading your articles here.

Elle on September twenty, 2015:

My betta is at least 5 1/2 but I don' t recall he can see very well now. Thank you and so much for the care tips. I will change his food.

firestar2124 on September 06, 2015:

I was given my beta past a manager at piece of work. He was probably close to ane when I got him, and I've had him two years. Almost 8 weeks ago he started to bladder sideways. I though information technology was a swim bladder problem, but the fasting/steamed-pea treatment didn't help. Now he is darker, has the white spot, and rests sideways in the water all the fourth dimension. I have to drop food carefully in front of him so that he doesn't have to maneuver to go it. But he is still eating well and excited nearly the nutrient. Yet, it seems that 3(ish) is young to be having all these former age symptoms. I've brought him home and so that I tin can picket him daily. I have a new Betta boy at work, and my oldy-merely-goody is in Betta-hospice on the dining room table.

micki on June fourteen, 2015:

Nosotros got ours from Walmart shut to four yrs agone. I thought he was dying i i/ii yrs ago he's bullheaded in i eye (if not in both) and hasn't been able to eat the floating pellets for the past 1 ane/two yrs. He must consume them off the bottom later since he'due south been like this and so long and yet alive. He's go less and less active and pretty much lays on his side on the lesser all mean solar day, just moving if I drop in food or tap the glass. He's a fighter for certain and refuses to die!

mariekbloch (writer) on May 30, 2015:

Yeah, if your fish has suffered fin rot and his fins never have grown back (yet he acts perfectly healthy), that'south another indication that he is an old boy. Thanks for posting your annotate.

Caroline on May 25, 2015:

Finally someone who knows about the white dot! Ive been searching the cyberspace, trying to figure out why my older meliorate was getting it, so thanks for your reply. Unfortunetly ane of my boys is going through the aging process. He is from a concatenation store, and I purchased him 3 years ago. Unfortunetly earlier this year we had a run in with fin rot, and they don't seem to be growing dorsum fully. I saw good growth in the commencement few months, but so 1 day information technology just stopped. Do y'all believe this is a factor of his historic period? He has been showing fading colors and inactivity for several months now. He lives in a divided ten gallon with heater and filter and weekly fractional water changes. Thanks!

mariekbloch (author) on December eighteen, 2014:

You should exist proud of yourself that your betta has lived for then long. They're usually sold at vi-12 month old, and then your fish is probably 5, the typical lifespan of a healthy betta. Information technology's sad, but you should be happy knowing that he lived such a total life.

Chantal on December 15, 2014:

:( I remember my betta is getting erstwhile. I am then going to cry when he dies :'( hes been such a good fish and dances all the time and flared only at me whenever I was around, he never flared at anyone else. I have had him for near iv years. I then don't desire to run across him get out me :( arg.

mariekbloch (writer) on March 02, 2014:

Cheers.

dearabbysmom from Indiana on March 01, 2014:

Skilful to see info about keeping these gorgeous fish happy and healthy for a longer life. My kids had a few over the years and we were never able to keep them alive very long. Useful data!

cornereimstand.blogspot.com

Source: https://pethelpful.com/fish-aquariums/How-to-Care-for-an-Old-Betta

Share this post