Fish tanks and fish bowls are an adorable addition to any household. They can be used for decoration, entertainment, or just because the owner enjoys watching the fish swim around. However, it is important to know that not all behaviors exhibited by your pet fish are normal. When a betta fish starts digging in rocks and substrate, this may signal an illness or stressor such as overcrowding or lack of food. It’s also possible that they’re looking for some kind of food item hiding underneath these materials.
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Things That Could Be Wrong With Your Betta
Many things can go wrong with a betta fish for sale tank. It’s important to know what kind of environment they need to survive and thrive.
In most cases, digging is a natural behavior for your pet fish – but it does have its limits! If you notice the following signs of over-digging in rocks or substrate, then this could be an indication of something being wrong:
Parasite/Fungal Infection
Your fish may look like they’re digging and flaring, which is their natural defense mechanism against disease and infection. The pet might be scratching itself against the rocks to ward off parasites and fungus that are taking over its body. This is an instinctual behavior that bettas will do until something else can be done about it. It would be best if you got your pet to a veterinarian immediately.
Stress
Betta fish often dig in the substrate when they feel stressed out for one reason or another. Stress may be caused by overcrowding, lack of food, or other factors such as temperature changes. Check your aquarium conditions and make sure all of these factors are under control before considering this possibility. If you notice digging behavior during stressful times, your pet could be trying to hide from the perceived danger.
Lack of Nutrition
As previously mentioned, betta fish often dig in substrate or rocks to forage for food. They would find food sources such as worms and bugs living under those same rocks they’re digging in now in their natural habitat. If their food supply isn’t up to par, they may try to do the same thing indoors with an aquarium tank. Check that you are feeding your betta regularly at least once or twice per day, then consider feeding it something different than what is normally offered (such as freeze-dried bloodworms instead of pellets).
Gill Flukes
The next time you notice your betta fish digging and plowing through the substrate, consider the possibility of gill flukes. These parasites can attack both saltwater and freshwater fish. Like other flukes, they affect the gills first before moving on to other parts of the body (such as skin). They also cause fin damage – which is another sign that something is wrong with your pet. Remember that this problem often causes scratching behavior as well – so look out for both clues.
Anchor Worms
Another type of parasite commonly found on betta fish is anchor worms. They are one of the most common causes of excessive digging behavior. These pests are often laid by parasitic snails that “hitch a ride” into your aquarium on plants or gravel. You may notice these bugs climbing around on their host betta – and even within its mouth. Make sure to monitor your pet’s health if you see anything like this happening; treatment is generally necessary if they’re spotted crawling around.
Bacterial Infection
Bacteria can enter an open wound (such as damage caused by scratching against rocks) and start taking over the betta’s body very quickly. This kills off healthy tissue. Your pet is covered in ulcers and other lesions. It’s important to monitor your fish carefully when you notice digging/scratching behavior; he might be trying to relieve himself of the pain this bacteria is causing him.
How To Treat Over-Digging Betta Fish
If you notice your betta fish digging underneath rocks or substrate, then there are a few things you should do right away. First of all, remove any substrate or gravel that is being dug into by the creature. This will remove its food source (and also prevent it from causing further damage to whatever is left under there). Next, clean out your aquarium tank and make sure it is properly maintained daily.
This will ensure that no parasites or bacteria can get in and harm your pet. Finally, determine what environment would be best for the fish before returning it to its home tank. Don’t forget to provide plenty of hiding spaces (such as driftwood) – this will help reduce stress levels once more.
