New Betta Fish

Question
Dear Lauren,
I just got a betta fish and I put it under my desk light to keep the temp in the water  at 75 degrees, now it is swimming alot when I have the light on and when I turn the light off it dosnt move. Sometimes with the light on it wont move for a while and stays at the top of the tank. I just have it in a 1 or 2 gallon bowl. It has not been eating yet. Can you give me any advice. Kara.

Answer
Hello Kara

They go into "rest" mode, where basically its like fish sleep, but they cant close their eyes as they have no eyelids so he's sleeping if you like when you turn the light on, and it takes a while for his body to otivate, simular to ourselves.

You may find he need a bigger bowl and you will need to do alot of water changes 20% once a week maybe 2 times a week, and you might want to get a weak sponge filter to improve his living conditions.

Just give him time to settle in, and he should start eating, take out uneaten food within 20 minutes otherwise it will poison his water and he will die.