Thread: I am worried about my betta?

I have 1 female beta in a 5 gallon tank with one ghost shrimp an under gravel filter, gravel and some live plants. I got the beta yesterday and did not cycle the tank at all. I did this because I heard bettas can live without filters but thrive in tanks with filters so I thought I could just put the beta in the same time as the filter.

the beta is worrying me because it is staying up at the surface alot next to my thermometer and the glass of the tank wall. it is going up to breath which I hear is normal but my beta is not moving that much and no it was gone into my plants not really hiding there but laying there.

I just wanted to know is this behavior normal

It could be normal. Your betta was prolly kept in a small cup for a while before being put in its big forever home and now might be a little stressed and shell shocked from the whole situation. I've had bettas before that took a couple days to settle into their new homes before acting like normal healthy bettas while others just take to things right away.

Maybe add a little stress coat and just keep an eye on her to see if she developes any other symptoms or gets worse.