My betta fish is hanging out in the corners and edges.

[Novial]

Is this a bad thing? This happened when I first put my Betta fish in the tank about 10-30 minutes ago

 

[Tifftastic]

This is a normal fear response to a new environment, its called thigmotaxis. Some bolder fish won't necessarily show it as strongly, while some shyer ones will spend a lot of time hanging out in the corners and walls of a new tank.

I would recommend dimming the lights and leaving him be for a little while. He should settle in soon if he has plenty of cover.

Also, is this new tank cycled?

 

[Novial]

H

This is a normal fear response to a new environment, its called thigmotaxis. Some bolder fish won't necessarily show it as strongly, while some shyer ones will spend a lot of time hanging out in the corners and walls of a new tank.

I would recommend dimming the lights and leaving him be for a little while. He should settle in soon if he has plenty of cover.

Also, is this new tank cycled?

Not sure what cycled means, but it does have a filter system, yes.

And right now, I think it's favorite spot is (picture below)

 

[Rbishop]

Cycled basically means you allowed the tank to develop the required bacteria to handle the wastes from uneaten food and fish waste. It routinely takes 4-6 weeks for this to happen depending on the method used.

 

[fishorama]

You should test your water for ammonia, nitrite & nitrate almost daily & do water changes to keep those numbers very low. Ammonia & nitrite should be 0 to keep your fish safe & healthy.

Read the cycling article at the top of this newbie forum.

 

[Kaitlyn]

Well, I've read through this thread, and since you've put your fish into an uncycled tank, I recommend IMMEDIATELY going to your local fish store and buying StartSmart Complete, at least the 2 ounce bottle (what size is your tank by the way?), and possibly a live plant or two or at least a moss ball. Probably couldn't hurt to get a bubble wand or an air stone, either.

StartSmart Complete is basically a bottle full of good bacteria to help your tank "cycle" a little bit easier, a little bit faster. I used 2 ounces in my 10 gallon and it cycled in 2 and a half weeks! I started off with one ounce, waited a week, and then put in a cap full every day until it was empty.

Live plants give off oxygen and will help make the water a little bit more breathable for your betta. Moss Balls are great because, well, moss balls.

Bubble wand will also help aerate, but has more of an aesthetic appeal.

Air stones aren't as aesthetic, but I've heard they help your pH level so? Might be worth looking into. Also help aerate.

Please don't clean your tank during this time period. It needs all the bacteria it can get! Your tank should start to develop diatom (brown stuff you'll see on the substrate), which you most certainly don't want to get rid of. Yeah it looks ugly, but it means your tank is getting healthier.

Hopefully your betta lives through the process.. Ammonia levels really stress out fish, and could kill him.

Please be getting your water tested about once a week, look at nitrite, nitrate, pH, and ammonia levels and keep track to see how far you are in the cycle.

Some more info might help, like

Size of tank
What all is in the tank?
Any other fish?
Have you used any sort of chemicals in the water, or is it just tap water?

 

[ustabefast]

If that Betta is in a 10 gallon tank by itself you should get away without cycling.
The fish produces little bioload.
Just keep up with water changes while a bacterial colony gets established and do not add any more fish for a few weeks.