Betta Help please

[ThatDarnDragon]

Hi kids

My friend is having betta trouble. I need some help to help her.

Her betta is almost 2 years old. VT.

He's been hanging at the very top of a 1 gal tank. He's been acting funny for about a week, and today, he jumped out of the tank for the very first time. He's always near the bottom.

he freaks at any movement near his tank or any tiny bump, which he never used to do. And he swims erratically.

She does not do water testing, but she does condition tap water after regular changes

http/community.webshots.com/photo/363159...363159137ArjnjX that is the pic

EDIT: The fish is ignoring pea

 

[mm_simb]

By swimming erratically, do you mean sideways? Does she dechlorinate and what dechlor does she use? Any other things she puts in the tank? Is the betta the only fish in there? Does the betta have any signs of illness on the body or fins? Spots? Fuzzy?

If he is just paranoid I would suggest getting some blackwater extract since that helped my paranoid betta a lot.

 

[fishwatcher]

Yeah, I'd definitely check him over good. The picture looks like he may not be so well. Maybe it's just the coloring in the photo, but something doesn't look quite right to me. I'm not an expert on them though, so hopefully someone else will help you out a little more.
Good luck!!

 

[ThatDarnDragon]

Her response:

"he swims quicker than normal, and makes faster turns than he used to.. not really sideways, no.. I do dechlor after every water change. I use "wardley watercare chlor out" He has a plastic plant and small treasure chest item, same as always. He is the only fish in the tank. He does have some spots along his back just under his dorsal fin that I am not sure if they were there before or not.. He's got several spots of color over his body and I just can't remember if they were there before or not.. they don't look fuzzy, though, from what I can tell.."

 

[mm_simb]

Then I would suggest using the blackwater extract. I've never found it in stores but I know petsmart has it on their website. It helps alot with stress. I would also recommend Stress coat since that also helps with stress.

 

[ThatDarnDragon]

http/community.webshots.com/photo/363153...363203686TriGUV

thats a pic of the "funny spot"

 

[mm_simb]

That just really looks like his natural coloring. If the fins aren't tattered or anything, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[eudielynn]

I can't see the pictures, they have so many filters on our pc's here, but what you are describing could be the beginnings of velvet. Try shining a flashlight on him with the lights out and see if you see any gold/rust looking places on him. They will often act erratically if they are itching. Is he rubbing on his plant or sides of the tank?

Also, if she has had him for 2 years, that is about the normal lifespan for a betta. If you figure in that they are 6 months to 1 year old when you buy them at the LFS, then you may be dealing with old age issues that are unavoidable.

 

[Bloo]

My guess would be that he's deteriorating due to old age - if it is that, there's little you can do to prolong his life. His immune system will be weakened etc. so he'll have difficulty shaking off any sort of illness

 

[BettaMomma]

Well, I was able to look at that black spot and to me - it looks like it *could* be columnaris - but can you post a picture of the whole fish? I'd like to see it on his whole body and see the rest of him too..

Is that possible?