Betta Not Doing Well

[littlest]

My betta Archimedes is spending a lot of time sitting at the bottom of his bowl. I think there's also a problem with swim bladder or something. When he swims his head is up while his body points down, so he's swimming at a 45 degree angle. He tries to right himself so he ends up swimming in a very up-and-down kind of way. He very wobbly and slow.

I only noticed this yesterday but it could have been going on longer. What with Christmas and New Year I've not been home much. I've come back to feed him and change his water but not been around to really observe his behaviour.

I don't know if maybe it's just his time? I've heard that bettas don't live that long and are quite old when they are sold. I've had Archimedes for a bit less than two years and he must have been fully-grown when I got him (he hasn't grown anyway).

His bowl holds about 12 litres of water and is heated to79F and filtered. Water stats are ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate ~20.

I've not added any treatments as yet.

 

[xweeqtx]

My betta Archimedes is spending a lot of time sitting at the bottom of his bowl. I think there's also a problem with swim bladder or something. When he swims his head is up while his body points down, so he's swimming at a 45 degree angle. He tries to right himself so he ends up swimming in a very up-and-down kind of way. He very wobbly and slow.

I only noticed this yesterday but it could have been going on longer. What with Christmas and New Year I've not been home much. I've come back to feed him and change his water but not been around to really observe his behaviour.

I don't know if maybe it's just his time? I've heard that bettas don't live that long and are quite old when they are sold. I've had Archimedes for a bit less than two years and he must have been fully-grown when I got him (he hasn't grown anyway).

His bowl holds about 12 litres of water and is heated to79F and filtered. Water stats are ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate ~20.

I've not added any treatments as yet.

It is likely that his time has come, if you've had him just under 2 years he's likely to be almost three years old. Through my experience of swim bladder, the fish are usually at the surface on their side, and really there's nothing you can do except try and treat them for it.

Three years is a ripe old age for a betta to live to, so if he does pass away don't beat yourself up about it - obviously you've given him a happy and healthy life.

For now, just keep his water as clean as possible and maybe try and give him a bit of rich live foods to see if it might perk him up - if not, then he's had a good meal.

 

[littlest]

Thanks for your reply.
My experience of swim bladder is also lying on the side near the surface. Archimedes isn't doing this. It's more like the bottom half of him doesn't have bouyancy or something. He swims but the back half remains pointing down and then he sinks to the bottom again. At the moment he is just slumped at the bottom.

It's going to be really sad if he dies. He was my first ever betta and a great little fish.

Do you think its worth trying some anti-bacterial meds at half-dose? Or just clean water and live food. I changed his water yesterday. I don't have any live food but have some bloodworms in jelly which he likes. I could get some live stuff tomorrow (if he's still around).

 

[xweeqtx]

Thanks for your reply.
My experience of swim bladder is also lying on the side near the surface. Archimedes isn't doing this. It's more like the bottom half of him doesn't have bouyancy or something. He swims but the back half remains pointing down and then he sinks to the bottom again. At the moment he is just slumped at the bottom.

It's going to be really sad if he dies. He was my first ever betta and a great little fish.

Do you think its worth trying some anti-bacterial meds at half-dose? Or just clean water and live food. I changed his water yesterday. I don't have any live food but have some bloodworms in jelly which he likes. I could get some live stuff tomorrow (if he's still around).

It would be easier of course if you had been there to notice his change in behaviour from the start to be honest. I don't like treating with meds until the problem is pin-pointed exactly - sometimes they cause more harm than its worth. I'd be inclined to tell you to keep his water clean and trying live foods for the time being, but I don't know if its going to help his problem or not - just really make it more comfortable for him while he's in that kind of state.

It is hard when they go, but like I said, just bear in mind that he has lived for nearly 2 years under you're care so you've obviously done nothing wrong.

I'm afraid thats all the help I can give, and I do hope he recovers - if not, then I hope he goes soundly.

 

[justducky]

I'm not sure if you are saying you use water that has been filtered or if you have a filter in his bowl or tank. Irregardless I would suggest lowering the water level so it will be easier for him to get to the surface. Alot of the time swim bladder problems can occur from overfeeding or constipation. Have you noticed any poo? If not,try fasting him for 2 or 3 days and then feed him a cooked pea, don't forget to peel it. Give him about a quarter of one pea, and see how he does. You'll have to cut it up in very small pieces, about the size of a pellet. Good luck with him and I hope this helps.

 

[goin_all_out]

my experience is that this is the symptoms of it being thier time. my betta passed just a coule weeks ago and others iv had in the past have all gone this way. in my experience it only takes a coule days.

 

[littlest]

I'm not sure if you are saying you use water that has been filtered or if you have a filter in his bowl or tank. Irregardless I would suggest lowering the water level so it will be easier for him to get to the surface. Alot of the time swim bladder problems can occur from overfeeding or constipation. Have you noticed any poo? If not,try fasting him for 2 or 3 days and then feed him a cooked pea, don't forget to peel it. Give him about a quarter of one pea, and see how he does. You'll have to cut it up in very small pieces, about the size of a pellet. Good luck with him and I hope this helps.

Regarding the filter, I have a small filter in the bowl and it's fully cycled.

I haven't seen any poos, but I have to admit, I never have seen a poo the whole time I've had him, so it's not unusual (nor helpful).

I thought the same as you and I did fast him for two days and then gave him a little bit of courgette (zucchini) but it made no difference.
To be honest I doubt its related to constipation. Because of Christmas and New Year I've not been around much so he's been feed a lot less frequently than normal.

Anyway, he's still alive. Spending the vast majority of his time slumped on the bottom. If I lean over the bowl he swims up (he associates it with food), but its clearly a struggle for him to swim up. He's eating when I feed him, though he struggles a bit to find it, so I'm feeding him very little at a time (but more often) and placing the food right near him.

Regarding lowering the water level, I'm not sure how I can do this with the heater. Because of the shape of the bowl (it's one of those near-sphere glass bowls) I can't mount the heater to the side so it is pretty much vertical. If I lower the water level, it will be lower than the minimum on the heater, which I believe can cause it to over-heat.

 

[liz2]

if you cant lower the water level has he something he can rest his butt on at the surface of the water? like a plant? I pull my artificial plants to bits and then they float near the surface...just an idea...

 

[littlest]

Well Archimedes is still alive. He's not deterioated but he's not improved either. He's still having the same problems with swimming because he sinks back down again. He still spends most of the time sitting on the bottom on a (fake) plant leaf, but with his head always pointed up and his bum on the floor.

Has anyone got suggestions for treatment? I assumed before that it was just his time, but the fact that he is still here and still the same has made me wonder if he could get better with the right treatment.

any advice welcome