Dieing Betta?

[Molly_Breeder2010]

Last night my mom decided that I could have her betta. She had been keeping him in about a .5 gallon tank with no heater, filter or anything like that for 4 years. He was pretty much dead in it. I kept telling her to get him into a good cycled tank but she refused. It disgusted me. So she finally was like ' you can put him in one of your tanks, he's pretty much dead in mine.' So I took him and put him in my empty 10 gallon. When he was in his small 'tank' he would just lay on the bottom of it, but have his body tilted up a little... now he's doing the same thing in my 10 gallon, just laying on the bottom and can't really swim, he'll go to the surface to get air, but sinks back to the bottom, like he's too weak or just can't swim.. looks as though he's dieing, but he's been like that for months... do you think he'll get better on his own, is there something I could give him to fix whatever problem he may have, or is the damage already done?

 

[davidnso]

sounds to me like being in a 1/2 gallon tank like your describing is what shaped him up to be what he is now, inactive. and if you have had your betta for 4 years, i think his time may come soon as the average life span is 3 years i think.

but i think the biggest mistake was placing him in the .5g tank for so long...

i am not sure what to do to improve his behaviour, but i'm sure there's someone with alot more knowledge than me that can help you. sorry i couldnt explain much

 

[Jaded12]

Sounds like hes too weak to swim well, probably mostly from old age, the average lifespan of a betta is 2-5 years. My advice would be to lower the water level, so he doesn't have to work to hard to reach the surface for air, maybe get him a plant with big leaves to lie on, put some aquarium salt in the water (1 tsp./gallon) and just make him as comfortable as possible

 

[catherine896]

Aww thats so sad I hope you can help him perk up a little, he is very old now though.
What is he eating?
I agree with Jaded12, lower the water level so he doesnt have to work so hard to get to the surface.
Best of luck with him

 

[Molly_Breeder2010]

Well I'm feeding him wardley betta food, but he's not eating any of it, to my knowledge.

 

[stang1]

As mentioned, lowering the water level would certainly help. Other than adding the salt like Jaded suggested, there isn't much else you can do.
Good luck.

 

[Amunet]

Aww.. I hope he perks up some. So terrible that he had to live in a .5 gallon for 4 years!
That's just absolutely no space for any fish to get enough exercise in. Poor little guy.
Just make him as comfy as possible.

 

[fry_lover]

amazing that 0.5 gallons exist in this day and age, i really wish you best

 

[WILDER]

Shelled peas and a bacterial med.
Is the fish still going to the toilet.

 

[Viettxboii]

amazing that 0.5 gallons exist in this day and age, i really wish you best

Yeah they still exist my betta is in one now...D: im hopefully moving him into a 10 gal for himself soon...eventually illl add more and more stuff to it..

 

[faithless1294]

it is worth just trying some frozen food different frozen food like a bit of a variety and lowering water level helps as been mentioned before.
Hope He Perks Up.

 

[Jaded12]

How's he doing today?