Johnny Is Very Lethargic

[vear]

So, I've had Johnny Cay for about 8 months now - he's in a 5.5 gallon filtered tank with 2 albino cories. The tank temp. is 82F. He's been acting very lethargic... hanging around the bottom, resting on his plants and even on the gravel. He swims around for a bit, then he seems to get tired and will just hang on the plants or the thermometer. I first noticed he was like this 2 nights ago... but it was really late so I thought he was sleeping on the plant I tried to offer him food but he wouldn't eat it.

Yesterday I got home and he was looking pale and tired... I checked his water stats and did about a 50% water change... maybe a bit more... just in case. I offered him a blood worm and he devoured it which was good. But he was still acting like he wasn't feeling so well. Today I got home and he was still hanging around the bottom of the tank... swimming around now and then for very short periods of time. I offered him 1/2 a pea, just in case (he's been bloated before b/c he eats the cories food!) but he doesn't look bloated now at all! (I don't let him near the catfish food!).

I checked his water stats once again: ammonia: 0, nitrite: 0, nitrate: ~10. The ammonia kit is the liquid API kit, the nitrite/nitrate are API strips. The pH is rather low... 6.0 I'm not sure why. Now that I think of it, I should check my tap water. Anyway, I did a partial water change, about 10% again today, just in case. (I always dechlorinate the water of course). And that's about all I've done... he doesn't look very happy, mostly hangs out at the bottom, or in a corner... or behind his terra cota pot.

What's wrong with him and how can I help him?

Edit: I just noticed his top fin is ripped... he had split the fin at the bottom before... could he be biting himself?! ::sigh:: I watch him a lot, although not that much lately (i've had company) and I don't see where he could have done it. I found the ripped portion in the gravel.

 

[vear]

Anyone?

 

[betta fish]

Hi, what kind of filter do you have in the tank, is the flow very powerful? bettas can get tired and stressed by too much water flow although this may not be the issue here especially if the filter has been in situ ever since you have had the betta and never bothered him before, can you possibly post a pic? it's difficult to say what the issue may be, do you have any idea how old he was when you got him? if he was already aged and you have had him for 8 months he may just be nearing his time, I've never had one live much past 12 months, the ph may be an issue though bettas do usually prefer softer waters but if he is not used to a low ph it may affect him, have you added anything to the tank recently that could affect it? My tap water runs quite hard here at around 7.8, test the tap water and see what ph it is running, but see if you can get that pic as a photo speaks a thousand words

 

[loraxchick]

bettas tend to get lazy with age. is he still eating ok? is he rubbing against objects in the tank? does his color look normal? what are your water stats? any pinholes in his fins or thin looking spots on his fins? do the corys seem normal?
just some questions to determine if he is sick or just lazy.
photos may help as well if youre able to post them.
cheers

 

[FBTgirl2]

That could possibly just be his age. If he's a petstore betta he is probably a bit older. My older bettas usually just hang around and don't swim much. If he is eating then he should be okay. Are the cories okay? If not then it could be your water but to me it seems like hes just an old timer.