New Here, Need Help For My Betta

[CMW21]

We have had our betta since May of 08. At first, he was very active. Starting in October, he stopped eating and became very inactive. The pet store gave my bloodworms to feed him which he loved until October. I went to more of a specialty store in our town and got him a larger 2 gallon bowl and some of brine shrimp in the hope to get him to eat. I also bought him a heater which seemed to have helped.

He really wasn't excited to eat but he would nibble a little here and there.

The last 2 days he has been lying on his side at the top of the bowl. It's possible it could be the swimbladder that I have read about but I'm really not sure. I considered going to get him a regular tank with a filter in attempt to make him more comfortable.

His color and fins all look fine. I really am concerned and want to do whatever I can to help him. I appreciate any advice the experts can give .

Thanks so much.

 

[azulfire24]

sounds like swim bladder, could be an internal infection or maby a clorine issue? do you use water conditoner when you add or change the water? or if its an infection some internal bacterial meds would help, i am usa and a brand called jungle sells some nice fizzy tab meds so try a petsmart or somthing, but id u r uk i dont know what they can use to treat with.

if you do get a bigger tank get a very gental filter cause they hate strong currents, how often do you change his water, whats the temp, what are the water stats??

 

[wilsonnw8]

sounds like swim bladder, could be an internal infection or maby a clorine issue? do you use water conditoner when you add or change the water? or if its an infection some internal bacterial meds would help, i am usa and a brand called jungle sells some nice fizzy tab meds so try a petsmart or somthing, but id u r uk i dont know what they can use to treat with.

if you do get a bigger tank get a very gental filter cause they hate strong currents, how often do you change his water, whats the temp, what are the water stats??

He could also be constipated, try some boiled shelled pea, see if he will have a nibble at it, When mine get sluggish it does the trick, they also love Indian almond leaf in the water, and its meant to have medicinal properties, Maddie and Netty introduced me to it

 

[Honeythorn]

As others have said, floating and inability to keep upright or swim normally is often swimbladder. Also, the aforementioned bloating may be due to feeding him bloodworm too often. It's a rich meaty food and shouldn't be an everyday thing. Just a treat once or twice a week, about 2-3 worms only.

The boiled shelled pea method has been known to be quite successful in helping to alleviate bloating. Just break off a little tiny piece and crumble it up, then try to feed him the little bits.

Look around all your nearest petstores and any fish stores for a medicine to help with swimbladder.

I considered going to get him a regular tank with a filter in attempt to make him more comfortable.

This is what he should have been in from the day you got him.

Wild bettas live in rice paddies and swamp streams. Thousands of gallons. They are not supposed to be kept in small bowls. Their ability to survive in small amounts of water is purely a survival mechanism only, and not a reason to keep them in small spaces their whole lives. A tank is not a luxury, it's a nessescity.

For a tank, 5 gallons minimum ( this can easily fit on a desk or sideboard/worktop near a power source ) with a sponge filter and heater set to 27-29 degrees C. A small sponge filter is the best option as they produce no current and will not disturb your fish. The filter, when cycled will provide a stable Biological cycle for your tank, which you keep healthy by the water changes each week.

In his current 2 gallon environment, you should be doing water changes every 3-4 days or so, changing around half his water and replacing with fresh dechlorinated water. In a 5 gallon tank, 50% once a week is fine.

Getting a liquid test kit to determine the levels of Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate in the water will also be helpful. ANY levels of Ammonia and Nitrite will be very very harmful to your fish, and they are often the cause of most health problems. If you are getting regular readings of those above zero, you need to do more regular and larger water changes.

 

[CMW21]

Thanks for the info. He is now almost vertical with his head lying sidewas. I feel so bad for him. I trusted what the pet store told me and assumed a nice size bowl would do the trick. the water temp is between 78-80 degrees, i do use water conditioner but I don't know the water levels. I have some conditioning salt that my friend brought me down when she heard about the poor guy. would this help and how much? Should i mix it with water first and then directly add it to the bowl or take him out first?

Thanks again for all your insight.

 

[azulfire24]

waht kind of salt? not table salt, thats poisnois to fish, aquarium salt? somthing else? try the pee thing maby he just gottta poop?

 

[Honeythorn]

Is he eating at all?
I have never had to use aquarium salt for anything so I won't suggest any amounts to you as I don't know how much should be used. Others will help you there.

To be honest he doesn't sound great but keep trying, see if you can get him to take a little cooked crushed pea.

 

[LionMom]

waht kind of salt? not table salt, thats poisnois to fish, aquarium salt? somthing else? try the pee thing maby he just gottta poop?

I learned YEARS ago that you can use canning and pickling salt - no iodine added. Same as aquarium salt, but much less expensive!!!

If he were mine, I would do a water change and add the salt at a rate of 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons. I would do LOTS of water changes - maybe not every day as that would probably stress him out more, but every other day. Only add back the salt when doing water changes - not when adding water due to evaporation as the salt does not evaporate.

Hope that helps & best of luck!