alli789
New Member
I've had my betta Echo for 3 years, so he's probably going on 4 years old. The last month-ish (maybe two) he's started resting on the bottom all the time. He swims to the surface to breathe often and switches resting spots pretty often too. When I feed him, he swims up, but can't seem to stay at the surface very long at all. He'll grab like one piece of food and have to return to the bottom, rest for a few minutes, then come back up to finish. He has an appetite though. He swims normally when he does swim, so I haven't thought it could be swim bladder disease. Maybe decline with age if that happens with swim bladders? His breathing when he's on the bottom looks normal, not too fast. Color is still pretty vibrant as well. Today I did notice a gray spot on his head, attaching a pic just in case. Might just be some color fading happening. Nothing new has been introduced to the tank.
His parameters are fine, I do approximately 30% water changes a week, and he lives in a 10 gallon with live plants. Last week I lowered the water level to about 6 gallons to try and help him get to the surface and I'm continuing with 30% changes weekly. Tank is heated around 80 degrees and filtered and cycled. He was eating high quality pellets most days, brine shrimp or bloodworms twice a week. Now I'm giving him the freeze dried food every day, since it seems easier for him to grab one larger piece than a few smaller ones. I've always fasted him once or twice a week as well so he doesn't overeat.
Is this normal for older fish or does it sound like he's suffering? I don't want him to be in pain but I don't know where the line is between normal old age symptoms and large quality of life decline. This is my first betta that I researched and cared for properly, so I haven't had a fish reach old age before. Help is appreciated <3
His parameters are fine, I do approximately 30% water changes a week, and he lives in a 10 gallon with live plants. Last week I lowered the water level to about 6 gallons to try and help him get to the surface and I'm continuing with 30% changes weekly. Tank is heated around 80 degrees and filtered and cycled. He was eating high quality pellets most days, brine shrimp or bloodworms twice a week. Now I'm giving him the freeze dried food every day, since it seems easier for him to grab one larger piece than a few smaller ones. I've always fasted him once or twice a week as well so he doesn't overeat.
Is this normal for older fish or does it sound like he's suffering? I don't want him to be in pain but I don't know where the line is between normal old age symptoms and large quality of life decline. This is my first betta that I researched and cared for properly, so I haven't had a fish reach old age before. Help is appreciated <3
