Just to let you know: ELAK IS FINE 
It looks like a false alarm. I think his weird behavior might have been due to the pain of the scratches. I took a look at the tank and found that the thermometer (the kind that glues to the glass) had a sharp edge sticking out, I have no doubt he grazed himself on it and not the gravel as I guessed at first. This might have really hurt him and made him go nuts. I've watched him since morning, and he is as active and beautiful as ever. So good news!
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Original post:
Those are the two words I could use to describe the current condition of my betta, Elak. He was fine this morning, I noticed that he was not as feisty, but he ate, he had built his huge bubble nest and constantly flared at either his reflection or the other bettas in the tanks next to his own.
Then this noon I noticed he became less and less active until all he did was float at the top of the tank, tip of his head against the surface and absolutely motionless. Sometimes he is slightly twisted as he just floats there. I've been watching him for an hour now, and he remains completely still, except that every now and then he suddenly bursts into motion and just sets off rocketing around the tank, hitting the glass and all else, then just stops and stays still again.
His freakish, uncoordinated dashes are so violent he's scraped off the scales on his back against the gravel!!! What's more is that despite being obviously out of control, he will STILL flare at the sight of another fish?
Although I've taken him out of his tank to prevent him from further hurting himself against the objects within, I'm aware that at this point he is probably dying and it is too late for me to try and help him. But I still would like to know what is wrong with him, if any of you would have experienced something like this? What it might be and what could I do to prevent this from happening again? It's horrible to see, I have an epileptic German shepherd, it's bad enough to watch her go through seizures I rather not have it that I'm doing something wrong with my fish and making them sick!
I hope someone here might be able to fill me in on what's wrong with poor, beautiful Elak! He looks so perfect and healthy! I can't imagine what could have gone wrong!!!
My tank's stats:
1) My tank is 18cmX14cm and 24cm.
2) I do a water change every 3 days.
4) I treat the water with anti-chlorine drops, just a bit of salt and general tonic against fungus, parasites and rot every now and then.
5)I cannot test the water for ammonia levels or anything else because a test kit is NOT available in the WHOLE country! They don't sell it here
It looks like a false alarm. I think his weird behavior might have been due to the pain of the scratches. I took a look at the tank and found that the thermometer (the kind that glues to the glass) had a sharp edge sticking out, I have no doubt he grazed himself on it and not the gravel as I guessed at first. This might have really hurt him and made him go nuts. I've watched him since morning, and he is as active and beautiful as ever. So good news!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original post:
Those are the two words I could use to describe the current condition of my betta, Elak. He was fine this morning, I noticed that he was not as feisty, but he ate, he had built his huge bubble nest and constantly flared at either his reflection or the other bettas in the tanks next to his own.
Then this noon I noticed he became less and less active until all he did was float at the top of the tank, tip of his head against the surface and absolutely motionless. Sometimes he is slightly twisted as he just floats there. I've been watching him for an hour now, and he remains completely still, except that every now and then he suddenly bursts into motion and just sets off rocketing around the tank, hitting the glass and all else, then just stops and stays still again.
His freakish, uncoordinated dashes are so violent he's scraped off the scales on his back against the gravel!!! What's more is that despite being obviously out of control, he will STILL flare at the sight of another fish?
Although I've taken him out of his tank to prevent him from further hurting himself against the objects within, I'm aware that at this point he is probably dying and it is too late for me to try and help him. But I still would like to know what is wrong with him, if any of you would have experienced something like this? What it might be and what could I do to prevent this from happening again? It's horrible to see, I have an epileptic German shepherd, it's bad enough to watch her go through seizures I rather not have it that I'm doing something wrong with my fish and making them sick!
I hope someone here might be able to fill me in on what's wrong with poor, beautiful Elak! He looks so perfect and healthy! I can't imagine what could have gone wrong!!!
My tank's stats:
1) My tank is 18cmX14cm and 24cm.
2) I do a water change every 3 days.
4) I treat the water with anti-chlorine drops, just a bit of salt and general tonic against fungus, parasites and rot every now and then.
5)I cannot test the water for ammonia levels or anything else because a test kit is NOT available in the WHOLE country! They don't sell it here
