Sick Betta?

[Allie]

I've had my male betta for just two years, guessing he is about 3 years old.

Recently I treated him for a fungus type growth, but now he seems to lay on the bottom alot, kinda all stretched around....he comes up for air frequently and eats well. But he never sleeps at the top anymore and he seems to not be able to stay up for very long before he goes back to the bottom.

I'm wondering could this be a swim bladder problem?

thanks for any help!

 

[betta-fool]

that does sound alot like swim bladder you should lower the water level so it isnt such a struggle to get air. How long has it been going on for? it could just be he is still healing from the fungal infection but bettas are more prone to more diseases after the first disease.
Hope it is nothing,
Good Luck.

 

[Allie]

hi, thanks for your response.

the betta has had fungus problems on and off since I've had him the last two years. I've always treated him and he was fine afterwards. Maybe this time I didn't treat it long enough.... but I'd say in the last week or so he spends more time laying kinda twisted on the bottom with his rocks. He does come up for air often and eats well. He is in a 1 gal. bowl, so getting air shouldnt be a problem.

I've never had any other problems with my bettas so I'm not sure what to do.

 

[liz2]

could just be old age my 3 oaps are very lazy and not as active as they used to be

 

[RandomWiktor]

Allie, what are your water parameters, temperature, and cleaning schedule? I'm a bit concerned about both the constant fungal infections, and the constant need to treat them, as this can be very stressful on the system of an aged betta. If we can find a way to prevent it, I think he'll be feeling better overall and perhaps more active.
In the mean time, does he have a nice, strudy, tall silk plant that he an rest on just below the water's surface? To me it honesly sounds more like old, fatigued, possibly ill betta than swim bladder disease; I find the "sinking" kind is usually caused more by an injury than an infection or parasite.

 

[Allie]

my betta is in a 1 gallon bowl. I use store bottled drinking water and change it out completely once a week. For some reason he seems more prone to some type of fungus that he gets . I guess its a type of fungus, its the little "icky" white stuff that grows alittle on his body, never completely covered though.

This is only my 2nd betta after my first betta who for 4 years was only sick once before he died. So I am not familiar with treating fish diseases.

His color is good , but he just doesn't seem to be able to stay up long, tending to rest on the bottom with his rocks. He does take a quick swim now and then......so dunno.......maybe he's just slowing down with age.

anyway thanks again for all your help!