Sick Betta

[mnmama]

Hi there, I have a betta, had it about 9 months. It is in a 10 gal tank, by itself. For a week now he has been sitting on the bottom of the tank hasn't been eating. If you tap the tank he will swim but just to the other side and goes back to the bottom. Last night he went behind the heater and rested himself on the suction cup so I took that opportunity to feed him. But it was like he can swim, get to the top... he got a couple pieces but that was like it wore him out and he immediatly went down to the bottom to "rest". I cleaned the tank last night... he does not have a bloated belly or obvious marks on his body. Anybody have any ideas? Before this week he was active and normal.......

 

[wilsonnw8]

Hi there, I have a betta, had it about 9 months. It is in a 10 gal tank, by itself. For a week now he has been sitting on the bottom of the tank hasn't been eating. If you tap the tank he will swim but just to the other side and goes back to the bottom. Last night he went behind the heater and rested himself on the suction cup so I took that opportunity to feed him. But it was like he can swim, get to the top... he got a couple pieces but that was like it wore him out and he immediatly went down to the bottom to "rest". I cleaned the tank last night... he does not have a bloated belly or obvious marks on his body. Anybody have any ideas? Before this week he was active and normal.......

Try feeding him a boiled blanched shelled pea dont panic too much as bettas can go a week without eating but it would be ideal if you could get him to eat some pea

 

[mnmama]

Hi there, I have a betta, had it about 9 months. It is in a 10 gal tank, by itself. For a week now he has been sitting on the bottom of the tank hasn't been eating. If you tap the tank he will swim but just to the other side and goes back to the bottom. Last night he went behind the heater and rested himself on the suction cup so I took that opportunity to feed him. But it was like he can swim, get to the top... he got a couple pieces but that was like it wore him out and he immediatly went down to the bottom to "rest". I cleaned the tank last night... he does not have a bloated belly or obvious marks on his body. Anybody have any ideas? Before this week he was active and normal.......

Try feeding him a boiled blanched shelled pea dont panic too much as bettas can go a week without eating but it would be ideal if you could get him to eat some pea

So just boil a pea and plop it in there? take the skin off, break it apart? I'm clueless

 

[wilsonnw8]

Try feeding him a boiled blanched shelled pea dont panic too much as bettas can go a week without eating but it would be ideal if you could get him to eat some pea
[/quote]
So just boil a pea and plop it in there? take the skin off, break it apart? I'm clueless
[/quote]

boil the pea leave it to cool peel it and break it up in your fingers so its bite sized for him

 

[mnmama]

My guy looks-- looked-- like your profile pic, now he is just pathetic looking, poor guy!

 

[mnmama]

Could he drown since he isn't coming up for air? I know nothing about Betta's-- got him for a gift. My boyfriend thinks we need to add more fish for him, but if he's sick that's probably not the best idea right?

 

[wilsonnw8]

Could he drown since he isn't coming up for air? I know nothing about Betta's-- got him for a gift. My boyfriend thinks we need to add more fish for him, but if he's sick that's probably not the best idea right?

dont add more fish he's best on his own even if he was healthy, Bettas are air breathers so if he doesnt come up for air its not good, do you have any meds you could give him? such as general tonics and anti bacs?

 

[mnmama]

Could he drown since he isn't coming up for air? I know nothing about Betta's-- got him for a gift. My boyfriend thinks we need to add more fish for him, but if he's sick that's probably not the best idea right?

dont add more fish he's best on his own even if he was healthy, Bettas are air breathers so if he doesnt come up for air its not good, do you have any meds you could give him? such as general tonics and anti bacs?

no, but I am going to go up after work and get some, what should I get, something for bacterial infection??? I am also going to get a testing kit so I can test the water, anything else?

 

[wilsonnw8]

Could he drown since he isn't coming up for air? I know nothing about Betta's-- got him for a gift. My boyfriend thinks we need to add more fish for him, but if he's sick that's probably not the best idea right?

dont add more fish he's best on his own even if he was healthy, Bettas are air breathers so if he doesnt come up for air its not good, do you have any meds you could give him? such as general tonics and anti bacs?

no, but I am going to go up after work and get some, what should I get, something for bacterial infection??? I am also going to get a testing kit so I can test the water, anything else?

yeah good plan does he have a filter and heater and do you have pics of him in his current state? anti bac cant do any harm, if you are in the UK in most pet stores you can buy a med called "general tonic" if you cant get us a pick that and some pea is the best bet then look at those water stats - how often do you do water changes?

 

[mnmama]

Could he drown since he isn't coming up for air? I know nothing about Betta's-- got him for a gift. My boyfriend thinks we need to add more fish for him, but if he's sick that's probably not the best idea right?

dont add more fish he's best on his own even if he was healthy, Bettas are air breathers so if he doesnt come up for air its not good, do you have any meds you could give him? such as general tonics and anti bacs?

no, but I am going to go up after work and get some, what should I get, something for bacterial infection??? I am also going to get a testing kit so I can test the water, anything else?

yeah good plan does he have a filter and heater and do you have pics of him in his current state? anti bac cant do any harm, if you are in the UK in most pet stores you can buy a med called "general tonic" if you cant get us a pick that and some pea is the best bet then look at those water stats - how often do you do water changes?

yes filter and heater, temp is good, like I said he was fine up until a week ago.. I hadn't changed the water in a while, with him being the only fish and having a filter I didn't think I needed to that often, plus the people at PETCO told me it was bad to change the water a lot because it had good bacteria in it. I live in US, but I'm sure I can find something similar, I will try to get a pic when I get home, but his fins/tail are just sad looking. when he swims he kinda looks like a human trying to swim underwater with no arms.... I know wierd description, but that's what came to mind

 

[wilsonnw8]

Have you noticed any changes in his fins? black edging for example? water changes are still needed Id do a water change about 40%

 

[mnmama]

Have you noticed any changes in his fins? black edging for example? water changes are still needed Id do a water change about 40%

they do look darker, but I figured that's because he's sitting on the bottom and they aren't fanned out. I did a change last night more than 40%. How often should I be changing it? checking water levels?

I just thought of something, my house is dry, so the water in the tank seems to evaporate quickly, so I am adding water to it at least once a week... probably a pitcher full.... does that hurt anything? I let it sit for 24 hours before adding it to the tank.

 

[wilsonnw8]

Have you noticed any changes in his fins? black edging for example? water changes are still needed Id do a water change about 40%

they do look darker, but I figured that's because he's sitting on the bottom and they aren't fanned out. I did a change last night more than 40%. How often should I be changing it? checking water levels?

I just thought of something, my house is dry, so the water in the tank seems to evaporate quickly, so I am adding water to it at least once a week... probably a pitcher full.... does that hurt anything? I let it sit for 24 hours before adding it to the tank.

That doesnt hurt anything and you can buy dechloronator for the water to make it extra safe, if his fins seem blacker at the edges and he's not swimming as much he may have fin rot, we would need some pics to be sure but you might want to get meds for fin rot just in case

 

[mnmama]

Have you noticed any changes in his fins? black edging for example? water changes are still needed Id do a water change about 40%

they do look darker, but I figured that's because he's sitting on the bottom and they aren't fanned out. I did a change last night more than 40%. How often should I be changing it? checking water levels?

I just thought of something, my house is dry, so the water in the tank seems to evaporate quickly, so I am adding water to it at least once a week... probably a pitcher full.... does that hurt anything? I let it sit for 24 hours before adding it to the tank.

That doesnt hurt anything and you can buy dechloronator for the water to make it extra safe, if his fins seem blacker at the edges and he's not swimming as much he may have fin rot, we would need some pics to be sure but you might want to get meds for fin rot just in case

he's not swimming at all, unless I tap the side then he'll move, to the other side, he doesn't even come up for food, he use to come to the top when you just walked by it! But I guess all I can really do is get some medicine and see.... I'll try to post a pic, leaving work now, thanks for the advice.... better stop at home first to make sure he's still around before buying everything!

 

[Honeythorn]

the people at PETCO told me it was bad to change the water a lot because it had good bacteria in it.

WRONG.

There isn't much bacteria in the water itself or even in the gravel. You main bacterial colony is in your filter.


You should change 30-50% of the water once every week.