Sick Betta

[metanoia]

I suspect it is a swim bladder disorder, as he spends all his time floating near the surface mostly on his side, when he does swim it really seems an effort for him to get far below the surface. He was in a Bio-orb 30L which is when the problem started but I've moved him now into my new 200L tank. I was hoping that he was just having problems with the water flow in the Bio-orb (someone in the aquarium shop said that was a strong possibility as Bettas don't like the smaller Bio-orbs)

His new home has made no difference, I've separated him from the other fish in a floating breeder tank to stop the other fish hassling him in his weakened state (not that they really were) and also so I can regulate what he eats. I have starved him for several days and tried him with hulled cooked pea. Water levels are all fine and other fish (3 Mollies, 6 Pristella Tetra and 5 glowlight tetra) are all fine. It's a planted aquarium.

He's been like this now for a couple of weeks and I don't know what else to do, he really looks unhappy. What should I do?

 

[loraxchick]

Dont feed him for a few days. hopefully will clear on its own
CHEERS

 

[metanoia]

Well I tried not feeding him for a few days and still no change. I've added some aquarium salt on the advice of the fish shop, but that's made no difference.

He just floats on his side all day unless something disturbs him and he'll have a bit of half hearted swim.

This has been going on for over 6 weeks now and I'm starting to think it would be kinder to put him out of his misery, but I really don't want to if he can be saved.

 

[loraxchick]

can he still eat and get to the surface to breathe?
while he may look really pathetic having swim bladder issues, if he can eat and breathe at the surface, no use putting him out of his 'misery'. Get some more tall plants so he has a comfy place to rest near the surface.
Many fish with SB disorders can live a somewhat normal life (even if they look silly all listy).
Id wait on the euthinizing. Think of him as a "special" fish.
cheers

 

[metanoia]

Thanks for that. He still eats as long as you put it very close to him, and he never leaves the surface. I'll see if I can find some big enough plants to reach the surface of the tank, or would some kind of floating plant be better?