is my betta fish sick?

Question

when he stays still, he's sort of in a lopsided position, he's at the surface and sort of sideways. Is he sick? what should I do?

Answer 1

He might be ill, or he might be old. Bettas generally live only about 2 years and then exhibit signs of old age: they don't move much and don't eat much, then they die. If he is sick, he will usually have some external sign on his body such as a white coating (fungus) or swelling. In that case, there is a great remedy called BettaFix. It is made with Tea Tree oil and you buy it at the Pet shop. Follow the directions on the bottle. It worked for me when my Betta had what looked like a gill fluke. Good Luck! I know how much those little guys can become one of the family.

Answer 2

Hi,
My 7 year old daughter was given a beta fish for her birthday over 2 years ago. He's (although we refer to "her" as Princess Feline) always been very slow moving and hides a lot between the plant we have in there. Recently she started exhibiting signs of old age (as I've learned through another response on this site--thank you!.) At first we thought the fish may have been reacting to a leaf from a poinsettia plant that fell into the bowl. The leaf may have been in there for 1 or 2 days before I caught it. I immediately prepared another bowl of water and let that sit for 24 hours and then switched the fish into that bowl. I also rinsed the plant thoroughly. I've changed the water a few times since, hoping to remove any toxicity from the fish and plant. Anyway, the fish's health has deteriorated. She has been laying on her side all day for the past 3 days. She will come up for food, but returns to the bottom of the tank. We believe she is dying a slow death and it's hard to witness. Any ideas on how we can help this fish further. Also, any suggestions on how to explain this to my 7 year old daughter and what to do with the fish after it expires? We have explained that Feline is getting old. We thought about burying the fish in our backyard. We are in the middle of winter and hopefully will be able to find soft ground to dig a small whole....Thanks for your help!

Answer 3

How long since you have done a water change? Sounds like he is suffering from poor water quality. You should be changing about 30-40% of the water every week to keep him healthy and happy.

There is a product called "Betta Fix" that might help. Check with your lfs (local fish store), they should have it and be able to advise you on its use.

Also, bettas need a good high protein food, preferably about 45-50% protein. I feed mine "Betta Min" by Tetra Products.

In the wild, bettas live up to 7 years, in our "care", they are lucky to last 2 years...

BTW, you morons who flush live fish down the toilet ought to be left to lie in wet feces with very little oxygen. That is what is down there, not water! You condemn the pet that depended on you for its' care to a slow and horrendous death. Think about that for a little while.... Karma guarantees that act will come back to you some time in the future. You may not remember, but you will wonder why life is treating you so bad.

Answer 4

it could be any number of things -- try cleaning his water first and add some bettafix or use melafix at 1/3 strength. it is the same thing and you can get a huge bottle of melafix for slightly more money. if that perks him up keep giving him some once a day for the next few days. if not you can try maracide -- its more like a medicine.

try feeding him chopped up green peas -- hold them by his head with tweezers if he doesn't go for them -- this will help if he is constipated or has swim bladder.

if he starts getting bloated and his scales start sticking out its called dropsy and it really hard to cure -- you can try using maracyn and maracyn2 -- they are both antibiotic pills and if you use them together its like a super-antibiotic for just about anything.

Answer 5

i found this info on your fish
Swim Bladder Disorder Swollen abdomen, difficulty swimming upright, floating sideways at the top or hovering along the bottom of the tank. http://www.healthybetta.com/illcure.html
hope this helps :o)

here is another website describing other things to watch for and preventions and treatments
http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm

Answer 6

My betta did that, but then I knew he was sick.. Poor guy kinda got big, really big.. he like doubled in size.. More or less pulled a puffer fish on me.. and over inflated himself.. Just watch him, if he starts getting big, I'd get him out of your tank, fish isn't easy to clean up.. And I have no idea what was wrong with him.

Answer 7

I have had 2 beta fish that have done that. They've done it on and off for quite a while, but they never died. (I flushed them down the toilet a week after, however.)

Answer 8

fish is dying.