Do betta fish float when they're dead?

Question

Over the past few days, one of my betta fish has seemed kind of lethargic and not eating or swimming around much (this one is the more "energetic" of the two). Yesterday I noticed it sitting at the bottom of the tank, and didn't come up when I put food in. Today, it is in the same positioning, and is turning a brownish color. It had been bright pink before. Should I go ahead and flush it? or is there a way to make it healthy again?

I got the two betta fish from a friend that I worked with when she moved away. It's a fairly small tank, with a divider in the middle, so the two fish are never swimming together. Both are male. I do use a dechlorinator with the water when I change it (usually every few weeks or so).

Also, I don't know how old he is; I acquired them in July.

It is now flopped over on its side and even more brown. I'm pretty sure it's dead. Thanks for all your help though!

Also, I DO know that if male bettas are put together they will kill each other. They were NOT swimming together. The tank is a special one made for bettas... there is a divider in the middle, and no way that one could get from one side to the other.

Answer 1

When ours died it stayed on the bottom. No float.

Answer 2

Before you decide it's dead, you need to be sure before flushing it. All you need to do is stick your hand in and move it around the fish. If it lets you grab it, it's either dead or dying. Try to cup it in your hand and bring it out the the water. A live fish can be seen gasping for air with its gills when out of water. Don't worry, a few seconds out of water will not kill your fish, if it's not already dead. If it's dead it will not respond to any of this, then go ahead and flush it. And, by the way, bettas are "chinese fighting fish," and one WILL kill the other if two are together. Next time you buy fish, please research these things.

Answer 3

i use 3 things regularly in my water -- a decholorinator, stress zyme which adds good bacteria and melafix which is a fish tonic. you might want to try some melafix if you don't see any change in your fish other than color dulling. they make bettafix which is the same thing only a lot more expensive.

is there any chance he got a chill? sometimes they get sick from overly cold water and act like that for a few days. when its cold you should leave the light on the tank a little longer to warm up the water a little more. good water temperatures for bettas are in the upper 70s.

if he doesn't eat his food you should take it out after a minute or two. uneaten food makes the water go bad fast.

Answer 4

how often are you changing your water? What size tank is he in? how many others and types are the other fish? is it male or female? (males have the long flowing fins, femails are a bit shorter and are usually a little muted in the color department)

did you dechlorinate your water with a dechlorinator? how old his he?

wow... seems like lots of questions, email me and i'll try to help if you want.....

good luck!

Answer 5

I have a betta fish and I think that if it was pink and is now turning a brown colour that it is safe to say...it might be dead....sorry....you should flush it before it starts to smell.

Answer 6

Dont flush it.It might live.Plus why would you want to lush a live fish kinda crule huh?

Answer 7

when betas die they float to the bottom unlike regular fish and then almost always three days later it will float up but yours might not be dead it might just be molting or sleeping.

Answer 8

Siamese fighting fish smart one.

Answer 9

You shouldn't have two betas in the same tank. I hope I'm misreading that.

If they are in the same tank, the other fish may be killing him - they do this to survive, it's in their genes.

Answer 10

He's definitely dying, but don't flush him! That is very painful.