i need help quick!!!?

Question

my betta (fish) is laying on the bottem of his bowl! he started when winter came. we warm his bowl but he just comes up for air only. he is losing color but not floating on the top of the bowl (that means he is dead) we do not want him to suffer. if any one is having these problems with there fish tell me so i know if my fish is the only one with these problems.

thx!!

Answer 1

my fish was doing the same thing! He wouldn't even eat. After long thought, and asking the same thing on Yahoo answers, I figured out what to do. I changed his bowl, didn't warm the bowl, and put less water in. He's doing great now, and eating like a little pig. All of his color is back. hope this helps!

Answer 2

Try doing a water change to get more oxygen in the water, and add a small pinch of salt. Don't change all the water, but what you do put back in pour from a distance so you make bubbles in the water, this gets the most possible oxygen in. This is just fishy first aid. I have never had a betta before, but I do know they're tropical, so warming the bowl is good. If the bowl is near a window, move it. A window could be causing the temperature in the bowl to change a lot. The water you change, may I add, should be warm like the fishes' own water. Otherwise you will shock it. If you want to be sure, Let the water sit out on a counter or table of at least an hour so it gets near the temperature of your fish bowl. How are you keeping your betta water warm? are you using a fishtank heater? Or are you doing it some other way?

Answer 3

I think you gave us the best clue to the problem when you siad the problem began when winter came. He is probably cold. You said you warm his bowl, but sometimes it takes a while for the warming to really warm him up and get him acting normal again. You didn't say how big the bowl is or how often you warm it, but in a gallon or smaller bowl, the water will cool back off pretty quickly. If he gets cool for too long he will lose some color or turn a darker shade depending on what color he is. Light coloer betta get lighter and dark colored bettas get darker generally speaking.

The best thing to do: First, get a thermometer to keep up with the water temperature. It should be at least 74 and not more than 82 for best results. Bettas can live at lower temeratures, but they don't do well if it's too cold. Second, have him in the largest container you can. The larger the amount of water the better it holds it's temperature. If you can, get a heater for the container. You can get them at pet stores for even as small as a 1 gallon bowl. Make sure his container is not near windows or an outside door, those can cool the bowl alot. Try to keep the bowl in the warmest place in the house but away from a heater or heating vent as that can make the bowl too hot.

Best of luck!

Answer 4

Do a water change. The new water should be the same temp as the old water. You should use dechlorinated water or use a dechlorinator/water conditioner like Betta-safe or Aquasafe. If the bowl is dirty, clean it with only water. DO NOT use soap or you will kill your fish!

What is the temp of the water? If it gets cold then you add warm water repeatedly, the drastic changes are making him sick. You need to have a thermometer in/on the bowl so you can make sure the temperature does not ever go up and down more than a degree or two. Keep the bowl in an area where it will not receive too much hot or cold air - not near a door or window or over a radiator or heat vent. It should stay around 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Examine your fish closely. Are its fins ragged? Is there any fuzzy white stuff on it? Does it look like it's been salted? Does it have tiny flecks of gold or copper on its sides or gills when you shine a light on it? Is there anything like threads or worms hanging off it anywhere? Are its gills red? Do its scales stick out like the scales on a pine cone? Are its eyes cloudy or popped out? Any of these are signs of illness and require treatment. Poor water conditions result in illness.

You need to be changing out part of your fish's water every three or four days. Only feed once daily, no more than he will eat in five minutes, and scoop out the uneaten food, otherwise it will rot and produce bad water conditions. You need to clean the bowl thoroughly with water only about once a week.

The best thing for your betta's health is to buy a filtered, heated tank from three to five gallons in size. If you happen to have an empty ten gallon tank lying around, though, that would be fine. I have a betta in a ten and he loves it. With a tank, you only have to do a partial water change once a week and you can vacuum the gravel at the same time using a gravel vacuum to do both jobs. Swish the filter pad in the used tank water and put it back. You can use the same filter pad until it starts to fall apart. The bacteria growing on it help to break down your fish's waste and keep the water good.

Answer 5

I haven't had a beta for a while but I remember that , when he was in a solo tank he would often sink to the bottom (remaining upright).

First check the basics: is the water good? not poluted with over feeding? Temperature?

all of these are ok? Can you borrow someone elses' betta and put it in an adjacent tank or floatit in a plastic bag in in the same tank. That should perk him right up. Betas seem to thrive on competition.

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Answer 6

Bettas most often don't float when they die, they don't have the same swim bladder as other fish.

Answer 7

You can call the pet store that you bought your fish from and ask them for help. Tell them what you are observing and ask them if they have any suggestions to help you with.

Answer 8

sounds like he is dying, betas live for about 18 mos. to 28 mos. and if you bought him from a petshop you may not know how old he was in the first place, also you might get specs from a fish store on ph and acid balances, you might need to add or delete something from his water care. my best advice would be to call a fish store asap and tell them whats happening and see what they suggest.

Answer 9

u shod check http://www.fishinthe.net/html/fishguide/index.php?nt=1

Answer 10

he is getting old get another fish or get more food or go to fish.com or yahoo search