Help! My betta fish is dying!?

Question

He started off on the bottom of the tank face first with his fins up behind him. Now he is on his side and can't turn over. He keeps moving his fins trying to get up, but can't. I can't see any parasites on him or diseases of any sort. I read about swim bladder disorder, but that area doesn't seem to be enlarged like it should be if that is the problem. Please help! I lost another one a few weeks ago already. I've only had this one for about 6 months. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong & I really want to help him live!! : (

Answer 1

do you have him in aheated filtered tank of at least 2.5 gallons? bettas are tropical fish and need heaters, and kepin anyfish without a filter is like keeping a person in a room without a toilet. celaning it out a few times a week even is still pretty gross.

bettas will be okay in unheateed, unfiltered tanks for a while, but their health will slowly deteriorate. they thrive in 5 gallons with clean water kept at 78°F to 80°F.

if you betta doens't have a filter and doens't have a heater he may just finally be dying of poor health. you can probably save him if you get him a proper tank and keep it at the proper heat. add some stress coat (directed amount) and put him in a bag with the water he is in now. float the bag in the new tnak water until the water temp in mthe bag is equal to the new tnak water. alternate his normal food with freeze dried blood worms every other day for a week. they're super rich in nutrienyts so they'll help him bounce back.

however, if he starts to show signs of disease he'll need treatment. I'd be happy to help with any farther questions aobut disease, treatment, or care.
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Answer 2

Have you used dechlorinizer in the water? It is probably too late now if you haven't but if you get another betta make sure to use it. I heard feeding a betta a defrosted skinless pea will help with bladder problems so you might want to try that. If it isn't a bladder problem like you said, maybe it is the condition of the water. Do you partially change the water in the tank every 8-9 days? Is the temperature fairly warm? It doesn't sound like a disease, it sounds like either old age or a water problem.

Answer 3

Get an AP master test kit for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, kh, gh, and ph. It all comes together. Bettas prefer softer water with a lower ph (5.5-7, but up to 9 is ok so long as it is stable). The problem with soft water are ph swings, if ph rises or drops too fast, the fish could die. Test ph in the water when you put it in, and then the next day. There should be no difference. The ammonia and nitrite should be zero. Nitrate can be up to 40.

If not those water parameters, is there soap of chemicals getting in the water. When you clean the tank do you use anything? Do you rinse traces of soap off your hands well before handling anything in the tank? Soap is a big killer of fish.

Answer 4

I am really sorry and you probably will not like to hear this but I do not think that your fish is going to survive, fish go down really quick, If this keeps happening it might be something you are doing without being rude, It is trial and error I have had a tank now for 3 years but at the beginning all sorts of horrible things were happening, may I suggest that you do a 25% Water Change, You need also to clean the gravel with a syphon Vacuum to lift all the fish waste as I think something is polluting your water, You need to do regular Water changes, and add a bacterial supplement every week (nutrafin cycle is really good for this) and maybe some nutrafin waste control, This breaks down larger matter on the bottom so that it can go through the filter, I presume you have a filter? Also a heater in the tank to keep the water at a constant temp, When you do a Water change are you de - chlorinating the water? again Nutrafin Aqua + is great for this takes all the chlorine and stuff out of our tap water to make it safe for the fish, Good luck,

Answer 5

is he on his side on the top? that would be swim bladder. there are a couple of issues to be addressed.

first and foremost is water quality. how big is his bowl and how often is the water changed? a little round bowl changed once a week is a really bad answer. try moving him up to a 2 1/2 gallon tank -- 10 dollars at petsmart. you don't need filtration if you change the water weekly. he will do fine in that with weekly water changes. oh -- cover it with a piece of plastic needle-craft canvas. it costs 30-40 cents and you can get a sheet at walmart or a fancy colored one at any craft shop. i like black -- it matches the tank trim.

the problem is bettas are living creatures that eat and poop. both these activites make for ammonia which is deadly for your fish. in a little bowl a little piece of leftover food can make enough ammonia to kill your betta in a very short time.

is your betta warm and toasty? in the winter cool temperatures can shock a betta and bring on much stress. if you don't have a heater try putting him under a warm lamp during the day and on top of the highest furniture in the house at night -- like kitchen cabinets and stuff like that. warm air rises and once it is above window height there is no draft -- it just collects.

Answer 6

Are you using water conditioner? Changing the water at least weekly? Over feeding would also kill a Betta. My son is on his second Betta. His first Betta lived for almost four years. Betta fish have a life span of about three to four years. We change the water at least weekly and use water conditioner every time. We only feed the Betta a couple of pellets of food every day. Betta fish do not need much food at all. I hope your fish makes it.

Answer 7

I am sorry but it is too late to help him. 6 months is a lot for a fish to live. Be happy that you have kept one. I am sorry but it will die. I think you should be happy. Make sure it is in one tank alone. I have noticed that people put them in tiny tanks but I had put mine in a large tank and it lived for about 2 years. Maybe next time you should try this. Just know that 6 months is a lot.

Answer 8

The only thing I can think of is feeding it to much or the water temperature not being right.

Answer 9

flush him...