Betta Fish?

Question

My betta fish is on its side at the top of the tank. He hasn't been eating as much and he's looks like he's breathing very rapidly. What is wrong with him? Please help!

Answer 1

sounds like swim bladder disorder, but his won't cause him to breathe rapidly. there's got to be more going on here, does he have any discoloration? any patches or speckles? bloating? scales sticking out? when was the last time you changed the water?

I suggest getting a turkey baster and sucking out about 50% of the water then replacing it with new conditioned water. until we get a little more details I can't help any more than that.

*edit*
to the person above me, they can live 5+ years if cared for properly. the key word being properly, a vase or bowl does not count as a good home.

*edit again*
:) yay I've been quoted, I feel so flattered! lol feeding a pea is a great idea unless the fish isn't eating, because then he won't eat it and it will rot. but you can always try it.

Answer 2

I don't know. I've had my 2 bettas for almost 2 years now. No, they aren't in together..lol. Sometimes they look like they're resting or something, but if you tap the glass, you can see that they're fine. They eat a lot less than they did when I first got them, so I don't think that's anything concerning because they act fine. I've never seen mine on their sides, though. Yours may be about to go.

Make sure you don't have your water too hot or too cold when you put them back in after cleaning the tank and definitely be sure to put enough of that liquid in the water that makes it suitable for them.

Answer 3

It sounds like a swim bladder problem to me. Bettas don't "play dead" and when they are on their sides it normally means they have Swim Bladder Disorder.

How much are you feeding him? Does he look bloated? Constipation is known for giving a betta SBD. Try fasting him for three days and on the fourth day, give him about two or three bite size pieces of the insides of a de-shelled thaw green pea.

Other things can cause SBD too like internal bacteria infections, internal parasites, an injury. Whatever you do, DO NOT EUTHANIZE HIM!! Bettas can recover from Swim Bladder Disorder and they are not in pain from it.

Check out this link for more information on Swim Bladder Disorder.

http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/12/338/

Answer 4

you dont ought to purchase yet another tank in simple terms flow to walmart or petsmart and purchase a gold fish bowl and he or she could be happy that way she will devour and don't problem approximately gettin attacked! If a woman that wasn’t ripe, or waiting for spawning, might have entered a men tank, it’s a threat that she might’ve been attacked, as non-ripe women absolutely everyone isn't tolerated in the area of the nest. by potential of no longer fleeing, a woman shows her readiness to spawn. definite, some cases whilst you're no longer careful whilst attempting too breed bettas, the male will attack the female and he can injure the female, the ladies absolutely everyone seems to be lots smaller than the boys. A Male and a woman: in the wild, women human beings evade men, different than throughout the time of mating. whilst cohabiting in tanks, men might kill women human beings, and are in many cases saved aside till (a) they are juvenile siblings, (b) they are breeding, (c) there's a partition, or (d) the tank is sufficiently enormous for the female to flee attack. generally, previously breeding, breeders use this manner of field to allow lady show with out risking harm by potential of the male. 2 or extra women human beings: Bettas are no longer training fish, yet in an excellent tank with many hiding areas, lady bettas can cohabit. whilst 2 women human beings share a tank, one generally bullies the different, despite the fact that, 4 or extra women human beings will set up a hierarchy permitting non violent co-existence, although, women human beings residing in community must be monitored for aggressive women human beings.

Answer 5

This is a swim bladder disorder as well as general sign of stress. Generally it's caused by poor water conditions, over feeding and/or a bacteria infection. To start with I'd be sure to change the water more frequently, and try to keep him warm. (Warm for bettas is 80-85F) Then I'd treat for bacteria infection, and constipation.

General treatment:
- Temps between 80-85F
- Clean water, but be sure to keep the old and new water about the same temp.
-

Treatment for constipation:
- Fast for 2 days
- Cook a pea, peel it, and feed him 1/2
- Feed once a day about as much as his eye, and skip one day a week.

Treatment for bacteria infection
- Melafix, and/or Primafix (Or just trisulfa)

Answer 6

he might have swim bladder, change the water, using aged water, bottled water or treated water, dont change more than 40-50% of the water.

look what i found from kylie anne from Yahoo! answers!!

"could be swim bladder problem. try getting a frozen pea and soak it in hot water until the water has cooled to room temp and the pea no longer floats. peel off the skin and feed your betta a few bite sized pieces.

it also could be getting sick, or could be cold."

heres the site where i found the betta fish question.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070212205810AALZ7VE


EDIT* i just realized that the kylie anne person is above me. =] good thing i decided to quote her..

Answer 7

Dirty tank water? Trying to breath? Clean tank and add 1 tps of non-iodized salt per gal of declorinated water and warm it to 76-80. Bettas can live for years if taken care of properly. www.bettatalk.com..Good Luck!! ><>:)

Answer 8

Kyle Anne is right on target...listen to her!

and to the poster above me, Anna, good job quoting! Not only is it the respectful and honest thing to do but it really feels great to be quoted. Hats off to you!

MM

Answer 9

CHANGE THE WATER. Use bottle water if you can,wait for the water to become room temp. They make medicine you can put in the water.Good luck, they are great fish.

Answer 10

they like to play dead. don't flush him just yet. mine does it all the time and thats what the guy at the fish store told me he is doing.