Sick Betta???

Question

My betta (that I've had for about a month) is very listless. He either sits on the bottom on his side or kind of floats on his tail - nose up. He still has a very healthy appetite and his color is still good. There is an oily film on the top of the water. I have changed his water several times and the water temp is good (it was cold one day - and I replaced about 1/2 of the water and put a lamp on him). Any ideas?

Answer 1

If he doesn't get more active in the warmer water try adding melafix to the water for a few days, he may have a minor infection of some sort. Melafix is cheap and readily available at most pet stores.

Answer 2

Per an earlier comment...A healthy betta will usually be active in between bubble blowing. He will eat. If he hangs at the surface, it will usually be right under the nest (in a nest guarding position). Or it will be because he is actually sucking up air to build more bubbles (so you can see him taking a gulp of air, then going to the nest and blowing a nice bubble to add to his collection).

A sick betta will not be active. He may not eat. He will hang at the surface with clamped fins, not move around much at all. The easiest way to tell a sick betta blowing bubbles apart from a healthy betta blowing a nest is by observing the bubbles themselves. If they are spare and scattered here and there (as in, one here and one there) and if they are large, they usually are sick betta bubbles. If they are smaller, in a large cluster, especially in a corner or under a leave, then they are a nest and perfectly normal.

Beyond that, I don't know what's wrong with your betta, but you can get a universal medicine that you add each day to the water for a week between water changes. Sorry, I don't remember the name, I'm out right now. Any good pet supply store that sells bettas will know what it is. No guarantee that it will help, but I have used it in the past when my bettas were acting "pokey" and it perked them up very nicely.

Answer 3

Healthy appetite but listless is classic signs of the water being just a bit too cool. Assuming he is in a bowl, change all of the water every 2-3 days to keep his environment healthy. Even with the lamp it could still be a bit cool for him. He will do best and be most active between 76F and about 84 F

MM

Answer 4

my aunt is a vetanarian so i know alot about animals and fish i have a betta here is how i got mine better...............My thermometer (PetsMart Top Fin Floating Aquarium Thermometer) says his tank hovers around 78-80 degrees F, which is comfortable enough for a betta fish. Higher temperature are recommended for a sick betta, but it's hard to find a heater small enough for a 2.5 gallon tank. The lamp I place over his tank keeps it as warm as it is, so I will see how he handles the medication regime first.

My betta fish med of choice is BettaFix Remedy, listed as an "all-natural, antibacterial remedy for betta, for use on all wounds, ulcers, mouth fungus and tail & fin rot. Promotes rapid regrowth of damaged fins and skin."

The medication contains antibacterial agents and a form of Tea Tree Oil (an herbal essence known for its antimicrobial action). I immediately applied the proper dosage for a tank of this size. The scent of the tea tree oil was noticable - which hearted me.

Next, I added a small amount (the recommended dosage) of Aquarium Salt for freshwater fish. This natural stress reducer, combined with adequate tank temps and the BettaFix Remedy, will hopefully do the trick. The medication cycle is seven days, to be repeated if there is no change.

Here we go, with a day-by-day update on poor little Boromor. He's a warrior, so I feel hopeful he will have a full recovery.

Answer 5

i had the same problem a few months ago...do not change the water too often (more than once a week) as this will cause undue stress to the fish, keep it in a warm spot so the water stays at a good temp just how u are doign and place a small mirror by the tank..it works wonders...my fish had stopped eating for over a week till i put him in a warmer spot and placed a mirror next to him ...now he just stares into the mirror happily all day and is doing much better...he is almot 2 yrs old now

Answer 6

Well, I haven't had a betta for about 26 years. It does sound like he is blowing a bubble nest. To cheer up your betta try putting a mirror in front of him for about 3 min. He will think it is another betta and start posing. Good Luck. They are very sweet fish. Nana