and I mean like..constantly, not the normal every few minutes. It looks like he's catching food from the surface every second but I already fed him this morning (and I only fed 3 pallets) and theres not food in the water. This always causes another problem, he starts to float after gulping so much air. He looks like he can't swim down (infact its hard for him to even swim forward!) and he just swims a little and gulps swims and gulp...Whats wrong with him?? This is the second time, last time he also keeps gulping air from the surface and ended up just floating at the top for 2 days and returned to normal (he has only been normal for 3 days). Can someone help please?
remember: he keeps gulping air THEN he starts floating and find it hard to swim (after a few hours of gulping air..). Also I just did a water change a few hours ago. No symptoms of bloated belly or any unhealthy look or behaviour (not constipated). The last time this happened, there wasN'T a water change done...
thx
2007-03-10 13:29:30 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Betas also breathe air. Change his water more often. Stop feeding him everyday, every other day is better. Get new food, the food may be rancid as well. You should change food once a month to be on the safe side. Its cheap just toss out old food, mine have never ate the whole can, and I keep 3 betas. Rancid food causes fish to float.
2007-03-11 08:00:47 · answer #1 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Betta fish get their oxygen from the surface of the water by gulping the air. That is completely normal. Im not sure about him floating at the top. My two betta gulp air from the top but then spit the air bubble back out so they can swim around. When you change the water, do you use just regular tap water, or bottled water, or what. Because the chemicals in tap water can and will eventually kill your betta, that may be part of the problem...hope this helps
2007-03-11 13:48:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This sounds like a swim bladder problem. Bettas usually "gulp" at the surface - they can breathe atmospheric air, but the fact that he can't submerge is a problem. This is often related to the type of food or amount he's eating. A water change and withholding food for a couple of days might be all he needs. See the link below - swim bladder is a little more than 1/2 way down the page
2007-03-10 13:38:58 · answer #3 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bettas are made to breathe water from the surface because of their labrynth breathing apparatus; however, this gasping at the surface may be because the water is at unsafe, toxic levels. I would suggest getting a master test kit to see what your water parameters are at. They should read 0 ppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrites and 40 or less ppm nitrates. If your ammonia and/or nitrites are above 0, you need to do frequent water changes to bring down these levels. You can help the situation by adding some Cycle or Bio-Spira. If you don't have a filter, I would suggest getting one to help with filtering out the debris, etc. that contributes to the bad water. I should think a water test will answer your questions, but if your water is good, you may still need a filter to circulate a little more oxygen into the water. This will reduce your betta's need to gulp air at the surface reducing his chances of intaking too much air which causes him to float improperly. Good luck!
2007-03-10 13:37:45 · answer #4 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gulping
2016-10-16 11:27:49 · answer #5 · answered by berceir 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be honest I can't think of a single thing that would cause a healthy betta to gulp that much air other than a mental condition.
MM
2007-03-10 13:35:36 · answer #6 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Betta's originate from swamps in Asia with poor water quality. To cope with stagnant poorly oxygenated water they breath from the surface. It is most likely just natural instinct. I wouldn't worry about it.
2007-03-10 13:54:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You already have some great answers,nest building,gill parasites ,poor water quality,swim bladder infection, they do normally spend alot of time at the top, are maybe its trying to escape.
2007-03-10 14:13:57 · answer #8 · answered by Hey Moe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i probably should not even answer here since I only know a little about fish,BUT i remember an old boyfriend of mine had a betta that did this and he said that they make a nest out of bubbles and that is what he was trying to do.
2007-03-10 13:36:39 · answer #9 · answered by good girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the water might not be safe for him there is some drops that i use for mine i got them at petsmart and when you cleen the water you just put 6 drops in and thats it and it is safe to do it with the fish in there
2007-03-10 14:39:24 · answer #10 · answered by bubbles 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋