I have had this betta for a little over a year now. I feed him 1 piece of bloodworm or brine shrimp every day so I know he is not overfed. About a week ago I noticed he was unable to get away from the surface of the water. He still agressively attacks the food when he is fed but if it starts to sink he can't go more then an inch down into the water. Sometimes I find him on his side as well. 2 nights ago he seemed like he was fine again since I saw him near the bottom but the following morning he was on top again and has stayed that way, still with a healthy appetite. I'm guessing he is having trouble with his swim bladder. Any ideas on how I can help him out? Please don't say his days are over just flush him.
2007-04-20 07:32:17 · 8 answers · asked by BoarderChik 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Sounds like a constipation problem since it went away and came back. I would suggest adding some flake food to his diet, that should help things quite a bit.
MM
2007-04-20 07:35:47 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You asre looking at one of two possible things... Dropsy which is not cureable... or swimbladder disease. Change his water...100 percent just changeing part of it will still leave ammonia behind...and there is nothing about ammonia that is good to a fish. Make sure the water is dechlorinated and warm..bettas like 78-80 degree water...do not go any higher then 82 degrees. Give him 24 hours in a clean tank...if he isnt better fast him for 24 hours...then give him a few peices(the same size as a betta pellet) sized piece of cooked/blanched shelled green pea..nothing else. Give him another day then feed him pellets or frozen foods...freeze dried and flake foods are known culprits to back up a betta... If he doesnt get better and his scales start protruding outwards like a pinecone..then it is dropsy and you can keep him comfortable till he is gone..or humanely euthenise him. Shaz
2007-04-22 12:50:39 · answer #2 · answered by Shaz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had this happen to several gouramis a while back. Sounds like a problem with the swim bladder and I was told his days are numbered. But does he kinda swim sideways too? Mine also did this. I couldn't just flush him, I euthanized him. It was sad. I was told to fill a bowl with crushed ice and water and (sit down, it sounds cruel) and put the fish in it. It will kill him right away and I was told it's painless. Then you can flush him. Or just wait until he dies. It could take a while. The choice is yours. It's up to you. I'd do more research first though, just in case. Just so you know, I finally did this when the fish seemed SO exhausted from trying to swim correctly he just started letting the "current" push him around. I couldn't stand to see him suffer any longer.
2007-04-20 08:24:41 · answer #3 · answered by The Cat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well he could be constipated, or bloated. In which case just fasting him may help. If fasting doesn't work try a piece of cooked shelled pea. Some claim salt helps, but I'm of the opinion it is not harmful in low doses(1 teaspoon per 2.5-5 gallons for betta). Salt baths seem to just kill fish from stress.
Keep in mind swim bladder issues are generally a sign of other conditions like ammonia/nitrate poisoning, or bacteria infections. You should check out the betta talk disease page. Also be sure to keep his water clean, and warm (75-85F).
2007-04-20 07:48:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well...to be honest..I think the rich diet of bloodworm and/or brine shrimp everyday has finally got to him. They are so rich that the sugars make the fish almost hyper, but also they overfill their swim bladders so they float to the top. I would suggest letting him of the food for a couple of days..then feed him Betta pellets in less amounts that you would usually feed him on anything, about the size of hi eyeball will do as that's the size of his stomach. Feed him the bloodworm/brine shrimp only once a week at most.
Leonie and Merlin (the Betta who's ALWAYS hungry!)
2007-04-20 07:38:17 · answer #5 · answered by evil_loony_leo 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I have had betta fish for years. I have found when they start acting that way it normally means they are nearing "the end" and it will soon be "flush time"
However I will note that my current red one did this and I did a complete cleaning of his bowl including boiling the rocks and when he went back in he was just great again. I wondered if something was in the water or I had waited to long to clean it, even though I had not changed the schedule. But I dont know, you may try this. If it doesnt work, I am sorry to say you may need to find a replacement for him!
Good luck
2007-04-20 07:42:34 · answer #6 · answered by KUJayhawksfan* 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Constipation Prob.
2007-04-27 12:11:04 · answer #7 · answered by Chris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some fish can aquire swim bladder problems from swallowing air or too much food. here is an answer given to a similar question.
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070306190459AAbgzlo
2007-04-20 07:41:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋