So, I have a betta fish that I prefer didn't die. His name is Oscar and he is my dorm pet.
Anyway, as of late he's been floating at the top of his tank. He has also lost color around his gill area - he's turning a brownish/tan color instead of his usual blue/red. He also seems to be sitting vertical a lot and doesn't swim around much. He doesn't eat much either. What is wrong with him, and what do I do to make him better? Thanks!
2007-05-23 16:47:20 · 12 answers · asked by xstarxlilyx 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Brownish tan coloration change sets off warning bells for a disease called velvet to me. Certainly it could be the water conditions previously mentioned, but if all of those seem to check out ok, consider velvet as a potential cause. Shine a flashlight on the discolored area and if it has a golden or reddish metallic shine then velvet is most certainly the case.
If this is the case, treat with a good parasite medication such as Maroxy or Maracide and keep the tank light off and the tank covered as much as possible during the treatment time.
MM
2007-05-23 17:07:22 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would help if we knew more about his living conditions. They are a tropical species, and do best if they have a heater in their tank (yes, tank - they should have at least a gallon of water, 2.5-5 gallons is even better) so the water temperature is around 75-80o. Outside this range, they tend not to be very active and don't eat well.
How often do you change the water? If he's in a tank, there should be a partial water change of around 25% once a week. If he's in a bowl without a filter, there should be a 100% change about every 2-3 days, depending on the amount of water it holds. You should also be carefult not to overfeed him, because this causes ammonia and nitrite to build up in the water, and these are toxic to your fish.
Also, how long have you had the fish? Bettas have an average life span of around 3 years, although they can live up to 9.
2007-05-23 16:57:14 · answer #2 · answered by copperhead 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well you want to make sure his home is clean.
Always condition the water with a dechlorinator.
Is he bloated at all? as long as he's eating at least 2-3 pellets a day then he's in good shape and you have hope!
Bettas will become very lathargic and dull if their water is too cold. on amazon.com you can easily order a 7 watt heater especially made for environments 2-5 gallons. ideally you want your bettas in water that's 76-83 F they're tropical fish who thrive in warm water.
Add some freeze dried blood worms to his diet and see if that helps. there is something called "bettafix remedy" that Has been a real saving grace for me. I've delt with fin rot, fungus and listlessness for whatever reason and this medication is great. It's derived mainly from a relative to the tea tree and also helps destress the fish. (btw sick fish need warmer water to heal)
Hope that helps!
2007-05-23 16:58:29 · answer #3 · answered by youthfultalent 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Did you cycle your tank before getting him? chances are your water quality has gone bad since there is no good bacteria in your tank to break down your fishes waste. You betta will need a 3-5gallon+ tank as a minimum with a filter and a heater....you will also need to buy a test kit and test your water parameters regularly, make sure you do 25% water changes every week or when your test results have spiked.
2016-05-21 06:54:43 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The exact same thing happened to my fish. It's called Swim Bladder Disease and can be caused by a few things:
-lack of variety in diet
-when the fish come to the surface of the water, they gulp in too much air
-overfeeding
The condition affacts their boyancy and they find it hard to float or swim properly. (Mine was swimming sideways). Try feeding it small amounts of peas, it's supposed to help.
Read these link, they're very helpful:
http://bettas.fishjunkies.com/Disorders/sbd.php
http://www.healthybetta.com/articles/Illness%20Diagonsis/sbd.html
Fish CAN recover from the condition, but some don't. Good luck, i hope your fish becomes better.
2007-05-24 00:50:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check the water conditions, if there are too many nitrates, or nitrites it can kill a betta. also the Ph, and acidity. there are simple test kits at stores like petco etc.. that are easy to use, as well as the appropriate treatment you may need. also be careful not to overfeed, that is the biggest killer of bettas.
2007-05-23 16:51:18 · answer #6 · answered by digitalwrangler 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Change the water in the tank, put in some general aid medicine. There are probably bad water conditions.
2007-05-23 23:45:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a picture of him with your cell phone and stop by a local fish shop. Don't go to a big chain pet store but a real aquarium store that only sells fish, you can find it in the phone book. They will be able to diagnose your fish and if possible save him. One thing you can try that saved my beta is Beta Revive (blue drops added to his water) and antibacterial fish food.
Good luck.
2007-05-23 16:53:31 · answer #8 · answered by Sara 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
sounds like a swim bladder problem....try changing his water slowly....i always set my tap water out for at least 24 hours. we had a female fish that sank....she didn't swim well but ate. she lived for 1...1/2 years after she strated having problems.
good luck
2007-05-23 16:59:17 · answer #9 · answered by dragonwolf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im assuming he lives in small bowl/? And you probibly dont check your water, ammonia,ph etc, do a 30% water change,
2007-05-23 22:27:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋