Sick betta...?

Question

I have a female betta whom, I believe, is about to kick the bucket. I hate watching anything die, she doesn't eat anymore and I often find her floating upside down or at the top on her side, then she swims a round and hides. This has been going on for about 3 days now. Do I just let her continue and let nature play it's role...? Her tank is clean and filtered.

She also looks sick in her coloring...

Answer 1

It sounds like she may have a digestive blockage. Try a teaspoon of salt per gallon in the water, sometimes that alleviates the problem. If she perks up, try feeding her a cooked pea with the shell removed. Break it up for her.

I hope you have been doing weekly partial (25-30%) water changes to remove the ammonia build up. If not, that is what is killing her.

Try a partial water change and see if she perks up (don't do a 100% change, that can shock fish). Add the salt with the fresh water.

She may just be at the end of her life. 4 or 5 years is about all they live in a well maintained aquarium. If so, and you want to euthanize her, oil of cloves (a toothache remedy) is about the best way. Put her in a cup of tank water and add 6-10 drops of the clove oil. It acts as a sedative and puts them to sleep. Leave them in it long enough and they die while asleep. Once asleep, you can hasten death by placing the cup in the freezer for a couple hours. Bury her in your yard close to a flower.

Answer 2

It sounds like it's going to kick the bucket. I'd give her a little time, and see if she gets any better. If not, I'd put her down. Just put her in a zip lock bag with some water in it, and put her in the freezer. It sounds cruel, but it's actually the most humane way to kill a fish, they simply fall asleep.

Answer 3

to be fair this may be the case, especially if her tank is clean and filtered. but before you give up hope check the ammonia levels and nitrate levels. to much ammonia is not good for any fish let alone a betta. if they are to high do a 25- 50% water change see if that helps. if not im sorry for your loss.

Answer 4

It sounds like a case of swim bladder, and sorry to say but it also sounds like your fish has nearly reached the end of the disease. Swim bladder often comes from swallowing too much air when going to feed. Do you feed her floating food? Or sinking pellets?

Answer 5

Since she will not eat and is floating in strange positions, it does really sound as if your fish is beyond help at this point. If you feel she is dieing clove oil is the best and most humane way to end her suffering. Here's a link that will explain it

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/euthanasiafaqs.htm

Sorry for your loss

MM

Answer 6

There isn't much you can do when your fish starts doing this. Sometimes there is no disease at fault, just old age.

If she has been like this for 3 days, I would suspect that it won't be much longer until she is floating on top of the water within a couple of days.

Sorry about your fish....

Answer 7

thats what i would do,ive had my betta for 2 years and it still seems perfectly healthy,its gotten sick a couple of times but i just give clean its tank a couple times and hes ok.but if its old and your sure its going to die i would just let nature take its course.

Answer 8

It could be food poisoning. You need to buy some medicine for it. Mine did the same thing then a week later it died. It could be old age though. They live about 3-4 years.

Answer 9

If your fish is sick, you really cant really do anything about it (to the answer above you cant take a fish to the vet, well you can but they wont really haelp you), my fish had that so we decided on another fish, and she was fine after that, but if your fish is with other fish i have no idea what is wrong.

Answer 10

First thing you should do is change the water everyday if you could. I think that she is about to leave you but be emitionally prepared.