Help! Sick betta fish?

A

Alice Cullen

New member
My brother's betta fish is staying at the bottom of the bowl n he's only coming up for air. Every time he swims it looks like he's in pain because of his slow jerky movements. My brother also claims he looks a bit paler. Is there anything we can do or is it too late?
it's a 3 gallon bowl...he's been perfectly healthy in it for a year and a half now. And we do weekly water changes.
I'm pretty sure it's not dropsy. I lost one fish to that already...but this little guy doesn't have the raised scales or swelling.
 
To test to see if he's really as sick as you say, find a small mirror and put the mirror next to where the betta could see his own image. If and when he does and if he is healthy, he will spread out all his fins and tail and you will instantly see all the colors again.

If he is not healthy, he will just sit there or slowly swim about----even when he see's his own image on the mirror.

That is one thing I like about bettas. You can always find out rather if they are sick or not by using the good 'ol mirror trick.

Try it and see.

Good luck!
 
Well.. you have him in a bowl to start. Bettas should never be kept in bowl. They need a minimum of a 2.5 gallon tank, heated. with a filter.
 
Well.. you have him in a bowl to start. Bettas should never be kept in bowl. They need a minimum of a 2.5 gallon tank, heated. with a filter.
 
Check the water stats and temperature. Make a small water change and try making the tank warmer.
It's probably stressed for some reason, most likely something wrong with the water.
 
I suggest that you get a 5 Gallon tank with a heater and filter ASAP. This is what a Betta needs to live happily. If you can't afford one right now then you should get a air pump (under 10 dollar) and then put a lamp over the aquarium. If this is new fish then it might be stressed. If it is a older fish it might just be getting old. If it was a different colour at the store then it was most likely that lighting is different.
He could also have dropsy. If the Betta starts swimming strange and has spiked fins then go get Dropsy med from your LPS ASAP!
Hope this helps!
Good Luck!
 
I suggest that you get a 5 Gallon tank with a heater and filter ASAP. This is what a Betta needs to live happily. If you can't afford one right now then you should get a air pump (under 10 dollar) and then put a lamp over the aquarium. If this is new fish then it might be stressed. If it is a older fish it might just be getting old. If it was a different colour at the store then it was most likely that lighting is different.
He could also have dropsy. If the Betta starts swimming strange and has spiked fins then go get Dropsy med from your LPS ASAP!
Hope this helps!
Good Luck!
 
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