Betta Fish Ongoing Swimmer's Syndrome

[kate Brown]

Hi all!

I have a 20 gallon long tank with a Trinidad Pleco, 5 scissortail rasboras and a veil tailed male betta. All get along fine. I've had "Darth Betta" for almost 3 years, he's always gotten along with previous fish and the current ones.

For 2 months now he's been undergoing Swimmer's Syndrome on and off. When he first got it, I transferred him to a 5 gallon tank with about 2 inch water depth, and fed him a pea. He ate it readily and became back to his normal self within 2 days.

Now it's been about 2 weeks straight of having the syndrome. Totally laying on his side, swimming upright but always at the top of the water floating on his side. He doesn't seem stressed that I can see. Eats the pea readily. I don't want to keep transferring him to the small tank, I know that could stress him. But the other fish don't bother him.

Any suggestions for him? I don't see any coloration changes, or even a bloated belly or any difference in him other than the Swimmer's syndrome.

I don't want to lose my guy, but I'm not sure what I can do for him.

Thanks!!

 

[Cosmonautilus]

Hi Kate,

I'm a beginner so I just did a bit of googling to learn what you're dealing with. I have seen suggestions to let your fish fast for a few days (no more than 3) to clear out any potential digestive problems.

This article advises against feeding peas to bettas. If it is a digestion issue then the peas may be what are keeping him funky.

In your situation, I would shift the guy to a different tank to let him fast alone and monitor him very closely. However, I am also interested in the advice of a more experienced fish keeper.

 

[Tifftastic]

I'm assuming that by "Swimmer's Syndrome" you mean swim bladder disease?
With bettas they require more protein, the pea trick works with goldfish not for swim bladder but for digestive issues as they need more fiber in their diet. If it is actual swim bladder and not a digestive issue then he needs antibiotics. In fact even with goldies if peas don't work then you shold move to antibiotics.
Unfortunately the age of bettas when they are shipped to stores (assuming you got him from a big box?) varies and your betta could just be old? I would move him to the smaller tank and see if he recovers. If he does, I would just leave him on his own in a smaller tank. The fish may be stressing him by chasing him when you aren't looking or at night or competing for food or something else.