Losing my betta?

[1cmarie]

This is a post from another board, but I didn't get many responses. Hope someone here can help:

Me: Hi all. My betta currently lives alone in a ten gallon tank. For the past two or three days, he's taken to laying on his side at the surface of the water, either behind the filter intake or between the floating plants I bought for him. He seems fine in every other way; he eats regularly and explores the tank when he feels like it. However, whenever he just lays there, he looks very much dead. Other times, he lets the current carry him to the top of the tank and on his side. What could be going on? ETA: I plan on getting three cories in the near furture. Maybe he'll perk up then? TIA.

(Response: is there a heater? Maybe he's lonely.

Me: Yes there's both a filter and a heater. It's currently 82 degrees in the tank (it's a warm day here in the SE). Maybe I should get the cories sooner than later? I think I may be losing this betta. I changed the water in the tank today. All he did was hide behind plants on his side. Right now, he is curled up (literally) in his little cave. I wonder if it could be the floating plants. which are fairly new. They are advertised as faux reptile plants, but I figured their just plastic plants! I don't know what it could be.

 

[liv2padl]

unfortunately it doesn't sound good for your betta. adding corydoras will not help. if the fake plants are newly added, and are not sold for aquarium use, they 'may' be leaching some toxic substance to the water. does the bettas behavious seem to be in any way relational to the addition of the plants? you might try removing them just in case ...

how old is this betta? their lifespan in the typical aquarium is about 4 years. perhaps he's just old?

 

[1cmarie]

He's only a little over a year old. He really seemed to enjoy the plants, I rinsed them off before placing them in the water. They are exo terra brand that I picked up at petsmart, didn't say that it couldn't be used in an aquarium on the package. Think I should take them out?

ETA: the plants have been around for about as long as he has been acting this way.

 

[Kyohti]

When he was floating on the water, was his belly puffed out a bit? He might have been bloated. Also, I had bettas in my breeding program who were suseptible to this same affliction. If it's the same thing, it seems to be some sort of issue with their swim bladder that could have resulted from an injury to his body or his respiratory system when he was a fry (they are super fragile as babies!!!)

As for the curling, this could be him wedging himself in place so he doesn't have to float around the top of the tank. Then again, I had a royal blue male who had this condition and loved to sleep curled in on himself at the bottom of the tank when he was feeling better. Whatever it is, if it's the same thing that afflicted my breeders, it should clear up in 4-7 days.

 

[liv2padl]

the plants have been around for about as long as he has been acting this way.

so, there's at least the possibility that the plants are the problem. he may seem to 'like' them but that doesn't eliminate the possibility that they're toxic.

i'd remove them and do a 50 percent water change. then do another water change in 24 hours and cross your fingers.

i wish i could be more help but that's all i can think of. you haven't described any disease process i could offer a potential treatment for.

 

[1cmarie]

When he was floating on the water, was his belly puffed out a bit? He might have been bloated.

Er, well this is a, for lack of a better phrase, a fat fish, lol. I can only hope it will clear up. I just did a 20% water change not 20 minutes ago, AND removed the floating plants, so I will be hoping for the best. I'd hate to lose him, only a few weeks after setting up the ten gallon Plus, I kind of like him. Wish us luck.

 

[Kyohti]

Er, well this is a, for lack of a better phrase, a fat fish, lol. I can only hope it will clear up. I just did a water change not 20 minutes ago, AND removed the floating plants, so I will be hoping for the best. I'd hate to lose him, only a few weeks after setting up the ten gallon Plus, I kind of like him. Wish us luck.

As were mine... and in some cases, a well-fed betta can simply bloat up for a while until his intestinal tract clears out. That was usually the case with mine. But I fed a lot of rich, high-protein foods and kept them very fat for breeding purposes. So perhaps it's something he ate? Like I said, it should clear up on its own. Mine always did and I had two males and a female who had this condition from time to time. I treated them gingerly and kept their water clean and well conditioned like all my others and all of them lived long healthy lives.

 

[liv2padl]

another thought. sometimes a fish will get an intestinal impaction from eating too much too fast. if the poor guy is still eating, try feeding him a blanched pea. the roughage 'may' help clear out his intestines.

 

[1cmarie]

Well, my betta has unmovingly positioned himself behind the filter intake, on his side. He 'sits up' for a gulp of air, the rolls right back on his side again. Otherwise, he looks fine; no labored breathing, color's fine. I really hope it's a swim bladder problem. I tried feeding him a mushed pea last night, but it fell right to the bottom unnoticed (I did fish it out). So, I'm doing the fasting thing for now. Any other tips? TIA.