Betta floating on side and swimming jerky for 2nd time this week...any help please

[Petunia87]

Housing
What size is your tank?
5 gallons
What temperature is your tank?
76 degress
Does your tank have a filter?
Yes
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration?
No but I let the filter bubble once a day for about 30 mins so the water gets moved around more
Is your tank heated?
Yes
What tank mates does your betta fish live with?
None

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish?
Hikari micro pellets
How often do you feed your betta fish?
two pellets twice a day and 1 fast day per week

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change?
once a week
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change?
50%
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change?
Top Fin water conditioner and API quick start

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water?
I tested them last a few weeks ago and they measured fine


Symptoms and Treatment

How has your betta fish's appearance changed?
He has been tailbitting a little bit but fins are still long

How has your betta fish's behavior changed?
He was very bloated on one side on Tuesday evening and swimming in very jerky motions. When he stopped swimming he would float to one side and lay on his side for extended periods of time. I put him in an Epsom Salt bath Tuesday night for several hours and then back into his tank that night. He was totally fine the next day. I didn't feed him on Wednesday as my plan was to have him fast for 3 days just in case. All day Wednesday he acted totally normal. Was fine this morning and afternoon. Around 8:00 pm (same time frame as on Tuesday) he began swimming jerky and floating on his side again. I put him back into the Epsom Salt bath but am unsure what else to do.

When did you start noticing the symptoms?
First time around 8:00 pm on Tuesday and then again today around the same time
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how?
See above



He is currently back in his salt bath but I am unsure if I should leave him in his hospital tank or what else I should do at this point. He has not eaten since Tues (by my choice not his) and he was 100% fine all day yesterday. He is very bloated again now and laying on his side and when he does swim it is incredibly jerky. Any help/advice would be great. Thanks

[callistra]

Since you're not using a filter (30min a day doesn't help anything sorry) you need to change his water 100% weekly.

It sounds like ammonia poisoning from lack of water changes to me.

Does his scales stick out? Can you share photos of this bloating? What color is his poop?

[Petunia87]

I am using a filter I just don't have an air stone. He does not have any scales sticking out just the bloating. This is the same set up I used with my last betta for 2 years. This guy has been in the tank for about a month and a half. Prior to that he came from petco.

[Petunia87]

Bumping for any help before I go to bed. Thanks to everyone in advance.

[callistra]

You said you only run your filter for 30min a day. "I let the filter bubble once a day for about 30 mins so the water gets moved around more" So what does that mean then?

I would discontinue quick start, do a 50% water change with vac today and another tomorrow and test your water using a drops kit for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate before and after the changes.

Can you share a video of these movements?