Laying on his side and not responding to food

[MidnightsSong]

@Dougan: And I just feel so bad, especially now because he is ill and I'm am only now just learning how to properly care for bettas. :( I was ill-educated before hand, and I feel awful...
Anyways, I got a hold of Petco (it is the only pet store we have, aside from Wal-mart which carries some fish things) and they do have Prime, so I'm out to get some now.
I will also look for a dropper! Thank you!

@Callistra: I'm sorry, I feel like such a bother. I am going to look for a heater at the store, but if they don't have one for gallon tanks would the ones that heat 2g-5g or 5g-10g fry the fish? Or would they simply be too big for the tank?

[dougan]

Originally Posted by MidnightsSong

@Dougan: And I just feel so bad, especially now because he is ill and I'm am only now just learning how to properly care for bettas. :( I was ill-educated before hand, and I feel awful...

You and me both. I know exactly how you're feeling. Our little guys are depending on us now more than ever so all we can do is our very best for them.

Callistra and the others here with more experience are better to answer your heater question. My guess is that since you're reducing the amount of water in the tank, one of those bigger heaters would probably heat the water up much quicker since there's less of it. So you'd have to be really careful when acclimating him. Acclimation is addressed by Callistra in my thread. I did this improperly yesterday and it kept me up last night.

Be mindful of minimum water level markings on the heater. If the heater isn't submerged to at least it's minimum, they warn that they can burn out.

An in-tank thermometer is also a good idea, that way you know what the temperature of the water really is. Off the top of my head, I believe 78 F is ideal.

I'm using that exact same tank as shown in your picture (although I think you mentioned using a hospital tank), and my setup is working out okay as far as rigging the Solo cup and all that (I think). The clothespins work okay in securing the cup to the tank. The cup has a tendency to want to rotate, but If you mess with it a bit, it'll stay. Just an idea for you.

[callistra]

In a 1g you are very limited for what you can use. You can't use a 25w or 50w heater in something so small. He really needs 2g minimum to keep healthy so maybe now is the time to upgrade if you can't find a heater that will work.

Make sure you get the thermometer and test it

[MidnightsSong]

I did purchase a three gallon and after it runs for a day should I move him? Or wait until i purchase a heater? For the three gallon what type of heater do you recomend?
And at what level should I keep the water at in the new tank?

[dougan]

Originally Posted by MidnightsSong

I did purchase a three gallon and after it runs for a day should I move him? Or wait until i purchase a heater

You may want to check my thread for information on acclimation.

"Bettas are tropical fish and must be kept with a heater unless you keep your house or room they are in a consistent (no change, peaks or drops) of 80F+. 78-80F is ideal and your betta's bowl will be several degrees below room temp. If you get a 2g tank you can get a 25w adjustable heater like Marineland Visitherm or Jager, which would be ideal. You also have to use an in tank thermometer with the heater to make sure it is working and set it properly (don't rely on the heater). I also highly suggest testing your heater for 24 hours with thermometer in similar size container to make sure it will hold an appropriate constant temperature. Once you are sure it is working your betta must be acclimated to warmer water slowly at no more than 1 degree per hour and 5 degrees per day, or floating in a plastic cup (solo type) in the bowl for an hour, after the water has already been fully warmed." --Callistra

"Make sure to match all new water to existing water using a thermometer and add conditioner before introducing your fish to it. I would still include an acclimation period of at least 30min if not an hour in which you float the betta in a cup in the existing water and either add a few tablespoons every 10minutes, or a series of 50% wtaer changes to introduce new water into the cup every 10min. I would also never use a net and also scoop with the cup." --Callistra

These are from my thread, so I'll let Callistra confirm that this is the case for you, as well.

Originally Posted by MidnightsSong

For the three gallon what type of heater do you recomend?

Callistra recommended the Marineland Visi-Therm:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846,

and the Jager brand:
http://www.amazon.com/EHEIM-Jager-Aq...ger+heater+25w.

But I checked the Petco website yesterday and didn't see them (maybe I just missed them).

Right now I'm testing a Top Fin 25W in a 5 gallon and it seems to be working properly, but I think Top Fin is a Petsmart brand, which you don't have in your area.

Maybe check Wal-mart?

Originally Posted by MidnightsSong

And at what level should I keep the water at in the new tank?

I need the answer to this as well.

[LittleBlueFishlets]

My guys are all in 3 gallon tanks. I use both Marina and Top Fin preset 8W heaters (depending upon what I could find at Petsmart at the time). The drawback is that they are all "preset" heaters, which means I can't adjust the temperature. They maintain the temp at 79F consistently though, which is fine for everyday use. BUT if I ever need to raise or lower the temp (to treat a disease), I'll have to buy a new adjustable one.

If you want to just get one heater, and not worry about having to pick up an adjustable one if your fish gets sick, you can get a 25W adjustable heater.

You'll also need a floating glass thermometer, like this one: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752255

As for water conditioner, Callistra specifically recommended Prime because it neutralizes ammonia temporarily. It will only do this for about 48 hours though. So you still need to do frequent water changes, in order to keep the ammonia level down.

If your fish is having trouble getting to the surface to breathe, you can lower the water level so he doesn't have to swim so far upwards. If you have a heater, you need to make sure it's covered to the correct depth.

(If you decide to put him into a heated tank, he'll need to get acclimated to it. Do not raise the temp faster than 1 degree per hour, and limit the increase to no more than 5 degrees total per day. )

[dougan]

I'm not sure if you meant this for me or MidnightsSong, but I've noted everything you've said. Thank you.

[MidnightsSong]

Thank you both, Dougan and LittleBlueFishlets! :)

An Update:
Today will mark the third day I've been 'treating' him. I've been conditioning his water with Prime and doing a 50% water change every evening. Tomorrow I will do a full 100%. Unfortunately, I still do not have a heater for multiple reasons and I think this is why he is not 'speedy' in his recovery. Or maybe my expectations are just too high.
He still hasn't eaten, but after water changes he becomes much more active and doesn't lay on his side as much. This morning he was at the top of the water, just sitting at the top. Is this normal?
I still plan on moving him to the larger tank once I get a heater. Hopefully that will happen within the next three days. DX

[MidnightsSong]

Another question:
I really thing my betta is bloated. Why could that be? He hasn't eaten in over a week. I will try and get a photo if necessary.

[dougan]

Originally Posted by MidnightsSong

An Update:
...This morning he was at the top of the water, just sitting at the top. Is this normal?

I'm not sure if it's normal. Maybe another poster will know?

Originally Posted by MidnightsSong

I still plan on moving him to the larger tank once I get a heater. Hopefully that will happen within the next three days. DX

Someone on another thread suggested moving the fish tank to a warm area. It takes a bit of energy to raise the temperature of water, but it might help. Just remember what others have told me: gradual changes in temperature are important. I believe it's 1 degree per hour and no more than 5 degrees in a single day. Or you may float the fish in a separate container in the water of a tank that has already been fully warmed.