Curved spine and can't swin down

[boodies]

I saved a betta from wal-mart a couple days ago. I went to look at the fish and there were 2 containers with absolutely no water in them and a fish in each. So I opened one of the betta water bottles that they sell and added water to each of the containers. So of course I had to take the one that didn't look like it was going to live, but it did. Anyway...the one I bought can't swim downward, it struggles to go to the bottom, so he just stays at the top most of the time. He also seems to have a curved spine, like an s shaped of some sort. Does anyone have some advise as what might be wrong with him? His appetite is normal, wants to eat all the time. Oh yeah, he also has silver or grey patchy looking spots around his gills. Any opinions would be helpful.

[TheCheese909]

Can we see some pictures?

What are you housing him in right now? It could very well be that he's just been in a cup for too long. After acouple weeks in a QT with daily water changes with Stress Coat added he should be able to get back to normal. If he has trouble swimming don't have the water too high.

If he can't go down he might have some kind of bloat problem.. But if his spine is super curved he could have scoliosis.

Pictures will help to determine what is wrong.

[xShainax]

Could be fish TB or scoliosis. My swordtails developed it and they were normally eating for about a week then passed away from it

[Bladezero]

the S shape might be from the cup, had it with shanks. It's gone now but took about 2-3 weeks in a 10g to lose the S shape when he wasn't moving

[boodies]

Alrighty...I'll get some pics and post them ASAP! Also...I had him in a 1 gallon small shallow plastic container while using Lifeguard in hopes of clearing up any fungus/external infection he may have had. It may have helped a little. He can swim a bit better when going to the bottom. You can tell by watching that he struggles a bit, but much less than before using the Lifeguard. As of right now I have him in a less shallow container, about 2 gallons. Do any of you have any thoughts on the silver spots around the gills? I guess a pic would help in having thoughts...I'll get to that right now.

[boodies]

Here's some pics. Thanks so much for the help!!! Oh and by the way...it's really strange but since I made the post the lil guy seems to be swimming 100 percent better. Maybe the Lifeguard kicked in...who knows, I'm just happy he's able to swim. The patches around his gills don't look so bad in the pics, it actually looks like it could be his coloring, but I honestly don't think it is. I've been known to be wrong a few times...lol

[xShainax]

The silver spots could be his coloring or scales that were rubbed off

[boodies]

If it is his scales that were rubbed off, do they grow back?

[xShainax]

Yes they will grow back. Happened to my betta, took about a month

[boodies]

Awesome! Thanks so much!!!!!