What is wrong with my fish? Please help!

[keeley146]

We got our new betta last Thursday. He seemed very healthy when we got him and brought him home and swam around exploring the first day in his tank. You can see what he looked like that day in my profile pic. He ate one pellet that night and since then, he hasn't eatten. Since day 2 He's very lethargic, will not eat, and two days ago I noticed what looked like white poop hanging off him so I came to the conclusion he had internal parasites. Yesterday I dosed his tank with Parasite Guard to help with that. Tonight he is still hanging out at the bottom of the tank, but I notice his body is very pale and he is hanging out at the bottom, nose down and tail up. I cupped him so I could get a better look at him and to see if he just isnt seeing the food i'm offering or if he's ignoring it. He is ignoring the food. I took a pic so you can see what I'm talking about with his positioning. I'm not sure what else to do or what might be wrong. I'm ready to throw in the towel because I can't seem to keep a fish alive and I feel like I have done everything right with him, besides having his tank cycled before putting him in. Here is my tank stats.

5 gallon heated and filtered tank with live plants. Tank is heated to 78 degrees. I am trying to feed him NLS, but he wont eat. PH is 7.0, ammonia is less than .25 (we have ammonia in our tap water) I just got Prime to condition his water but that doesnt seem to be getting rid of the ammonia. Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0.

I'm not sure what to do next. Tomorrow I can add more of the parasite guard, I'm just worried about him with his positioning and the loss of color and that he hasn't eatten in about a week.

[rleroy1967]

One thing besides the meds is you'll want to keep him closer to the surface so he won't have to try to swim up to the top to breath. They need air. If he is not going to the top it won't be good. Also, I have a betta that wouldn't eat pellets so I feed him the flakes with shrimp for betta's and he loves them. Good luck.

[keeley146]

Do you think I should keep him in the cup floating in his tank for a bit so he doesn't have to swim much to surface?

[Saphira101]

Please fill this out so we have more info:


Housing
What size is your tank?
What temperature is your tank?
Does your tank have a filter?
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration?
Is your tank heated?
What tank mates does your betta fish live with?

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish?
How often do you feed your betta fish?

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change?
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change?
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change?

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?

Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness:
Alkalinity:

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed?
How has your betta fish's behavior changed?
When did you start noticing the symptoms?
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how?
Does your fish have any history of being ill?
How old is your fish (approximately)?

[keeley146]

Housing
What size is your tank? 5 gallons
What temperature is your tank? 78 degrees
Does your tank have a filter? yes
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? no
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? NLS but he wont eat
How often do you feed your betta fish? Morning and Night I have offered food

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? 1-2x/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? I initially used stresscoat and now switched to Prime

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?

Ammonia: less than .25
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
pH: 7.0
Hardness: no idea
Alkalinity: no idea

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? His body is pale and he has white poop hanging off him for the past 36 hours or so
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? lethargic, hangs out at the bottom on the gravel. seems more head down tail up.
When did you start noticing the symptoms? Last Friday night
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? Parasite Guard on Monday
Does your fish have any history of being ill? just got him last thursday
How old is your fish (approximately)? just got him thursday, not sure

[rleroy1967]

I guess I would keep him in the cup. At least try it. If he's not swimming at all then this would give him a chance. I would also see if you could pick up some Betta flakes tomorrow if he is still with you because he might just not want the pellets and is losing energy from lack of food. As I said earlier, mine went days without eating before I just got the flakes and he is healthy as hell.

[angus]

I don't have much advice, but I also recently got a new fish. He's sick and wouldn't eat pellets so I tried flakes today and he ate them. So if you're worried about him not eating you can try flakes instead.

Hopefully you'll get some advice from the experienced members!

[keeley146]

I have flakes too and he wont touch those either. :(

[rleroy1967]

You might need to do a water change. I know you added meds yesterday? So you should check the directions on water changes. Maybe you should do one quick tonight.

[angus]

Oh...sorry to hear that. Some people mentioned that you could soak the pellets in garlic juice I believe. You'd have to look around for exact instructions or if someone else suggests it I'm sure they can explain it. This is the first time I've ever had a sick betta too so I'm learning.