Help!! Flounder looks really sick

[bettamum]

HELP! Little Flounder is just sitting on the top and.....he too, looks like he's gasping for air. Today he looked a little bloated but I thought that was all in my mind until I saw someone else mention it.

What does this sound like and what should I do??

[dramaqueen]

How often do you change the water? If its a water quality issue then it could be from high levels of ammonia.

[bettamum]

He is in a 1/2 gal and I change it every 3 days. We have had him about 2 months and always seemed happy, ate like a horse and swam like crazy. Should I add some stress coat?

[dramaqueen]

It sounds like water quality is good then. I think stresscoat could help. Its good for their skin and slimecoat.

[bettamum]

What do you think he is sick from then?

[MrVampire181]

I'm not sure.

I use Stress Coat as my regular water conditioner (and reccomend EVERYBODY use it, it's a great product) and it's helped keep little pests from coming into my fish room.

Maybe a bigger jar would help, 1/2 gallon is a little small.

[bettamum]

I have Pond NovAqua. Will that be OK? It says:
Instant water conditioner for the protection of aquarium and pond fishes and invertebrates. Forms a multi-layered, protective slime coating on and in fishes' skin, adds electrolytes needed for proper osmotic balance (and to ease stress in the fishes, such as during acclimation and illness), reduces the toxicity of nitrite, removes chlorine, detoxifies copper and other heavy metals, and helps stabilize pH and balance alkalinity. Does not interfere with fishes' gills or breathing."

[neenjar]

NovAqua is good stuff too. I use stress coat personally and have for years now. How often do you "exercise" your betta? He could be bored. There is also a chance some contaminant got in the water. Do a water change to be on the safe side.

[MrVampire181]

I always thought NovaQua had to be used with AmQuel, that's what I've read anyway.

[dramaqueen]

Thats what I've heard, too. I didn't know there was a pond NovAqua.