What is wrong with my fish?

[spotaflint33]

One of our fish, Jose, has been laying on his side for the past two days and seems swim with a noticeable limp. I don't know what happened, but this is a recent development. I moved him out of his enclosure (a multi-gallon fish bowl) to a small very clean enclosure for the night. I know he goes under his rocks in the bowl, but don't know what caused this. Any ideas on what to do?

He lays in a "corner" and just sits there
He swims favoring one side
Doesn't really move a lot

Please help I don't want to have to explain to a 3 year old what happened to the fishy after the near death of Squishy 2 months ago (moving in 11 degree weather isn't good).

[LolaQuigs]

We'll need a little more info to help you figure out what's going on....How big is his tank? How frequently do you change the water? Any tank mates? How much/often do you feed him? What temperature is his tank?

[spotaflint33]

He's in a couple of gallon bowl, he lives by himself, I change the water once a week, hes fed every other day using a beta medley, and the temperature is good (I use a thermometer, but it was removed yesterday, but I checked it a minute ago).

[Luimeril]

up the water changes to every day, keep the bowl warm, and, do you add any chemicals?

[spotaflint33]

Nope, no chemicals I usually set the water for a few hours prior to changing it.

[Luimeril]

are you on well water, or city water? or, do you use bottled water?

[spotaflint33]

I use city water, but I can get the chemicals easily. He's been laying on his side on the bottom for a couple of days now.

[Luimeril]

the chemicals in city water, may be making him sick. get dechlorinator, like AquaSafe, and change his water as soon as you can, adding the AquaSafe, or whatever you chose to buy. i hope he gets better soon.

[spotaflint33]

He also has a lot of white on his underside right now. I'm seriously debating if he needs to be frozen.

[Luimeril]

i'm no expert on what the white means, but i say, don't give up until you can't do anything else. i'm almost positive, it's the chemicals in city water, but i don't know if it can be reversed with good, clean water.