sick fish! ):

[Midnightwolf6]

Okay I am not totally sure what is wrong with my little fish ):
few days ago she started gets scab looking things on top of her head, kind of like her scales are gone maybe.
Shes just floating near the surface of the water and breathing shallow, hasn't eatin anything at all either.
I have no idea what to do =/

[TheKingsFish]

Pictures may be necessary. Also, try to answer some of the questions on the sticky for the main page, since more experienced people than me may be able to glean answers. For now, perhaps try to lower her water level so she doesn't have to work as hard to get around.

[Canuck Fins]

Can you answer these....

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)?

[roadrunner]

Please answer as many of the questions in the sticky post. You can take a sample to your LPS and have it tested there or you could by some test yourself. If you can afford, buy individual liquid test (not test strips, they are not very accurate). Photos would also help.

[Midnightwolf6]

I don't think she is going to make it... shes jus laying on her side at the bottom of her tank hardly breathing..=/

[Midnightwolf6]

I lowered her water some so now she is kind of sitting at the surface.

Housing
What size is your tank? She was in a 1.5 gallon tank but when she got sick i moved her to a smaller tank so she didnt have to swim so much to get to the surface
What temperature is your tank? No idea
Does your tank have a filter? Nope
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? nope
Is your tank heated? nope
What tank mates does your betta fish live with? none

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish? Topfin betta bits and occasionally bettamin flakes
How often do you feed your betta fish? Normally once in the evening, but sometimes I am at my parents for the weekend so my roommate feeds her, prob twice in the four days im gone

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? once a week
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? all of it
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? This stuff called Start Right by Jungle

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters? I have not

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

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? She has scab looking stuff on the top of her head, her scales are somewhat pale, to me her face looks different, her mouth is constantly open
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? Does not eat, does not swim, she either sits at the surface of the water or on her side at the bottom of the tank
When did you start noticing the symptoms? Thursday night, April 21
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? Yes I thought she might have ick so I have given her jungle ick clear twice in the week
Does your fish have any history of being ill? Nope
How old is your fish (approximately)? Almost 2

[Canuck Fins]

I'm sorry your fish is in such rough shape. There are a few factors I can see being part of the problem.

Bettas are a tropical fish which means they are best suited to water temps between 76* and 82*. A cold betta will be lethargic. There are heating options for smaller tanks.

As for the scab, maybe your fish has ammonia burns? A 1.5G tank should have twice weekly changes (a 50% and a 100%). In a 1.5, it takes very little time for the ammonia to build up. I'm not sure you treat the scab. Clean water is going to be key. I'm sure someone else with more experience treating sick fish can advise you.

Good luck!

[roadrunner]

I'm not too familiar with Jungle Start Right. Some conditioners are better than others (some remove heavy metals in the water as well). It's hard to say, but since he is breathing heavy my guess is there is something off with your water chemistry. I've noticed you had some bettas in the past. Did you experience similar problems? Also if the water is too cold your betta may suffer.

[Midnightwolf6]

I haven't had this problem before, in the past my bettas have died because of my cat, being attacked by another fish, and already being sick from walmart not taking care of them.

So I should just clean her water and find a heater?

[Blazer23]

Maybe there is something you re doing wrong constantly because you have had a lot of fish in the past. Try adding aquarium salt to your water if you don't know what is wrong. TAKE IT TO A VET