Something might have gone bad like stress.

 

Epsom won't get rid of internal parasites on it's own, but it will help flush them out. Watch him for a day or two and keep an eye out for stringy, white poo.

Internal Parasites
•Symptoms: Betta is losing weight but eating normally and acting lethargic.
He/she might dart or rub against decor.
•Treatment: These can be hard to fight and can get confused with the fatal disease Tuberculosis. Perform daily 100% water changes (if possible, for larger aquariums change 3/4). Make sure you carefully clean the gravel to remove eggs/larva. Aq.Salt does not seem to be affective against internal parasites. I find combining ES with an anti-parasite med is best. Treat with 1-2tsp/gal Epsom Salt combined with either Jungle’s Anti-Parasite Pellets, Jungle’s Parasite Clear Fizz tabs or API General Cure. PP is also effective against internal parasites.

I guess they can be bloated too, if they have worms in their stomach?
http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=73333

pss. i am so sory for giving you (Zebra3) and anyone else who read my post at the top of the page bad info:sad:. sory!!!!

We were all new at some point That's awsome that your petsmart has smeone that actually knows how to care for fish. At my petco, they told me I can keep a male with a female and a pleco in a 1 gallon tank and that if you touch a chinchilla, it will die. A rock would give better information they do, if it could, ya know..talk.

 

What changes have you done so far with all the suggestions in your thread?

My experience with internal parasites it is causes spastic wild behavior and by the time it's bad enough that they actually get lethargic they're gone soon after.. Also they will by skinny while with bacterial normally no weight change if not bloated actually now internal bacterial infections I've seen cause more lethargy.. but anyway it's one or the other.

Can you share photos?

 

If he goes to the top on a regular basis he might be gulping air through lack of oxygen, more regular water changes are needed, maybe an air stone placed in his water to keep oxygen levels up. it does not take long for a fish to use up the oxygen in a 3 gal tank.
Don't let him stuff himself with food, its better to give him small regular meals than large meals, remember large amounts of food puts pressure on his swim bladder.
Starve him for a couple of days,
A day of not feeding him each week will do him no harm.
But an instant 50%-75% change is needed.
Ray

 

Tomorrow I'm doing a water change with new conditioner. I have not made many changes to his habitat because I didn't want to introduce new things to a problem I was unsure of. He is acting normal as ever right now, so tomorrow is a water change and two SMALL meals day to see how he handles it.

Thanks for the help everyone, it's weird to see your fish literally keeling one night and wake up to a healthy appearing one the next day.

I'd like to reiterate for people just joining in:
My fish is no longer exhibiting behaviors listed on page one.

 

So he is all better? Sweet

If he goes to the top on a regular basis he might be gulping air through lack of oxygen, more regular water changes are needed, maybe an air stone placed in his water to keep oxygen levels up. it does not take long for a fish to use up the oxygen in a 3 gal tank.

Bettas have a labyrenth organ - which allows them to breathe air via the surface not through the gills.

This organ allows labyrinth fish to take in oxygen directly from the air, instead of taking it from the water in which they reside through use of gills. The labyrinth organ helps the inhaled oxygen to be absorbed into the bloodstream. As a result, labyrinth fish can survive for a short period of time out of water, as they can inhale the air around them, provided they stay moist.

If he won't eat pellets - Omega one flakes are probably the best you will find. The first few ingredients are fish items not wheat or anything like that.

 

Okay, so I got some water conditioner. It says to add 1 tsp per 10 gallons. How do I equate that to half gallons or one full gallon? I don't want to be too far over or under.

 

What did you buy?

 

Aqueon water conditioner.

http://www.petco.com/product/102599/Aqueon-Water-Conditioner.aspx

 

You use half a ml per gallon. 1 ml is approx 20 drops so you use 10 drops per gallon.

 

My fish is dying! Part deux.

Okay so he's doing it again.

My fish is lying on his side at the top of the tank for a while, then getting some air and swimming around for a few seconds before repeating this behavior.

I almost want to believe that line about him being "depressed" only, why would he be depressed he is spoiled rotten with a beautiful tank?

I changed his water a couple days ago. 25-35% change, his water is crystal clear and clean.
I have fed him sparingly, usually a 2-3 flakes, 9-10 hours apart since the first incident of this.
His water remains at a comfortably stable 78 degrees, going down to maybe 76 at night. For the middle of winter, that seems acceptable. At this point, I am clueless. Parasite perhaps? Weird delayed reaction to one of the plants in the tank? (anubias, lilies, tiger lotus) I was actually about to order some more plants but I guess that's on hold for a while.

 

Very...Odd.

Is he acting like he can't swim down? clamped fins or color loss?
Try Pming callistra..akura8 or oldfishlady.

 

No actually, he's proven that he can swim around the tank fine, but seems to get bored and just give up at the top. I can't explain it. I think it's a storm he will have to weather and only time will show if he makes it out of it.
​

 

sorry i lost truck of what you doing. If you doing salt you need to do 100% water changes or at least alternate between 50% and 100%.

I really think if you have 3 gall it

I really think if you have 3 gall then it not enough water changes. If you cycling the tank and have filter you need to do minimum of 50% water changes with gravel vacuum and filter media cleaning. And if he is acting sick you even need more water changes. I really think that you should take filter out since he is back to sick and try to do more water changes. And try salt treatment , not sure if you are using it.

 

sorry for bad thread i was doing work at the house. Is he still bloated? Did you treat him with epsom?

 

It seems to be only after he eats. And I'm not feeding him unreasonable amounts either. Then he goes back to normal some hours later.

 

It just happened again after I fed his ONE PELLET of the high quality expensive stuff. He has energy but his balance is all off.

 

What size container is he in now? What's temp (per in tank thermometer)? How often/how much are you doing water changes?

Does he appear bloated? Is his belly gray? Can you share photos?

 

I have posted photos. He's in his tank.

If OP would answer questions we could possibly help him

He is currently in his 3 gallon tank.
The temp is 79 degrees.
I'm doing water changes every few days.
He does not appear bloated.
His belly is always a little gray.
I posted photos a few pages back when he was at his worst.

He currently has no problem with balance because I have not fed him since last night.

 

I have heard that some bettas will get like that after eating just a small amount - something to do with short bodies and swim bladders too small?

 

Ahh but the odd thing- this did not happen until I possessed him for over 6 months.

 

I have posted photos. He's in his tank.
I actually have this down pretty good at this point. I know exactly what causes this. He eats anything, and his balance is off for a while, typically less than 8 hours, though it could be as little as 5. So in a way, scientifically speaking, I am closer to a solution, than I am to the original question posed.

It does not appear to be a lethal problem, as it is something he recovers from each time it happens, so far, that has been 3 times.

So I suppose I should change this thread's title to "Help my fish is messed up!" rather than it's current one.

 

That is most odd, Indeed.

swim bladder issues are normally not fatal so you are good there but I dont know what to tell you to get him to stop -especially if its happening with only 1 or 2 pellets.

 

If OP would answer questions we could possibly help him

 

How is your betta doing?

 

Well I'm feeding him extremely little amounts. I will give him a few flakes tomorrow and see how he handles it. He's fine right now, but the only food he's had today is a dusting of betta flakes.

 

Flakes cause swim bladder issues more readily than most pellets. You should be using a high quality protein based pellet with the first two or three ingredients as whole fish not fishmeal or wheat. The flakes will also muck up his water quickly and if you're not running a cycled tank that means ammonia builds up much more quickly.

You're still doing at least 2 water changes weekly right.. 50% and 100? Using the method I provided to avoid shock. I'm looking back.. and all I see is people saying do a big 75-100% water change and you saying you did little 25%.. Clear does not mean clean. Unless you're using a drops kit for ammonia you can't assume his tank is ok, and it definitely won't be unless you do the bigger changes.

Gray belly means he's stressed out.

What color is his poop?

The 76-78 daily swing is hard on him. You need to stabilize this. Either by investing in a better heater (what size is he in now?) or not letting the room he's in drop so cold.