I've been searching answers %26 internet %26 nothing really sounds like what is going on with my betta. I came home yesterday %26 he's swimming oddly. It's hard to explain; it's almost like he isn't really using his tail to swim. If he tries to turn, it's like his body will bend in a U shape. It looks very un-natural, %26 I don't think he's doing it on purpose because he always seems to struggle to make himself straight again.
He's eating as he normally does (which is quite funny because he attacks his food...literally he jumps like he's attacking the food %26 will come a little out of the water.) He seems to have a harder time righting himself when he gets back into the water, %26 like I said the U shape his body will go to. His tail fin isn't spread out like it normally is, but he doesn't look discolored to me at all. It's hard to tell because he always had some white near the bottom of his fins but it doesn't look different. I change water regularly, %26 feed him once a day.
Answers:
Change his water, add in some aquarium salt and a mild antibiotic such as bettafix. It's hard to tell, without seeing the fish, but he could have a bacterial infection, or perhaps parasites. Shine a flashlight on him. If you see golden colored shiny stuff, then that's called Velvet and is a parasite. If that's the case you can add in a parasite treatment in lieu of the bettafix. He may have just injurred himself on something in the tank. Are there any plastic plants or sharp decorations?
maybe he has a tail fin boo boo? i don't really know that there's anything to do about that, other than let him work it out.
Have you changed the water since you noticed these symptoms?
My betta had done the same thing (bending in a "U" shaped fashion) except he became quite discoloured.
Once I changed the water %26 cleaned his bowl, he was fine within a few hours.
I think I might have accidentally sprayed fly spray too close to the tank...
It could be the water conditions or swim bladder disease. You need to change the water in bowls that aren't filtered at least every 3 days. You can add a pinch of aquarium salt to the water. You should also fast him for a few days. Some times Betta's get constipated and cause's their swim bladders to mess up. Which can cause them to swim sideways or even up side down in severe cases. The Melafix as someone else mentioned is more of a preventitive. I have never had much luck from it. Just keep the water clean. Betta's are tropical fish and need to be in a heated, filtered tank. No less than 2.5 gallons. The fish can live in a bowl but not a long healthy life.
First of all you have pics of 2 different bettas on here
and none of them seems sick to me
Since you're upgrading anyway, don't forget to have a heater as well, they do best in temperatures around 78-82 degrees, and the color will flourish as well
The reason he seems odd do you is because he needs more room to swim
Hope that helps
Good luck
EB
