I got him from petsmart (I know, I couldn’t help it). He was doing this in the store. It seems like a buoyancy issue, doesn’t look like swim bladder. Is there anything I can do for him? I haven’t had a betta for a few years so any ideas are welcome! TIA
https://v.redd.it/ginnt3x2zx2g1
Posted by lucyd1401
7 Comments
I’d honestly just get him in the tank you have for him and see how he is by tomorrow. He just seems very stressed. I don’t know tons about fish sickness, but I think he probably just needs out of the cup.
Looks to be swim bladder disease. This video should help you a bit.
https://youtu.be/PSSMosfDti8?si=hqoWkGOPD_6fV3lB
assuming you have a cycled tank, i’d just acclimate and add him see if being in clean water helps at all – that cup water looks gross and probably hasn’t done him any favors however long he’d been sitting in it at the store 🙁
Mine acted like that too. He was fine after a week in his new tank.
This happened to my betta when I first got him, after he somehow ate all snails in the tank within a day or two.
It happened a second time after I moved him to a new tank.
I’m guessing the swim bladder problem was either stress-induced or from overfeeding. Some bettas have particularly vulnerable swim bladders, I’m guessing, because this never happened to my other bettas.
Both times, my betta more or less recovered on his own. During the second time, I medicated with Kanaplex, gave epsom salt baths, fasted for a week+, but nothing seemed to work. As I was starting to lose hope and considering euthanasia, he all of a sudden began improving after I stopped medications/treatments. The first time, he recovered within about a day. The second time, he recovered much more slowly and I’m guessing the treatments I gave him probably delayed his recovery.
Imo, just give him up to a week in clean, warm (76-78F) water and monitor for any improvements or worsening of his condition before proceeding with meds/treatments.
I hope he gets well soon.
Everyone here has good advice, but please be aware that this is a double(or split)tail Betta, and they are incredibly prone to swim bladder issues. Due to the selective breeding to create this tail type, split tail Bettas can often have shortened spines or organs that aren’t formed correctly, which leads to a lot of health problems relating to their ability to swim. I’d set up a comfortable hospital tank with the heater set to 78°, keep it clean, have very little flow, and fast him for a few days. Also get some unscented Epsom salt and give him a salt bath about every other day. Once he recovers, I’d avoid feeding him much and certain foods, like bloodworms, as they can be very rich and hard to digest.
https://jessielbettas.substack.com/p/tail-types-of-bettas