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TREATMENT TIPS for my SICK BETTA2007-11-24 23:41:15

My 4 month old betta is looking very depressed nowadays and always lies down at the bottom of the tank.. looks very scared and resorts to the corners of the tank ( comes up only once in a while to breath - blows a few bubbles and goes down again ) he then crashes and swims crazily hitting on all the sides and the bottom of the tank (as if to scratch himself). and he mostly swims vertically (body hanging down) and does not seem to swim with ease. goes to the corners most of the time looking very pale. Is a 2 gallon tank too much space for little 4 month old betta ? he used to be a surface swimmer till last week. but now he rarely comes up. he eats only half the food he used to eat. he got a thin layer of fungus on top, but after I changed water and added aquarium salt he seems to have got rid of most of it. what is his sickness ? something called ick or velvet or anything else ?? Pls HELP !

Answers:

A 2 gallon is fine for a betta. I use 5 gallon tank for my males. This sounds like either velvet, or swim bladder disorder. Turn out the lights, and shine a flash light on him. If you see a fine red/gold film on him it's velvet. In the case of swim bladder disorder I'd treat him for fungal, and bacterial infections.

Velvet- Buy an ich/ick med that treats velvet as well. (see back of the box)

Other- Get one of the following:

Jungle Labs Fungus ELIMINATOR (not clear)

Melafix, and Primafix (both)

Trisulfa

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Anytime you are not keeping the water clear is route for a sick fish. Is there anything in the tank for him to keep himself occupied? try some aquarium plants and a privacy place.

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He's still a little sick form the fungus. Keep doing partial water change and adding a little aquarium salt. And don't over feed. The uneaten food will pollute the water.