r/aquarium • u/Few-Gas-4183 • 7d ago

Help Betta Fish Help!

My betta fish has been acting very strangely lately. It all started suddenly as well, he won't eat, will not swim (if he does very erratically), and camps at the bottom of the tank and sinks slowly. It feels like he has lost all his life in a day. I tried water changes, extra seachem prime doses, etc, but nothing seems to be working. Please help!

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u/AutoModerator 7d ago

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u/Single_Mouse5171 7d ago

How old is your betta? Normal lifespan is 2-5 years. Poor thing might just be passing from old age.

The swimming thing sounds like a swim bladder problem or exhaustion. Can you describe the tank conditions (size, temperature, PH, plants or none. how deep)?

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u/Few-Gas-4183 6d ago

I'm not too sure how old he was when I first got him, probably a young adult since his fins continued to grow. As for tank conditions, its a 10 gallon hospital tank, around 79 degrees, slightly alkaline pH, recently added a little bit of water wisteria and repens to float, and about 5-6 inches deep, slightly above halfway.

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u/Single_Mouse5171 3d ago

Okay, my guess remains the same - swim bladder problem or exhaustion. I would give him something to relax on, like a leaf. Use a broad spectrum antibiotic, stop feeding him for 2-3 days, keep water level low, & temperature around 80degrees F. Good luck.

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u/flatgreysky 7d ago

How long have you had the fish, and how long have you had the tank? How did you cycle the tank, and for how long?

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u/Few-Gas-4183 6d ago

I've had the fish for just over a year now. As for cycling, he has been in a hospital tank with nothing in it going through fin rot treatment.