HELP! Betta sick!!!!

G

Gold girl

AC Members
Apr 11, 2009
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I have had a veil tailed betta for about 3 months now and he has been doing great but lately my room has been getting cold so I got one of those heaters that maintains a certain temperature for it. Well I put it in and he seemed to be doing fine at first. Then after a while I noticed he had started hiding in the bowl which was unusual. I didn't think to much about it until he had gone two days without coming out. So I took the little hollowed out log bridge that he was hiding in out and at first I thought he was dead but then I saw he was still swimming with one fin although he was just laying on the bottom. I watched him for a little bit and he didn't have any trouble swimming but all of his fins were clamped really bad. He didn't show any signs of having a distended stomach or of being tipsy he just seemed depressed and would just lay on the bottom of the bowl which is unusual he usually is a very active little fish.
Any input would be appreciated!
 
When was the last time you changed the water? How big is the bowl and how big is the heater? Those little paddle heaters are designed for 1-2 gallon tanks. Good luck with the little guy.
 
You might get more answers if you post under the anabantoids forum.

To me it sounds like he may just be cold. Is there a thermostat in the tank? Whats the temp?
 
I had just changed out his water the day before. He is in a one gallon tank and the heater was suppose to be a small tank heater...and he started acting weird the day after I put the heater in his water...
 
Gold girl said:
I had just changed out his water the day before. He is in a one gallon tank and the heater was suppose to be a small tank heater...and he started acting weird the day after I put the heater in his water...
Click to expand...

What is the water temp?

Also a 1 gallon bowl is too small for a Betta, I would get him at least 2.5 gallons.
 
The water temperature before the heater was put in was at about 64 and then after a day with the heater it was at 76...
 
I am wondering if it was the rapid temperature change, I would let him get used to the new temperature.

I would also get him at least a 2.5 gallon tank, a heater in a tank that small would cause large temperature fluctuations even if it was made for small tanks. A bigger tank will also give your Betta more room to swim and that will bring out his full personality and color.

You did the right thing by getting him a heater, 64 degrees is much too cold for a Betta.
 
Ok well then I will try to see about a bigger tank and just let him get use to the temperature. Thanks for all your input!
 
It causes major stress to the fish.As for temp, I keep my bettas a around 79 to 80, but then again I live in Florida so I dont really have a temp problem. Bettas are very hardy and can often seen invincable.
 
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