Betta frantic swimming

Question
QUESTION: I've had Max for about 18 months in about a gallon and a half of water in a well-heated office, so I don't use a heater.  He has no roommates.  I do a 50% change weekly, with conditioned water and added GH and KH supplements as we have very soft water. I test periodically and water conditions are always very good. He has java ferns to hide in and to help keep the water clean.  He eats betta pellets - 3-6 a day.  His predecessor lived a long and healthy life in the same conditions.

He wasn't in good condition when I first got him, but I was able to nurse him back to health within a couple of weeks.  He's never blown bubble nets, but has shown consistent interest in his surroundings, jumps on his food with enthusiasm, and does a pretty cute betta wiggle dance.

He's still interested in food, still pouncing on it like a cat (bum-wiggle and all).  But he's also frantically swimming at the top with his 'nose' sticking out of the water several times a day.  He doesn't rub against anything, and he's not glancing (which I've seen in the past with my other fish in other tanks).  It looks almost seizure-like, but he's not bumping into anything.  He isn't floating or listing on his side, so I don't suspect anything to do with his swim bladder.  His overall behavior is a little lower-key than it used to be - he isn't as interested in people as he used to be and takes just a little longer to come up to the surface at feeding time - but he isn't lying on the bottom or doing head- or tail-stands.

One of our other bettas displayed similar behavior not too long before he died, but he wasn't eating at all.

It doesn't sound like this is a sign of natural aging and his color is still bright.  I don't suspect parasites as he has no interaction with other fish or other fish equipment (gravel cleaner, etc.) and nothing new has been introduced since he was.  Unless parasites can infect a tank without direct contact...

Thanks for your help!

ANSWER: Cheryl,

 As long as the office is heated at 80 degrees at all times, you are good with no heater. Java fern does not keep the water clean. Actually, no plant does. A Betta's stomach is the size of his eye so feeding 3-6 pellets a day is a bit too much. I would stick with just 3 daily. If he has never given you a bubble nest, then he is not a happy fish. I think that his water temp has a lot to do with him not making a nest. His house is another. 2.5 gallons is the minimum size tank where a 5 gallon is best. I have all 13 of my adult males in their own 5 gallon tanks with a heater and sponge filter. If he is at the top, that is usually a sign of not enough oxygen in the water so he is staying at the top to get air. You can add an air stone to his tank to add some oxygen to the water. As long as he is not showing visible signs of any kind of illness, we don't treat with any medication. Ich, as well as other things, are always present in the water waiting for a chance to latch on to a sick or ailing fish. I would check the plant(s) to make sure they are still in good condition. How do his fins and tail look? Are they open or clamped? Sometimes, for reasons unknown, our fish start to act this way and then go back to acting normal. All we can do right now is wait and see if anything changes. I do believe that if you add a heater you will see a big difference in him. The temp fluctuations are not good for them and can effect his immune system. Just keep an eye on him and lest me know if anything changes. If you have any more question, don't hesitate to ask.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your help.

Unfortunately, my office is uncomfortably and consistently warm year-round, so I don't think it's a problem with temperature.  Good for him, lousy for my concentration.

The plants are in good condition and his fins and tail are full and have no loss of color.  He flares normally and - aside from the weird swimming - seems mostly himself.

He does this even right after a water change, when I've shaken the heck out of the water bottle to incorporate more air, so I don't think oxygen is the problem.  It's a recent behavior with no recent changes in his conditions, so I'm a bit stumped.  Perhaps he's a little cramped.

Hopefully he gets back to being himself.

Answer
Cheryl,

You're welcome. As far as the temperature goes, as long as it is a constant 80 degrees he should be fine. What I mean by that is even at night it is the same temp as during the day. He might just be feeling stifled in the small tank. Do you know what kind of Betta he is? All you can do is just keep an eye on him and if things change for the worse, let me know. Good luck.