Weird Behavior

Question
Hello Jaymie!

I have two beautiful Betta fishes (one is red, one is blue) - I keep them in separate bowls so they don't fight each other. Recently, my darling red Betta fish has been exhibiting an unusual behavior - he floats on his side. At first, I thought he was dead... until he moved! He was playing possum! He does respond to me when I feed him and he wiggles his fins when I talk to him but in his down time he's playing possum... What does this mean?!?!


Thank you,

Concerned Betta Parent

Answer
Seimone,

 This first problem is the bowl. No fish can thrive in a bowl. They need to be in 2.5 gallon tanks a minimum, where 5 gallons is better. Secondly, Betta's are tropical and need their water at 82 degrees at all times. When in a bowl, they cannot have warm water. It sounds like swim bladder disease,and here is how you help him. Fast him for 2 days. On day 3 get a frozen pea and drop it in hot water. This will thaw it out and blanch it. When it has cooled take the out shell off and throw it away. DO NOT feed him the shell because he cannot digest it. Cut it is very small bite size pieces and feed it to him and then fast him again for 2 days. This should help. pick one day a week that you fast them and one day a week that you feed them a pea. I am thinking the biggest problem is that his water is too cold. Once you feed him the pea, move him to a bigger tank, and add the heater, I am thinking he will pick right up. If he does not get better after the treatment or he gets worse let me know.