Epileptic Betta?

Question
Hi, my friend has a Betta that looks sick. It looks depressed and hangs around the bottom of the tank not moving unless it is fed. and it also looks like it has spasms whenever it swims around. My friend is very sad and she thinks that she kills fish because her last fish died too. She got both from the same place and it has been this way since she got it. There are no other fish in the tank but there is one artificial plant.
Matti.

Answer
Hi Matidam,
I do not know what size tank your betta is living in, and I do not know what conditions the water he is living in.  Here are some facts on the betta, and how to keep him healthy, and happy:

Bettas should be kept in 5 gallon tanks, and there water should be around 80-82 degrees.  When bringing home a betta, we all know that the little sadistic cups they are kept in, are not heated, so we put the betta in unheated water, around the temperature he came in.  Then we heat his water slowly, very very slowly, ONE degree every two days as bringing up their temperature too fast could cause death.  Adding a teaspoon of undiluted aquarium salt to his water helps with stress, and parasites.  (One teaspoon to five gallons of water)  In his habitat the betta may live in shallow waters, but he has lots of room to swim.  Small tanks, bowls, vases, and mirrored tanks are all money making machines, and not suited for the betta.  Vendors do not care, as long as they sell.  They are there to make a buck, and this is all that matters to them.  Bettas kept in small containers will get sick, and their lives are cut short.  They are intelligent little beings, and should not be treated this way.  Unfortunately, their are no laws to protect fish, and not much good information on how the betta should be kept.
Bettas should have varied diets.  Betta Pellets, Betta Flakes, Bloodworms, Glassworms, Plankton Flakes, brine shrimp, and one frozen pea a week.  One day you feed him pellets the next flakes, and so on.  He must be fed in small quantities 2-3 times a day.  Example:  2 pellets for one meal, or 2 flakes for one meal.  Their tummy is the size of his eye, and we must always remember this when feeding them.  One cooked frozen pea a week is a must.  Cook the pea, remove the outer layer, and cut it into tiny pieces.  Feed the pieces one at a time to your betta making sure he eats it, and that it doesn't fall to the bottom of the tank.  On the day you feed him the pea, feed him nothing else.  This is so he cleans out his system, and avoids Swim Bladder Disease.  The Betta is prone to this disease which begins with constipation, so it is better to avoid it.
Treat your betta with "Tetracycline"... be careful not to overdose, and keep his water very clean.
I hope this information helps, and if you have any other questions regarding your little friend please do not hesitate to write me.  I have bred bettas, love them, and know how attached we are to them.
Lynda