Too Buoyant Betta (Male)

Question
I have a male betta, aprox age of 2+ years.
The last few weeks I have been having issues with him floating on his side at the top of his tank.
When disturbed, he perks up an [tries] to swim to the bottom of the tank, it appears to be a struggle for him, he gives up, then floats right back to the top like a balloon under water.
Some days are worse that others as he wont even stir when I blow on the water (note, I DO NOT tap the glass bowl).
Other days he seems to be upright and fine and will even eat.
After he eats, he defecates, then the water get changed.
However, it's progressively getting worse, when disturbed, he'll stay upright for less and less time, he wont eat any more and when he does swim, it's a sort of lopsided sideways swim around the bowl.
I've been changing his water daily with tap water filtered through a Britta Water Filter that is at room temp (our drinking water actually)
And am daily treating the water with "Melafix - antibacterial remedy for fresh and saltwater aquarium fish."
The bowl he is in is glass, it's aprox 5 1/2" high, and 5" in circumference.
His bowl is now on a shelf in the washroom, where he gets more indirect sunlight, more humidity, and it is warmer in there.
I'm at a complete loss as to what is wrong with him, and what else I can do to treat/help him.
Any ideas???
Thank you!


Answer
Hi Carrie,
Your Betta has Swim Bladder Disease.  This often happens to Bettas, as we tend to overfeed them.  They get constipated.  Give him the pea treatment mentioned below, and nothing else.  Hopefully, he should waste.  However, a treatment of "Kanamycin" would be very good for him if you can find it.  If you cannot, Tetracycline, or Furan 2 should also help.  Be careful not to overdose.

Here is some information on the Betta, and how he should be kept which you might find helpful:

Bettas need 5 gallons of water to be healthy, and happy.
In their habitat the betta may live in shallow waters, but they have lots of room to swim.  
Keeping Bettas in small bowls, containers, vases etc, is cruel.  The Betta is one of the most mistreated fish on the market.
They need a heated tank.  Temperature should be 78-80 degrees.  They are tropical fish, and are cold under this temperature.  Cold bettas get sick, are miserable, and live unhappy lives. ( Always remember  when heating a tank, do this very very slowly..1 (one) degree every two days, as bringing up the temperature too fast would kill your Betta.)  The temperature should always be stable.  Fluctuating temperature is very bad for bettas, and any other fish.  
They should have a silk plant in their tanks, so that they can rest on the leaves  They also need a little tunnel or some knick knack that they can go through.   One teaspoon to five gallons of diluted aquarium salt may be added to his water, when a Betta is well.  
Aquarium salt helps them with stress, and helps with parasites.  However if a Betta is showing signs of a swollen tummy, salt should not be used.
They need a varied diet. This is very important.  Betta pellets one day, Betta Flakes the next, Daphnia the next, and bloodworms should be given once a week as a treat.
He should be given one well cooked frozen cooked pea a week, and on the day you give him the pea, he should fast.    
A betta is prone to constipation, and constipation leads to Swim Bladder Disease.  A frozen cooked pea a week keeps them from getting constipated.  Always remove the outer layer of the pea, and cut it into small pieces feeding it to your betta one piece at a time.
They should have 2-3 small meals a day, and not one big meal.  We must remember that their tummy is the size of their eye.
Example:  2 pellets for one meal.
Water changes are very important.  Water changes must be made every week without fail with a good water conditioner such as Aqua Safe or Stress Coat.  There is also a conditioner made especially for bettas.  If you do not have a filter, change all the water in his tank weekly.
Never put two bettas in the same tank, they will kill each other...male or female.  The Betta male is a loner.  Females can be kept together in a big enough tank, but they are also aggressive towards each other, and the tank should be at least 30 gallons with many hiding places.
When treated well, a betta can live up to 8 years, if you buy him when he is very young.  (Unfortunately we do not know their age when we buy them at the Pet Store which is why some bettas die two or three years after we have bought them.)
He's an intelligent little fish, and should be treated with kindness.
Too many vendors know nothing about the betta, and don't care...so don't give good information on how to keep them.
They are there to sell, and will say anything just to make a buck.  They send you home with your bought betta, telling you a small bowl is perfect, and bloodworms!  The poor customer thinks he has everything he/she needs, and then the fish gets sick, money is spent to cure him, and eventually the fish dies.   
This turns my stomach over.  Unfortunately there are no laws to protect fish.  
Bettas kept in small bowls, one gallon tanks, and vases, will get sick, and are very hard to cure in such little water.  They end up dieing, and
that hurts the person who has grown so attached to them.  They don't deserve to be treated this way.
This is how a Betta should be treated.  If treated this way, you will have your friend for a long long time.  I have bred them, love them, and know what is good for them.
If you have anymore questions, do not hesitate to write me.
Lynda