Not sure of beta is sick or not?

Question
QUESTION: Hi there, I picked up a beta for my office desk and at first he was doing really well. Ate well and got mad at every highlighter that made its way near his tank. I changed the water and cleaned his tank every 1-2 weeks and treated it with the water treatment before putting him back in. However, at one point he started to look ill, with a bump on his head, and swollen lips. Went to the pet store and picked up Seachem "KanaPlex" as advised by the pet store owner. The Bump went away and his lips returned to normal within about 2 weeks. However, i dont think my fish is the same as he was and im not sure whats happening to him is something im causing, or if its just natural.

Right now, the fish "sleeps" all day. he parks himself on a plant and doesnt move for hours. He has developed shiny scales all around his head, and looks like hes 100 years old, however there is no fuzz, or by the looks of it, no wounds of any type.

He is a king beta, and his fins look fine. They arnt rotting or anything.

Im not sure what I should do? He justlays around all day, ininterested in anything, and doesnt flare up or nothing anymore and rarely swims around. Is he still sick? Is this normal and hes just getting old? Am i worrying over nothing?

Thanks!!!


ANSWER: Hello Adam,
Yes this is something to worry about. How large is his tank? I always recommend having at least a two gallon, and never any smaller than one gallon. You need to change out the water in his tank EVERY week, and keep his temperature between 75-85 degrees F.
They are tropical fish and have their needs just like any other fish.

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QUESTION: He is in a 2 liter tank which i have a picture of. http://www.telnets.org/gfx/news/fishey.jpg

I dont have a heater or a filter in the tank, so i do change the water regularily, though i try to leave a little from the previous week because i heard that he needs SOME bacteria to help him digest (so i usualy put him in a full cup of water from the tank, and pour him along with the water back into the fresh tank)..

Should i be treating him with anything to help him get better? should i stop using the medication he had previousaly? And would getting him a little bubbler help his water condistions and make him happier?

Thanks very much for your time!! :)  

Answer
Hello again Adam,
As I said you'll want to have at LEAST one gallon of water for the little guy. Two liters is really not enough and will require more water changes than just once a week. I suggest getting him a small tank heater as well, a 7.5 watt will do just fine and runs about 12 bucks.
As far as the beneficial bacteria, you will never have enough aeration in that size of a tank to have enough bacteria to do you any good, especially if you are cleaning out the gravel regularly because that is where most of it will live.You might as well change out all his water so he has fresh, clean water. Just make sure you get it as close to the same temperature as his old water so you don't shock his system.
A bubbler will not do much in such a small tank, besides make his too turbulent for his liking.
Betta Splendens come mostly from shallow rice paddies in Asia, where there is no oxygenation in the water - which is why they are a labyrinth fish - meaning they have an organ on top of their head that allows them to get oxygen from the surface of the water. They would die off very quickly otherwise and could not survive as long as yours has in a container so small.  
Most problems will go away once they are put into a stress free environment. A fish is not really a "pet", more like a piece of nature in your home. YOU are the controller of their little ecosystem and it is up to you to make it as close to their natural habitat as possible.
That means warmer water, larger tank, etc.