betta being very aggressive

Question
QUESTION: Hello!

My friend bought me a betta fish, a 1/2 gallon bowl, and some gravel about a week ago. The betta, named Ralph, was pretty happy swimming in his bowl. He would have no problem eating, never got angry at me, etc, etc. The first few days I was feeding him freeze dried bloodworms, and then on about tuesday switched to betta-bio gold pellets.

Happy happy happy.

Yesterday, I changed his water (which he wasn't to happy about) and I'm using poland spring. I don't know the levels or anything.

I also bought him a plastic plant and two larger rocks for the bottom that he can rest on because I didn't like his fins being on the gravel where all the gravel is and bacteria. The plant is the smallest I could find, but it still takes up like half of the bowl. I plan on going home in a week and I think we've got a 1 gallon bowl from when I had fish about 15 years ago.

I think he likes the plant though. He rests on the leaves, and on the rocks. He swims around and through it all the time. There's some bubbles nesting under some leaves.

So anyway, today he started flaring his gills at my hand when I brought it near the side of t he bowl... so then I looked up what that meant. I gave him some blood worms this  morning which he ate fine, but I was going to give him a pellet tonight and he flared at me again, and didn't eat the pellet. He then jumped at my finger... and after i took my hand a way he jumped about three more times. He also used to follow my finger around at the surface, but now he just keeps his distance, or runs away from it.

This did start today... so I'm thinking he must just be getting used to the plant... or maybe I'm annoying him too much.

I'm not really sure. If you could help me, that would be great. I'm worried.

Thanks.

ANSWER: Betta's can be finicky eaters. He probably loves those worms so much the pellets just seem bland. Make sure you are giving him his pellets in addition to the worms or he could get bloated. He'll eat it eventually, when he realizes hes not going to get another worm.

As long as he is acting normal, active, eating, not lethargic it sounds like hes being possessive of his territory. My Betta will flare at me sometimes if I ignore him. Or maybe hes showing off because he wants to mate with you?

If theres bubbles under the leaves that means he's building a bubble nest (he wants to mate) and he's very happy. If he's jumping out of the water I'd get a lid, a piece of screen or something with holes. You don't want to find him on the floor someday. He also might be jumping at your finger because he sees food. I used to have a Betta who would take pellets off my fingers.

If you ever notice any change in his behavior, even the slightest, it could mean hes getting ill.

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

QUESTION: Hey!

Thanks for getting back to me... I think my betta is getting really sick! Yesterday morning he was fine, eating, swimming around. great.

Last night I came back home... and his bubbles were almost all gone, and he was rather motionless. This morning he's pale, and will move even less. He won't eat and barely responds to me.

What should I do?! A water change? Maybe he's constipated? He doesn't seem bloaded, but he seems to be a very jittery when he swims.

He is in a half gallon bowl, and the ROOM temperature is 75.

HELP!

ANSWER: Well I've noticed that some Betta's will loose their coloring if they are left in dirty water. How long ago was it that you changed it? If you don't see anything else wrong with him like cloudy spots, red gills, fins falling off, white spots? If hes not bloated in the front then you can rule out swim bladder disease and  constipation. For now, change his water, make sure your using a water conditioner to clear out the chemicals before you put him back in. Go out and buy some Melafix from the pet store, its a nice wide spectrum medication that might help since we aren't totally sure what the problem is.

Let me know if theres any other changes or you notice anything else.

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

QUESTION: He now only goes up for air when he needs to, but rests at the bottom. He has this white gunk that's building up all around him, especially between his fins.

I put some epson salt in the water because I thought he was constipated, and my friend bought me some antibiotics that I will give him later tonight when I pick them up.

The water is a bit cloudly, and i will change it. Though it's only been about 3 or 4 days since I last changed it.

If I use a net, how do i disinfect the net so next time that I use it... it won't get him infected again.

I'm hoping for the best.

Thanks.

Answer
Okay, you should definatly pick up some Melafix and Pimafix from your local pet store. Or if what your friend is giving you treats fungal or bacterial infections. Using them together at the correct dose should help you see a huge improvement in your fish. Its probably a fugal or bacterial infection since you can see the white gunk building up. He should perk right up once he's feeling better.

Let me know how it goes.

PS: I forgot about the net, just soak in boiling water for a few minutes it should be fine. Or to be completely safe, buy a new net.