Beta Scuba Steve

Question
I have had Scuba since April 06 and for the last month or so he has been laying on his side (at the top of the tank).  He seems active, he eats, he even swims sideways.  Is there something wrong with him?  Is he dying?

Answer
Hello Cheryl-

Your betta may be suffering from an internal problem, probably gastrointestinal, that's affecting his swim bladder. How often do you feed him? 2 or 3 pellets twice a day should be plenty; any more than that and you risk over-feeding. When a betta's stomach gets full, it presses on the swim bladder, which controls balance.

I recommend fasting Scuba for 2 days to see if his swimming improves. You can try feeding him bits of pea after the two days are up (to help clean out his system.)

If neither of those suggestions help, try raising the water temperature. 80 F is ideal for bettas, so if you can get the water that warm, you may notice improvements.

Hope this is helpful!
-Amber Worman