new beta fish, i think he might be sick.

Question
i just got a beta fish on sunday (8-21) to take with me off to college.  i had an old gallon sized goldfish bowl that i have him in.  i put rocks in the bottom and a silk plant in there.  i used a bowl buddies tablet to treat the water the first time, but the water got very cloudy with in 24 hours, so i changed it and used tetra aqua, aqua safe to treat the water.  the bowl has been much cleaner since then.  the first day my fish ate 3 fish pellets, although i think he spit them out later.  but that is the most that he has eaten.  i've been trying to feed him hikari betta bio-gold pellets but he doesn't seem interested.  he will swim up to them and blow a bubble near it and swim away.  the past two days i have been able to feed him 1 freeze dried blood worm.  but even then he still doesn't seem interested in eating.  last night and this morning he has been laying in the plant right up next to the surface.  basically all he has to do is open his mouth and get some air.  i was affraid he was dead this morning so i moved the water and he darted around the fish bowl for a few seconds, and then went back to resting on the plant.  he hasn't been very active.  i don't know a lot about fish, and i'm affraid he's sick!  is there anything i can do?
thank you for your time,
anne  

Answer
Hi Anne;

If the temperature in the room is under 75f that could be the problem. Bettas need warm water. When they are breeding they like it up to 85f. They like it high when they are sick too. Put his bowl in a warmer area if he is too cool. Don't add warmer water to get it up quickly. Just let it gradually rise.

If he isn't cold he may just still be trying to adjust to his new home. Clean up any leftover food right away so it doesn't foul the water. Try putting a mirror close to his bowl and let him see himself. He will think it is another betta and hopefully it will get him moving because he should want to fight with it. Look at him carefully to see if there is any swelling in the abdomen or patches of fungus or anything on him. Here are some sites to read for more info on bettas;

www.healthybetta.com
www.bettatalk.com

Hope he feels better soon.....

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins