Betta and aquatic frogs

Question
My husband and I have a 5 gallon tank with a betta and about 5 aquatic frogs.  Our frogs kept dying so now all we have is a betta.  The betta is now acting like his equilibrium is off.  He swims sideways and upside down and sometimes in circles.  He lays on his side at the bottom of the tank but when we tap on the tank he swims around wildly.  He has been fine for the last 2 years I have had him. I spoke to the pet store where we bought the frogs and they said there is a contamination at the vendor that is killing the frogs but it shouldn't do anything to any fish, it is a frog specific bacteria/disease.  We added a tank heater and keep it at about 78 degrees (suggestion from the pet store).  We feed the fish frozen blood worms (another suggestion) and betta pellets.  Please help... What am I doing wrong?

Answer
Dear Shanna,
Sorry to hear all the bad luck you've been having.

Sometimes frogs can get certain diseases and sometimes there is nothing you can do. But you may want to try a different petstore for their frogs and see how it turns out.

It sounds like your betta has Swim bladder disorder. Which is a condition bettas commonly get when their swim bladder gets messed up and they lose their equilibrium. His symptoms match perfectly. There are several causes to Swim bladder disorder but the most common cause is food related. Overfeeding or feeding not enough variety can contribute to swim bladder disease. But so can constipation. Usually the poor betta's belly is slightly bloated also with Swim bladder disorder.

The best thing to do is to fast (not feed) your little betta for at least 2 days. Then you can try giving him a tiny piece of green pea (make sure it's thawed and pelled) He may not accept it. But most bettas do. Often they have to be handfed the pea on the end of a blunt toothpick. If he doesn't take it, don't worry. You could also try feeding him "Vegetable" or "Spirulina" fish flakes which can provide the fiber he may need to pass intestinal blockages.

Usually this problem can resolve itself with good care and some time. Make sure his water conditions are good as always with plenty of frequent partial water changes. Most bettas recover within several days and some need much longer.
Just don't give up on him. All you can do is try your best!

For more about Swim bladder disorder, visit here:
http://bettas.fishjunkies.com/Disorders/sbd.php

I really hope this helps!
Best of luck!
Karen~