Sick Betta?

I know it's been a long time since I've posted here but I think I need some help. My King Betta (Mystic)has not been acting himself as of late. For about a week he's been pretty reclusive and for the last 2 or 3 days he's been hanging out at the bottom of the tank for extended periods of time. I'm attaching a picture or two in hopes of getting some help.

Other than a diatom (red/brown algae?) issue my tank is fine. Ammonia and Nitrites are zero and nitrates were very low. I decided to do a 50% water change hoping that might help things and added API aquarium salt as directed on the box but he's just not active as he was even 2 weeks ago. Water temp is 82 degrees.

There was one time today when he was on the bottom with no fin movement at all. Other times he'll be swimming about like normal. He takes spells.

Anyway ideas?


Edited to add that Ph is 7.4 (that's the ph of my well water) and he is in a 5 gallon aquarium with a HOB filter. Sorry but my first post didn't show so I had to repost.

Think I forgot to mention that at feeding time he first seem reluctant to eat but once he does he acts perfectly normal.

Drop your temperature to somewhere in the range of 78F to 80F. 82F is a bit warm for most bettas, even though it is within their toleration range. The activity levels may well return to normal once the temperature has been adjusted. High water temperatures always mean a reduced oxygen level in that tank water. If your boy is having trouble getting enough oxygen, that small drop in temperature may be enough to completely revive him.

Thanks for the reply. It turned out that he did have dropsy -- he began to pine cone pretty bad and swelled up. I ended up euthanizing him today with the clove oil/vodka method. I tried medicating with Maracyn 2 but by the time I noticed something was wrong and figured out what he had it was too late. He actually seemed to pep up a little yesterday but this morning he had swollen even more to the point he looked grey instead of midnight blue and he literally only moved to surface for air. I'm actually pretty broken up about it all but I just didn't want him to suffer. I could tell he wasn't going to make it and thought about letting him die naturally but I was too scared that he'd be in pain by tomorrow. I'm off to bury him with one of his tank toys.

NightPhoenix said:

Thanks for the reply. It turned out that he did have dropsy -- he began to pine cone pretty bad and swelled up. I ended up euthanizing him today with the clove oil/vodka method. I tried medicating with Maracyn 2 but by the time I noticed something was wrong and figured out what he had it was too late. He actually seemed to pep up a little yesterday but this morning he had swollen even more to the point he looked grey instead of midnight blue and he literally only moved to surface for air. I'm actually pretty broken up about it all but I just didn't want him to suffer. I could tell he wasn't going to make it and thought about letting him die naturally but I was too scared that he'd be in pain by tomorrow. I'm off to bury him with one of his tank toys.

Click to expand...

Sorry about your loss At least he isn't suffering.

LucyB said:

NightPhoenix said:

Thanks for the reply. It turned out that he did have dropsy -- he began to pine cone pretty bad and swelled up. I ended up euthanizing him today with the clove oil/vodka method. I tried medicating with Maracyn 2 but by the time I noticed something was wrong and figured out what he had it was too late. He actually seemed to pep up a little yesterday but this morning he had swollen even more to the point he looked grey instead of midnight blue and he literally only moved to surface for air. I'm actually pretty broken up about it all but I just didn't want him to suffer. I could tell he wasn't going to make it and thought about letting him die naturally but I was too scared that he'd be in pain by tomorrow. I'm off to bury him with one of his tank toys.

Click to expand...

Sorry about your loss At least he isn't suffering.

Click to expand...

Thank you! I'm going to miss the (big)little guy (he was a King Betta so he was pretty big). I buried him and put his castle on top of the grave as a grave marker. I feel bad about it but feel happy that he isn't suffering.

NightPhoenix said:

LucyB said:

NightPhoenix said:

Thanks for the reply. It turned out that he did have dropsy -- he began to pine cone pretty bad and swelled up. I ended up euthanizing him today with the clove oil/vodka method. I tried medicating with Maracyn 2 but by the time I noticed something was wrong and figured out what he had it was too late. He actually seemed to pep up a little yesterday but this morning he had swollen even more to the point he looked grey instead of midnight blue and he literally only moved to surface for air. I'm actually pretty broken up about it all but I just didn't want him to suffer. I could tell he wasn't going to make it and thought about letting him die naturally but I was too scared that he'd be in pain by tomorrow. I'm off to bury him with one of his tank toys.

Click to expand...

Sorry about your loss At least he isn't suffering.

Click to expand...

Thank you! I'm going to miss the (big)little guy (he was a King Betta so he was pretty big). I buried him and put his castle on top of the grave as a grave marker. I feel bad about it but feel happy that he isn't suffering.

Click to expand...

Don't feel bad, he is in the big fishtank in the sky now! Tbh, I don't think there was anything you could have done to save him, he would have just kept on getting worse, so it is good that he is no longer suffering