My question is just like it sounds.
I have a betta that I've had for around three and a half to four years. I can't remember for sure when I got him, but I think it was about a year before I moved into this house (July 2002).
For the last several months he's gotten paler and paler, his fins have gotten raggedy and he's been a bottom dweller. I was never a good water changer, and actually almost lost him three years ago when I still had him in a Peace Lily bowl. A 100% water change and transfer to a 3 gallon filtered tank perked him up though. I also never really had his water temperature warm enough, but again he never let me know anything was wrong before.
I tried a few water changes, added aquarium salt, left the light on to warm the water, but nothing seems to help. I don't know what the ammonia level was, but the water I use is well water and filtered well to be neutral pH.
The last two months have been horrible. He just lies on the bottom of the tank, only moving if I poke him. He's stopped eating, and it makes me sad to see him every morning. I think, "Oh, thank goodness, he's finally passed," but no, I look closely and I can see his gills moving under the gill cover. They seem a bit swollen and protrude slightly outside the cover, but I admit cluelessness to an optimal state for them.
I went and bought the blue stuff and Bettafix and used both on him tonight, and have him in a warm cup of fresh water next to his tank. I plan to change his water daily, in the hopes of getting him back. Does death from natural causes take this long? I know he's ancient in betta terms, but shouldn't he just die and put us both out of our misery or recover?
I have a betta that I've had for around three and a half to four years. I can't remember for sure when I got him, but I think it was about a year before I moved into this house (July 2002).
For the last several months he's gotten paler and paler, his fins have gotten raggedy and he's been a bottom dweller. I was never a good water changer, and actually almost lost him three years ago when I still had him in a Peace Lily bowl. A 100% water change and transfer to a 3 gallon filtered tank perked him up though. I also never really had his water temperature warm enough, but again he never let me know anything was wrong before.
I tried a few water changes, added aquarium salt, left the light on to warm the water, but nothing seems to help. I don't know what the ammonia level was, but the water I use is well water and filtered well to be neutral pH.
The last two months have been horrible. He just lies on the bottom of the tank, only moving if I poke him. He's stopped eating, and it makes me sad to see him every morning. I think, "Oh, thank goodness, he's finally passed," but no, I look closely and I can see his gills moving under the gill cover. They seem a bit swollen and protrude slightly outside the cover, but I admit cluelessness to an optimal state for them.
I went and bought the blue stuff and Bettafix and used both on him tonight, and have him in a warm cup of fresh water next to his tank. I plan to change his water daily, in the hopes of getting him back. Does death from natural causes take this long? I know he's ancient in betta terms, but shouldn't he just die and put us both out of our misery or recover?
