Help: I Just Got A New Betta And He Is Having Trouble Swimming!

[Saltypuppy]

So I just bought a new Betta Yesterday - He is a Red Butterfly Deltatail. I got him home and noticed that his posture was kind of odd. I didn't see anything at the store because he was just chillin' at the bottom. Like most of them do with no room to move... So I brought him home. Well I noticed that it looked like he was sitting on his tail. So I nudged the cup to get him to change posistion. When He moved I noticed that his back was curved in an "S" Manner. So That worried me. His back has a bit of an arch in it but It really doesn't look bent to me. Anyway the problem is that he can't swim up very easily and I'm not sure whats wrong. He is Pretty active for having so much trouble swimming and he is willing to eat. I Tested that Yesterday before thinking maybe it was SwimBladder. So Ya. I could use any help at all!

I currently have him in a small tank - 1 gallon - With 4 inches of water in it to make it easier for him to come to the surface. His tank isn't as warm as it should be I don't think But I also don't want to buy a heater if he is going to die anyways. So Ya -all cleaned equipment and he just is having a hard time. Here are some pictures.

Side Views -
http/i54.photobucket.com/albums/g114/iamgothicandyouarnt/111_4871.jpg
http/i54.photobucket.com/albums/g114/iamgothicandyouarnt/111_4881.jpg

Top Views -

http/i54.photobucket.com/albums/g114/iamgothicandyouarnt/111_4889.jpg
http/i54.photobucket.com/albums/g114/iamgothicandyouarnt/111_4874.jpg

Other Views -
http/i54.photobucket.com/albums/g114/iamgothicandyouarnt/111_4894.jpg
http/i54.photobucket.com/albums/g114/iamgothicandyouarnt/111_4891.jpg

Please Help me out! I Really want this beautiful Boy to recover!!!

 

[TiffanyJayne]

But I also don't want to buy a heater if he is going to die anyways.

Sounds a little harsh, shouldn't you of bought a heater before deciding on buying tropical fish?
Assuming your heating goes off like most around 9pm and won't be on during the night it may make him worse, One of my betta's have to had this problem i did a full water test, 15% water change and during the day he seems to get better, he may have something internal or he may just be lazy and find it alot of effort carrying that huge tail around all day, provided he's eating well and still getting air i don't think there's too much cause for worry.

 

[CrystalClear16]

What temp is your tank? He might just be staying still because he is cold.

 

[Saltypuppy]

The tank is 78 no worries I have been heating it. He is active also - so there isn't a big deal there either.

Tiffy - I didn't mean to be harsh - and I DO have a heater but it is in my large tank. I don't want to take a new commer and plop him in with my other betta in the event that he has something that isn't showing at the moment. So thats why he is seperate and I started heating the tank before I even read this. My room was really hot for a few days and would have been fine but its cold again. So I do have it heated. He is still in 4 inches of water and I have removed all the gravel gave him a pea and now I am fasting him. His condition has already improved!

 

[Saltypuppy]

UPDATE -

So He is swimming normally now. I have fasted him for one day and he ate a pea the day before. It appears as though he is getting better. However his swimbladder is still showing. Should I give him another pea or should I just keep fasting him?

 

[Saltypuppy]

UPDATED AGAIN - HELP!!!
He was given another pea today because his swimbladder still looks swollen. I now noticed today that he is breathing rather fast... its like he is hyperventalating. But he still is behaving normal... any ideas? He can swim fine and everything now and now I have this new symptom...

 

[Jenste]

with out a heater, he is going to be exposed to fluctuating water temperature, which can stress him out


is the tank cycled? if not, in a 1 gallon tank with only 4 inches of water, ammonia is going to build up VERY QUICK....if he is "hyperventilating", or "gasping" - - this could be another sign of very poor water quality.

clear water does not mean clean water! we can't see the ammonia building up so we can't tell by looking at the water if there is a problem - we have to read the fish's behavior.

so a couple questions - -

is there a filter?
was it cycled?
have you been doing frequent water changes with dechlorinated water matched in temperature to his current environment?

clean water is essential for fish's health.



also, before buying a tropical fish, you should have made sure you can provide them a tropical setting. bettas are sensitive to temperature and need a warm, stable environment to remain healthy.

 

[Saltypuppy]

The tank is cycled - It is heated now... and I have done frequent water changes to make sure that that doesn't happen. I changed it twice today and he is now in a good 8 inches of water... He wasn't behaving like this until I changed his water. He is in a temp. tank at the moment. My other tank has everything he needs right now. I am quarinting him...