Nothing but swimming downwards...

[bettas4ever]

I have just noticed that my betta, Rebel, can ONLY swim downwards, and sideways I guess, and then he just floats right back up. I'm REALLY concerned though...I don't know if it has anything to do wuth his swim bladder at all. Does anybody know what it could be? I'll try and get a video later on...

 

[bettas4ever]

Here is the first video, see how just merely FLOATS upwards, thats how he gets his breath of air now...

It said the file was too big, so I uploaded it here...

http/s11.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2N2DJ32...0S2GMJPFOTMOFHI

 

[bettas4ever]

And the second one, you can see his fins, REALLY working hard..

Right nowm it isn't half as bad as it was before, he would try to swim up, but onyl go down, it was weird...

http/s11.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2N7KM3M...XO2Y9IJT1AB6FAY

 

[wuvmybetta]

looks like he's constipated to me, which could also effect his swim bladder. I wouldn't feed him for a few days and give his system a chance to catch up.

 

[bettas4ever]

Thank you Kelly...now I hope its alright to ask questions..

How long do I have to fast him for?
What other isgns do I have to look out for just in case?
Do I have to treat him with anything?

Or anything else that applies I guess.

 

[wuvmybetta]

I'd go at least two days, just to bring his swelling down. You can't really treat swimbladder with a med, but it can go away on it's own (and with tlc).
I don't know if you've read about colloidal silver but it's excellent for healing damaged tissue and that's usually what causes swimbladder disorder. There's a link in the betta archives.

 

[black angel]

check his nitrate level isnt too high as well. What do you feed him and how often?

 

[FishEnthusiast]

My first thought was constipation too. I would do what Kelly suggested, and see if that helps.

I had a fish that would do that if he ate too much. He would also come to the surface and would float there, half on his side. It scared the daylights out of me. The next day he is swimming fine and there is a big present waiting for me, floating across the top of the water.