I live in Bangkok & my Siamese fighting fish is about 2.5 years old. So his problems may simply be old age, but just in case there's something I can do to help him, I'd like to try.
In the past week, he's been having daily episodes where he seems to go a bit loony & flops about, a bit like a sperm cell zigzagging towards the egg but with more frantic energy. He seems to be going for air, like he's really out of breath. Then, exhausted, he drops to the bottom, breathes heavily, looks like he's about to die - but eventually recovers.
When he seems more calm, I feed him & he's still eating, though much less than before - but during that time he seems more normal. For the past 4-5 months, 'normal' has been pretty unenergetic, not moving around too much, but still generally OK.
Just this morning, I've noticed small puncture-type holes in his bottom fin. It looks like wear & tear of age rather than disease, but really I don't know. I haven't noticed any other unusual discolorations.
In May he had a cotton fungus, but it was gone after two weeks of medication.
I'm wondering if it's not really gone & is what's causing his problems. Or if in fact I overmedicated him (I followed instructions precisely, but continued to add lesser doses for 2-3 weeks when symptoms were gone, to be on the safe side).
If he's just old, then that's how it goes, but if anyone thinks this may be a specific problem, please let me know your thought & what, if anything, I can do.
Some additional info:
1. He lives in a wide deep bowl (not aquarium), with 4.5 liters of water. During his recent episodes, I've been placing him in a smaller bowl so he can reach air more easily.
2. I've always used bottled water. I normally change the water once every 3-5 days. The regular bowl usually has plants & leaves from a tree said to be useful for keeping the fish healthy. Since May I add small amounts of sea salt with every water change.
3. There are no other fish in the bowl.
I appreciate any informative responses,
Dave
In the past week, he's been having daily episodes where he seems to go a bit loony & flops about, a bit like a sperm cell zigzagging towards the egg but with more frantic energy. He seems to be going for air, like he's really out of breath. Then, exhausted, he drops to the bottom, breathes heavily, looks like he's about to die - but eventually recovers.
When he seems more calm, I feed him & he's still eating, though much less than before - but during that time he seems more normal. For the past 4-5 months, 'normal' has been pretty unenergetic, not moving around too much, but still generally OK.
Just this morning, I've noticed small puncture-type holes in his bottom fin. It looks like wear & tear of age rather than disease, but really I don't know. I haven't noticed any other unusual discolorations.
In May he had a cotton fungus, but it was gone after two weeks of medication.
I'm wondering if it's not really gone & is what's causing his problems. Or if in fact I overmedicated him (I followed instructions precisely, but continued to add lesser doses for 2-3 weeks when symptoms were gone, to be on the safe side).
If he's just old, then that's how it goes, but if anyone thinks this may be a specific problem, please let me know your thought & what, if anything, I can do.
Some additional info:
1. He lives in a wide deep bowl (not aquarium), with 4.5 liters of water. During his recent episodes, I've been placing him in a smaller bowl so he can reach air more easily.
2. I've always used bottled water. I normally change the water once every 3-5 days. The regular bowl usually has plants & leaves from a tree said to be useful for keeping the fish healthy. Since May I add small amounts of sea salt with every water change.
3. There are no other fish in the bowl.
I appreciate any informative responses,
Dave
