Susan is acting odd

[FroFro]

My betta Susan is acting very odd. He is usually very active and comes up to the front of the tank and wiggles anytime there is movement around him. He ate last night and was very active like usual. I woke this morning to find him sitting on the bottom outside his log just lying there. His eyes are clear and his fins are slightly open, they don't seem to be clamped. I shined a light on him and haven't noticed any swelling, raised scales, or anything else on him that is physically out of the norm. I tested his water and the nitrates came up a little bit, but a swift water change fixed that. His temperature is at 79 degrees. I placed a small air stone on the far side of the tank to aerate the water more since he doesn't seem to want to surface. I currently have his light off and a towel covering his aquarium to reduce any more stress. Any idea what could be wrong?

EDIT: The only change that has been done recently is I added a small piece of driftwood with anubias attached to it. I boiled the driftwood for four hours and dipped the plant in a diluted bleach treatment before placing them in the tank. Yes, the plant and wood were rinsed thoroughly and soaked in dechlorinated water before being placed in the tank. I have since removed the wood before I changed the water this morning.

 

[Demeter32]

Everything seems to check out so I don't think there is anything wrong with the water. Perhaps the short amount of time when the nitrates were high made him feel a little ill and he just needs a while to recover. How old is Susan? I noticed that the older my bettas get the more they tend to just chill and rest on the plants for a while.

Maybe he was just "sleeping"? For a few minutes after I turn the lights on for the day, my fish will just sit there before they realize that's it time to wake up.

 

[FroFro]

Everything seems to check out so I don't think there is anything wrong with the water. Perhaps the short amount of time when the nitrates were high made him feel a little ill and he just needs a while to recover. How old is Susan? I noticed that the older my bettas get the more they tend to just chill and rest on the plants for a while.

Maybe he was just "sleeping"? For a few minutes after I turn the lights on for the day, my fish will just sit there before they realize that's it time to wake up.

He's been like this since 9AM when I changed his water, its almost 1pm now that I'm replying to you. I bought him as an adult so I'm not sure. I'd say at least 2 years old. He absolutely won't move unless I reach in and slightly move an object near him. His breathing is very slow. I'm not sure what could be wrong, I'd treat him, but I'm not sure what to treat for.

 

[WILDER]

Does she look pale, or darker in colour?
Has she eaten today?
Any red streaking in fins or body?
Any excess mucas on the gills?
Do the gills look swollen, pale, or inflamed?

 

[FroFro]

Does she look pale, or darker in colour?
Has she eaten today?
Any red streaking in fins or body?
Any excess mucas on the gills?
Do the gills look swollen, pale, or inflamed?

He ate yesterday, there are no streaks on his fins or body.

He is already a pale betta, but his colors seem slightly less vibrant I suppose.

He is breathing slowly, I'm not sure how to tell if they are inflamed but I see no change than what I remember, I see nothing that looks like mucus on the gills, I checked again before replying just in case.

I saw that he managed to move onto his side, he is laying slightly flat/leaning against his log. Still breathing slowly. His eyes are still clear and no physical change on his body, no swelling either.

 

[WILDER]

How long do Betta live. Sorry never kept them so don't know.

If you do think he's not himself which I do think I would try a bacterial medication.

Signs of bacterial infections are
Acting listless and lethargic.
Leaning on things in tank, or laying on substrate.
Look pale or darker in colour.
Not eating.
Long stringy white waste.
Red streaking.
Bloating, Popeye.
Shallow or rapid breathing.
Cloudy eyes.
Frayed or pale fins.

 

[FroFro]

How long do Betta live. Sorry never kept them so don't know.

If you do think he's not himself which I do think I would try a bacterial medication.

Signs of bacterial infections are
Acting listless and lethargic.
Leaning on things in tank, or laying on substrate.
Look pale or darker in colour.
Not eating.
Long stringy white waste.
Red streaking.
Bloating, Popeye.
Shallow or rapid breathing.
Cloudy eyes.
Frayed or pale fins.

I've read anywhere between 2-6 years if properly cared for. Any suggestions for a bacteria medicine? I'm not sure what is effective and what isn't

 

[WILDER]

If you use antibiotics like Maracyn or Tetracycline they will wipe the beneficial
bacteria out in your filter. Any antibiotic will.

You can run an airstone in the tank and keep the filter running in a bucket of tank water.
Just add flakes daily to keep the bacteria alive. This way you don't have to recycle
the tank after treatment has ended.

If no improvement in the betta by tomorrow I think I would treat for a bacterial infection.

Some info for you.

The third type of infection produced by Aeromonas is by no means the least. This form is often the most virulent (potent) and can be rapidly fatal. This insidious form does not produce any noticeable external ulcers. The most notable feature is a behavioral change in which the infected fish generally become listless and lethargic. Some fish may lose color or appear darker. The fish do not feed, frequently seem off balance and may sink to the bottom laying on their sides. The course of the disease is rapid, and by the time the behavioral changes are noticed, the entire population of a tank may succumb, sometimes in a day or so. This is an internal infection, with the bacteria being found in the kidneys and blood of these fish. The bacteria produce potent toxins that account for the severity of the disease.

 

[FroFro]

If you use antibiotics like Maracyn or Tetracycline they will wipe the beneficial
bacteria out in your filter. Any antibiotic will.

You can run an airstone in the tank and keep the filter running in a bucket of tank water.
Just add flakes daily to keep the bacteria alive. This way you don't have to recycle
the tank after treatment has ended.

If no improvement in the betta by tomorrow I think I would treat for a bacterial infection.

Some info for you.

The third type of infection produced by Aeromonas is by no means the least. This form is often the most virulent (potent) and can be rapidly fatal. This insidious form does not produce any noticeable external ulcers. The most notable feature is a behavioral change in which the infected fish generally become listless and lethargic. Some fish may lose color or appear darker. The fish do not feed, frequently seem off balance and may sink to the bottom laying on their sides. The course of the disease is rapid, and by the time the behavioral changes are noticed, the entire population of a tank may succumb, sometimes in a day or so. This is an internal infection, with the bacteria being found in the kidneys and blood of these fish. The bacteria produce potent toxins that account for the severity of the disease.

I just wanted to thank you for your help. Susan seemed to respond to the medicine at first and even began to move a bit more. I managed to get him to eat a very small bit last night but I woke to find him dead this morning. I think whatever it was, it was too late. I buried Susan out in the yard. Thanks again for your help, I'm sorry I don't have better news.

 

[WILDER]

So sorry. Bless him. You tried your best.
Thank you for the update.
R.I.P.