Help me save Gary!! PLEEEAASE

[blobby10]

My son's flatshare has ended - therefore I have Gary, the flat Japanese Fighting Fish (who is really small) lodging with me. Gary has been the 'flat pet' for 18 months but they don't know how old he was when he arrived. Over the past couple of weeks he has been spending lots of time on the bottom of the tank and seemed to be struggling to swim up to the surface to feed.

Tank, filter and pump were cleaned out properly by son on arrival and special additive for hard water put in the clean water. However I am trying to find out why Gary is spending so much time at the bottom and wonder if anyone has any advice? He has been fasted/starved and fed a cooked frozen pea (without the skin) but it hasn't made any difference. Every now and then he will swim to the surface and this morning seemed to have a spurt of energy across the water but then went back to resting on the bottom. He came up to the surface for some flakes but the effort seemed to tire him out

Could it be that he is just getting on a bit? Could it be his swim bladder? or constipation? Should I feed him more? Is it trial and error? The water temperature is a steady 24/25 degrees according to the thermometer. I am more a mammal person than fish so really out of my depth! I just don't want to do something that will make Gary suffer 😟

[JelloFishy]

Did your son clean everything in the tank? If he has removed a high percentage of bacteria he may have crashed his tanks cycle. I was told never to clean everything at once otherwise you may remove too much of the bacteria.

Do you have a water testing kit?

[GCITC]

"cleaned out properly" is most likely the issue.

The filter houses all the bacteria that makes the water safe for the fish. Doing anything other than rinsing the sponge in tank water will have removed all the bacteria, resulting in a stalled cycle.

You need to test your water with a liquid kit.

It's likely you have high ammonia. You need to be doing daily water changes of up to 50% with a water conditioner. I'd recommend prime, as it neutralises any ammonia in the tank for 24 hours.

[blobby10]

@JelloFishy and @GCITC as far as I know they have cleaned the tank out like this since they got Gary and he's been fine up until a couple of weeks ago. Would I be able to get a water test kit from Pets at Home as there's one near me?? Or does it need a specialist fish shop? There is something that was added to the tap water to make it 'safe' for the fish but I didn't see what it was.

[blobby10]

@JelloFishy @GCITC also,a massive thank you for responding! As I mentioned I'm totally out of my depth with this one.

[GCITC]

@blobby10

@JelloFishy and @GCITC as far as I know they have cleaned the tank out like this since they got Gary and he's been fine up until a couple of weeks ago. Would I be able to get a water test kit from Pets at Home as there's one near me?? Or does it need a specialist fish shop? There is something that was added to the tap water to make it 'safe' for the fish but I didn't see what it was.

You'll be able to get test strips, a liquid test might be harder to find in PaH.

Have you been adding the stuff to the tap water every time you do a water change?

[ConfusedBubble]

You really want the API Master Test Kit, I don't know if P@H sell them?

Fighting Fish/Bettas are labyrinth fish, so will go to the surface to breathe. That in itself is not a worry - staying at the surface and gulping air can indicate low oxygen levels/poor water quality.

Does Gary have places to hide/shelter in? Is he interested in food? Our Dumbo Betta used to have a couple of days like this every now and then but did always come round.

18 months is quite 'old' for a captive Betta, I believe, so he may just be getting old. Try feeding him some frozen blood worm (just cut a bit off the block and add to the tank to thaw and drop), that might perk him up a bit.

Have you noticed any poops? How do his scales look?

[Fuzzy303]

if you take some of the water to your local aquatic store they will usually do a water test for you & advise how to fix the problem (if there is one) - I think they will do this at Pets at Home but not 100% sure

[blobby10]

Thank you so much everyone for your advice! I haven't done anything with Gary other than talk to him and sprinkle some food in but really want to help him if I can.

@GCITC - yes the stuff has been added to the water at each change.
@ConfusedBubble - hes going to the surface to feed but spends most of his time on the bottom ! He has a rock cave and several plants which he hides in. He was very interested in food this morning - I'm worried about over feeding him as he's so teeny! He's been like this for 2-3 weeks according to my son so it may be he's just feeling his age like I am!! I will get some frozen blood worm if I can 😮. I have no idea what fish poop looks like but his scales look a bit 'dull' - he still has a small turquoise spot on his fin which is all that remains of his original colour. He's now a dark red/orange,
@Fuzzy303 That's really helpful to know about the water testing - certainly quicker than waiting for a kit to be delivered. I will call in to Pets at Home on my way back later.

[ConfusedBubble]

@blobby10 the interest in food is good, the loss of colour suggests stress of some kind, but it may have been the move (or was he like this before that?), or it could well be his age. P@H generally sell frozen blood worm. Our female Betta loves it, so did our male when we had him!

The scales looking dull is 'ok', better than sticking out - if they start looking like pine cones you have a problem. There is a great Betta Forum you can sign up for (just google that) if you want real expert advice, but everything PPs have suggested on here!

Re over feedingm it can happen, they are prone to constipation, We feed 3 betta pellets twice a day six days a week, bloodworm three times a week (she's in a tank with others so she doesn't get much of that!), and then one day a week we don't feed anything to let her output catch up with her input!

Keep us updated!

[DevilsVineBlues]

You've had great advice already but to add: live plants will also help 'use up' excess nitrogen (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) while a proper cycle establishes and will oxygenate the water plus make the fish feel safer as he wants to spend his days swimming between the plants of a marsh or shallow river.

Don't spend £££ on them. A few bunches of elodea or hornwort that you drop into the tank to float, or let sink to the bottom with their little weight strips that they tend to be sold with. Gives him lots of places to hide, soft on his fins and improves water quality. If you're at your fish store getting water tested, they will sells these plants so easy to pick up a few.

IME betta fish (Gary) do like to sit around on things. Mine used to hang out on top of the heater

[blobby10]

@DevilsVineBlues Gary was sitting on his heater last night 🤣. I think the plants are live as one started out with one leaf and now has 3!
@ConfusedBubble I will certainly keep you updated - Gary has me invested now!!

[Sunshineona]

Is the water temperature correct? If he’s sitting on the heater he sounds cold?

Maidenhead Aquatics give very good advice, might be worth phoning them if you don’t have one near you. (I have no link to them other than spending way to much money there.)

Does Gary have something to sit on near the top of the tank? My betta uses a leaf or a bit of wood (or even parks himself st the filter inlet) to stay high up.

Can you oxygenate the water more eg with a bubbler?

Can you feed him any live or defrosted frozen food?

If it all goes wrong don’t feel too bad. Sometimes fish can’t be saved 😢 18 months is good going so someone is doing something right. You’re doing great things already especially the pea.

[PlantChef]

The Only Betta Fish Care Guide You Will Need | Fish Keeping Advice

[blobby10]

Update: went to pets at home where I got some of the water tested. No ammonia but the ph was too high at 8 so got something to bring that down (slowly!) and also some pellets which will sink slowly and may be easier for him to eat! the general conclusion was that he’s getting on a bit and he’s tired and on his way out 😢. I will try and keep him comfortable and keep the water the correct temperature and ph
thank you again to everyone who has taken the trouble to offer help and advice - I really appreciate it 😘😘

[ConfusedBubble]

Aw bless, you're doing a great job looking after him!

Happy retirement, Gary!

[Creepymanonagoatfarm]

All these posts and no pic requests! Come on op!!

[blobby10]

He’s much perkier - always comes out to see me when I get home from work ! And for @Creepymanonagoatfarm inhave attached a pic 😂😂

[ConfusedBubble]

Awwww!

[blobby10]

He has a blue/turquoise spot on his tail which is the only remnant of his original 'baby' colour! x

[Creepymanonagoatfarm]

Ah cute!!.
Thank you op!

[blobby10]

For everyone who was kind enough to provide advice, I am delighted to let you all know that Gary is thriving under my care!! My son has been living at home this week and says he's never been so perky and 'chatty'! We have bought Gary some new weeds for his tank which means he can now sit and rest in them and not on the gravel. He is eating well and really attacking the flakes and the water is a degree warmer than son had it at so possibly also a factor.

I have got into the habit of having a chat with Gary when I get in from work - was fine until I got home a few days ago, opened all the windows as it was warm, started the usual chat and heard "Ahem" from the open window - was a roofer that had said he would drop by to quote for new guttering 😆. Felt rather a twit but hey ho!!

[DevilsVineBlues]

Go Gary!

[Mama1980]

Yay go Gary! Such a lovely update.

[Creepymanonagoatfarm]

Maybe you need a name change op?
Thefishwhisperer maybe?

[blobby10]

Creepymanonagoatfarm 🤣🤣🤣