My fish keeps "dying" and coming back to life. NOT SWIM BLADDER. Please read and help...

Question

For the past two weeks she is seemingly dead off and on. She's floating on her side at the top of the tank with her eyes glazed over, not breathing. I almost flushed her the first time it happened because.... well... she was dead! My aunt insisted I go to the store with her at that minute so I figured I would flush her later only later she was alive and fine. The other fish are eating away at her fins while she is "dead".

Anybody know what could be causing this?

I heard fish don't sleep so I'm thinking fish Narcolepsy is out of the question lol. She's my very favorite fish. Female Betta about a year and a half old. Her name is Monet but I've been referring to her as Living Dead Fish.

Ideas???

Answer 1

Did you change anything in her habitat? Temperature? That might be the cause.

or

Her gills could have a problem, maybe not being able to filter the oxygen in the water, so she cant breathe.

Are you sure it's not the swim bladder? A problem in the swim bladder can cause a fish to float or sink.

other than that not sure. Sorry wish I could help some more  

Answer 2

Try separating your fish from the rest of the fish. obviously, if they're picking on her, it's stressing her out and could possibly be making it worse.

Are there any outward signs of infection other than the torn fins? Is she bloated or anything? Are there any worms hanging out of her a**s or from her gills?

How long have you had this fish? (bettas only live for about 2-5 years)

How long has she been acting this way?

Answer 3

Maybe it's the water or you are not feeding her enough or  the tank or sometimes with betas it's the other fish I have a beta fish too and his name is Stewart  and  sometimes  he looks like he could be dead too so maybe it's just afish thing

Answer 4

I have been told for swim bladder give them a frozen pea ..peeled. Or brine shrimp.

I had tried that for my Oscar but it ended up being a tumor..

http://flickr.com/photos/29035692@N03/27...

I had to buy euthenasia from Drsfostersmith and it would only put him in a coma..I had to wrap him in a towel and put him in th efreezer..he just went to sleep and died. Mr Oscar was 8 yrs old..and a FUN fish!

Answer 5

I once had a fish, and named it the Play-Dead Fish. She played dead for a long time. But now she's dead. Research a little more, or ask a local vet. Maybe she's just playing dead.