Sick Betta: Labored Breathing, Lays At The Bottom, Doesn't Eat?

Question

I bought a Betta about a week and a half ago. He breathes heavily, gills rapidly moving, mouth opening and closing slightly. He always lays at the bottom of his bowl, fins usually clamped, only comes up for air. Ignores whatever food I put in there. I thought he may have some type of parasite, or something, but I'm not sure. He doesn't have any marks on his body, so I know it's not Ich, and I don't think it's Velvet. I've been treating his water with Betta Revive for the past two days. Help!

Answer 1

My wife and I had great results with a product call Aquari-Sol from Aquarium Products in Glen Burnie, Md. It is a freshwater cure and preventative for ick, closed fin,body fungus, velvet and parasite infections.

Answer 2

the betta fish my sister was taking care of just died today... a few hours ago. i am so sad. :(  

the fish was exhibiting the same symptoms as you have described. our fish was also just laying at the bottom of the bowl and then it would come up for some air. the fish would also just float at the top but vertical. the fish lasted like 2 days like this until today when it passed on.

i think the fish died because we didn't put aquarium salt in the water. it looks like he died of a fungal infection because two white spots appeared on its body. i think the salt kills the bacteria in the water.

here is a good website. you have probably seen it already but here it is again for others to see as well:  

http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases....

please change its water and add some salt to it. your fish might be able to pull itself out of this. good luck. my prayers go out to you and your family.

Answer 3

Have you tried aquarium salt? I think you can get it at any pet supply store (I got mine at petland), and it should help the fish. My fish is old and started acting a lot happier once I added it.

Also, check the water. Did you add enough of the drops which conditions the water? You might want to pick up a kit which measures pH and ammonia levels. Is the water too cold?

Finally, have you noticed the fish changing colors? Usually when bettas are sick their color starts to go and they turn grey/white.  

Answer 4

do you have a heater

they do this when they are cold