Why isn't my Betta/Siamese Fighting Fish moving?

Question

My friend had a betta fish he didn't want anymore so I rescued it but it came from a very dirty bowl. I now have it in a bit bigger, cleaner and proper temperature bowl. The fish doesn't do anything. I've had other Betta fish, so has my sister, and they were very active. This one doesn't even move for food. It just rests on its side as if its paralysed. It breathes but nothing else. I can touch it a fair bit and it doesn't seem to notice/care. I'm really worried. He also has a white colour around the area under his gills. What can I do? Is it possible to nurse him back to good health?

Answer 1

Your fish is still probably getting used to the new water parameters. Give him a few days to adjust. I'm not sure about the white area around his gills. It might be fungus, but do a bit more research to be sure.

hope this helps :)

Answer 2

perhaps your betta is getting old. 2 1/2 years excluding the age it has when you got him.  

Answer 3

what do you think the right temperature is

anything below 24c is bad

Answer 4

well are you sure you dechlorinated the water?

did you float him in a cup or bag inside the tank with the water untill the temperatures were the same? or did you check if the water from the tank and the water it came from had a different ph in which case you were supposed to add water little by little to his cup/bag to slowly acclimate him to his new water?

if not, then that means you did not acclimate him right and he might have gone into shock.

or he could have a disease, go to these sites to the disease page (on berttatalk it is under betta health) and see if you can diagnose:

http:///www.bettatalk.com

http://www.bettysplendens.com

hope this helps