Betta Strange Behavior

Please help! I've had my betta, Riot, for 1.5 years now and he started acting strange a few days ago. When I look at the tank he's either laying down or floating at the top (see ). He's not drifting to the side or anything, he seems perfectly balanced. When I approach he becomes very energetic and rapidly swims back and forth (also new behavior). It looks like he can swim without any issues. I did add a Chinese algae eater about a week and a half ago, but they both give each other space and don't seem to have any issues. The algae eater is also quite young so I don't think its old enough to really harm my betta. Please help...he's never acted like this before. I'm about to leave town for a few days and very scared to leave him.

- 3 gallon aquaponic tank

 

The CAE needs a 55 gallon tank for longterm keeping.
I suggest you get rid of him because they can hurt other fish.

What are the water parameters?

 

The CAE needs a 55 gallon tank for longterm keeping.
I suggest you get rid of him because they can hurt other fish.

What are the water parameters?

Yeah I realized after I got the CAE that he would not be with my betta for long. I'm hoping to have him just long enough to help out with algae.
The pH is 7.5. Ammonia should be ok due to it being and aquaponics tank and because replaced about a third of the water two days ago.

 

Has this betta always been in an aquaponics tank? Do you add any additives for the plants?

 

Has this betta always been in an aquaponics tank? Do you add any additives for the plants?

Yes he's always been in the same tank. And no, the plants are not aquatic and grow in a tray above the tank. They grow just fine without additives.

 

The CAE looks and behaves normally?
The picture isn't the best but I get that. (I've tried to photograph mine) It looks like the swim bladder is enlarged. Is that the case or does it always look like that. I can't see his fins at all so I don't know if anything there would be causing a problem.

 

The CAE looks and behaves normally?
The picture isn't the best but I get that. (I've tried to photograph mine) It looks like the swim bladder is enlarged. Is that the case or does it always look like that. I can't see his fins at all so I don't know if anything there would be causing a problem.

I don't think so. But its getting harder for me to get him to move. He was getting up as soon as I got close to the tank but now I have to move my finger in front of him for awhile.

 

The CAE looks and behaves normally?
The picture isn't the best but I get that. (I've tried to photograph mine) It looks like the swim bladder is enlarged. Is that the case or does it always look like that. I can't see his fins at all so I don't know if anything there would be causing a problem.

I took a closer look at the CAE and he has white spots on his head (not fins?). Is this ich? My betta doesn't have any spots though. Should I remove the CAE?

 

I just can't tell anything from the picture other than your boy isn't feeling well. There is nothing obvious.

 

I took a closer look at the CAE and he has white spots on his head (not fins?). Is this ich? My betta doesn't have any spots though. Should I remove the CAE?

Do they look like grains of salt? I had thought that perhaps the CAE brought in some gill flukes because his gill appears a little swollen but he could just be breathing deeply and you caught the picture at that moment. (For flukes you would have seen that crazy flashing when they try to remove the parasites) Can you get a picture of the CAE?

 

Do they look like grains of salt? I had thought that perhaps the CAE brought in some gill flukes because his gill appears a little swollen but he could just be breathing deeply and you caught the picture at that moment. (For flukes you would have seen that crazy flashing when they try to remove the parasites) Can you get a picture of the CAE?

I've taken the CAE out for the moment. The spots don't look like salt, they're just smooth white dots.

 

Wow, he is covered. Do you have any medication? Anything with praziquantel in it?

 

Wow, he is covered. Do you have any medication? Anything with praziquantel in it?

I have pimafix

 

That is not going to work. I'm willing to bet that what you see on the CAE, is on the filaments of your betta's gills. It becomes increasingly difficult to breath and since they are not being oxygenated properly they become letharic. It takes quite a bit of effort for them to move. He still needs to get to the top to breath as well. They have to do both. He is saving his energy for when he really needs to move.
I have two things with praziquantel in them at home (PraziPro by HikarI and API General Cure) both are a bit pricey. I think Jungle Labs (Tetra) has a fiz tab that contains it. I'm not used to suggesting it so I don't know the name but I will go check because I think it is available at Walmart.

 

Sorry, couldn't find anything from Jungle Labs with praziquantel in it.

 

That is not going to work. I'm willing to bet that what you see on the CAE, is on the filaments of your betta's gills. It becomes increasingly difficult to breath and since they are not being oxygenated properly they become letharic. It takes quite a bit of effort for them to move. He still needs to get to the top to breath as well. They have to do both. He is saving his energy for when he really needs to move.
I have two things with praziquantel in them at home (PraziPro by HikarI and API General Cure) both are a bit pricey. I think Jungle Labs (Tetra) has a fiz tab that contains it. I'm not used to suggesting it so I don't know the name but I will go check because I think it is available at Walmart.

Okay that is good to know! I will look for it at the pet store. Also, I have a small floating fish hatchery that I used when I had pregnant mollies. Should I use that for my betta so he can rest nearer to the surface?

 

That would be awesome! Nice fix!

 

That would be awesome! Nice fix!

Great! I will try that for now. Thanks for the help!