Help! Betta Fish Floating Sideways?

I just came into my room and I noticed he near the top of the water and it looks like he’s leaning against the glass. He looks a little bloated... I just noticed his now I fed him frozen Brine shrimp earlier today and he was perfectly fine. Did I over feed him and now he’s bloated? I don’t know what to do. He’s now floating under a leaf to keep steady. here’s a picture:

 

I believe it is SBD but I'm not sure. He doesn’t look like he’s pineconing so that’s good right?

 

It’s probably the bloat or constipation affecting his swim bladder. First thing I’d try is a fast followed by a piece of blanched, skinned pea (frozen/thawed peas work well since they’re already blanched) to act as a laxative. If the fast and pea work, then you probably won’t need any meds.

 

Also, is his tank heated? Unheated tanks slow their metabolism, so putting a heater in if he doesn’t already have one (and slowly raising the temp, not all at once) will help his body process the food more quickly so it isn’t pressing on his swim bladder.

 

He may have just eaten too much. Bettas don't know when to stop. He may be back to normal in a day or two.

 

Also, is his tank heated? Unheated tanks slow their metabolism, so putting a heater in if he doesn’t already have one (and slowly raising the temp, not all at once) will help his body process the food more quickly so it isn’t pressing on his swim bladder.

His tank is heated, he’s floating up against a anubias lead right now, I try and feed him a pea tomorrow night

 

He may have just eaten too much. Bettas don't know when to stop. He may be back to normal in a day or two.

O think that might be it

 

I just came into my room and I noticed he near the top of the water and it looks like he’s leaning against the glass. He looks a little bloated... I just noticed his now I fed him frozen Brine shrimp earlier today and he was perfectly fine. Did I over feed him and now he’s bloated? I don’t know what to do. He’s now floating under a leaf to keep steady. here’s a picture:
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HI w_johnson07, I had bloating like this too with my second Betta. I over fed and under exercised him. However, this seems strange as usually they go to one side, probably because of the plant leaf he is able to stay straight. With Bettas slow and steady wins the race, don't over react. Follow other instructions and first try fast, than pea etc. medication should be used only as necessary.

 

HI w_johnson07, I had bloating like this too with my second Betta. I over fed and under exercised him. However, this seems strange as usually they go to one side, probably because of the plant leaf he is able to stay straight. With Bettas slow and steady wins the race, don't over react. Follow other instructions and first try fast, than pea etc. medication should be used only as necessary.

I just got back, and he seems fine now! He’s swimming around and not floating he still looks a little bloated but a lot better

 

I just got back, and he seems fine now! He’s swimming around and not floating he still looks a little bloated but a lot better

Great. He just pigged out on the brine shrimp and got indigestion. 3 or 4 shrimp at a time is plenty for a Betta. I shave off small pieces of the cube with a razor blade and that's all Benny gets. I do the same with bloodworms.

 

I just got back, and he seems fine now! He’s swimming around and not floating he still looks a little bloated but a lot better

Wonderful news W_Johnson07! However, a lesson to be learned for all here. My dog (I know not a fish) just threw up all over the floor. She drinks water by gobbling it down and then eats dried food by gobbling it down. This leads to throwing up everytime. Every animal is an individual. So you learned that your Betta gets indigestion from food. I think as Betta matures or ages indigestion becomes more frequent. I can make a grandparent joke here but I won't since this is a family friendly site. In my keeping of Betta, I never want my Betta to show a bulge. Now that is how I keep my pets. If anything there is probably an epidemic of over fed Betta. So please think about the size, their stomach is the size of their eye ball. It will stretch and Betta will eat to their fill. However, plentiful food in nature is a rarity and regular feeding is also not likely. So our habit of regular feeding is really anthropomorphic (thinking fish are like us humans, breakfast, lunch and dinner plus a midnight snack). Unfortunately, there are physical consequences. Its okay to over indulge once in a while but keep your Betta in fighting shape (without actual combat)! Keep track of how much and how often you are feeding your Betta (along with your water quality) in a log. If you want to feed your Bettta more than necessary that is fine but do it in even tinier portions (such as Dch48's razor cut). I use a pair of needle nose tweezers. This way you can have the joy of spoiling your Betta with multiple feeds but control the amount. In essence, nothing wrong with buffets its just about watching your portion size when dinning at them. There really should be a total caloric intake article that tests food's calorie and also basic calorie requirement of a Betta...I digress...Congrats on restoring your Betta to health and well done with your medical care!