HELP! Can you tell me what’s wrong with my fish??

Hello, I’ve had my fish for almost three years now! I’ve noticed that he’s gotten less energetic and paler over the time but I thought it was just due to old age. The past couple weeks he’s slower to get to his food. The last three days have gotten worse and I really thought he was going to die last night. I did some water changes yesterday and today and he is a little better now, before he was laying completely on his side at the bottom of his cave, he was completely still and just one lil fin kept moving. I thought he was moments away from dying. Now he’s out of the cave and swims every so often. I want to get him medicine but I don’t want to get him the wrong one and make it worse. Can you tell which bacterial infection or disease he has? And what medication he would need? Thank you!! He’s in a 5 gallon tank btw!

UPDATE: ughh he’s back in his cave now in the same position as before is there anything I can do?? I’m adding another picture of where he is now. Please help I’m so lost and want to help him however I can

 

I don’t see anything physically on him. How long have you had him? And what are your water parameters?

 

I don’t see anything physically on him. How long have you had him? And what are your water parameters?

I’ve had him for 2 years and 10 months! He’s in a 5 gallon tank with a heater and filter, some moss balls, a snail, and two caves. The temperature is at 74 degrees but it’s been at that temperature the whole time I’ve had him. I use tap water but add the Tetra aqua safe plus drops to it! Im looking at him now and he’s kind of gasping for air, I took a video but not sure how to post it.

 

I’ve had him for 2 years and 10 months! He’s in a 5 gallon tank with a heater and filter, some moss balls, a snail, and two caves. The temperature is at 74 degrees but it’s been at that temperature the whole time I’ve had him. I use tap water but add the Tetra aqua safe plus drops to it! Im looking at him now and he’s kind of gasping for air, I took a video but not sure how to post it.

What’s your ammonia nitrite and nitrate? Also to post a video you need to upload it to YouTube and link it

 

What’s your ammonia nitrite and nitrate? Also to post a video you need to upload it to YouTube and link it

I’m not sure, I’ve never checked for that before. I can definitely buy some testing strips at the pet store though. Looking at the pictures though you don’t think it’s any infection like ick or dropsey or anything like that? He’s my first fish so I don’t know how to tell those kinds of things.

 

I’m not sure, I’ve never checked for that before. I can definitely buy some testing strips at the pet store though. Looking at the pictures though you don’t think it’s any infection like ick or dropsey or anything like that? He’s my first fish so I don’t know how to tell those kinds of things.

It’s not ich because that would be tiny white dots but if you look at him from above do you see any scales lifting? It would look like this
Mod edit: Image removed for copyright issues

 

It’s not ich because that would be tiny white dots but if you look at him from above do you see any scales lifting? It would look like this

Hmm no they look pretty normal I think definitely not lifting up like the picture. Could it be a different fungal infection? Or do you think maybe it’s just normal old age discoloration? I saw that the average life span was ~3 years although some live 4-5. But I also read that they’re normally around 1 year already when you buy them from the pet store.

 

Hmm no they look pretty normal I think definitely not lifting up like the picture. Could it be a different fungal infection? Or do you think maybe it’s just normal old age discoloration? I saw that the average life span was ~3 years although some live 4-5. But I also read that they’re normally around 1 year already when you buy them from the pet store.

It very well could just be age. Because I don’t see anything besides some scales looking a little ruffed up by his head

 

I can definitely buy some testing strips at the pet store though.

I think you should .

Hmm no they look pretty normal I think definitely not lifting up like the picture.

Wait, here is a picture? I thought AgressiveAquatics forgot to add one, and was about to add it myself, because I cannot see it .

 

He has good age and you take good care of him.... but without knowing water parameters and details, it may be a bit premature tossing medication at him.
Medication is hard on fish if water changes and maybe some additional warmth could resolve the issue. Like older people he may have a hard time with the colder water temperature.
Could you please fill the emergency template to answer a lot of questions in one message?

 

I’m going to look at the emergency template right now and fill it out but just bought the test strips and this was what I got:
Nitrate - 40

Nitrite- 0

Ph - 7.5

Kh- between 40 and 80

Gh- between 0 and 30 I can’t really tell here
Tank
What is the water volume of the tank?- 5 gallons
How long has the tank been running?- Almost 3 years
Does it have a filter?- yes
Does it have a heater?- yes
What is the water temperature?- 74
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.) - betta fish, snail, moss balls,

Maintenance
How often do you change the water?- every two weeks
How much of the water do you change?- 30-40%
What do you use to treat your water?- tetra aqua safe
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water?- mostly water, substrate every month

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish?- yes
What do you use to test the water?- just bought api 5 in 1 test strips
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 40
pH: 7.5

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish?- twice a day
How much do you feed your fish? - 2-3 food sticks
What brand of food do you feed your fish?- tetra
Do you feed frozen or freeze-dried foods?- no

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish?- almost 3 years
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms?- 3 days
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms?- lethargic, pale in color, now laying on his side hiding in cave, breathing fast.
Have you started any treatment for the illness?- no, just did some water changes and gravel cleaning yesterday and today
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase?- no
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all?- slower, paler
Update: he’s out of the cave again!! He isnt gasping for air anymore right now thankfully! Added some more pics just in case you guys can see anything new. I bought “betta fixer” when I went to the pet store too because I read it’s helped a lot of fish before and is a good “general” medicine that can help different problems. I haven’t used it yet and can return it if I don’t but I wanted to have on hand in case I need it.

 

Thank you for the detail. Please do not use the Bettafix, there seem to be some bad reviews.
A recommendation for the most Betta Owners is to change the water a bit more frequently as pristine water conditions help a Betta stay healthy. Your basic parameters look good though the Nitrates may be a nit high for a Betta taste. But as mentioned before, it can be remedied with more frequent Water changes.
Your Betta has a good age, so signs may start that he may go towards the end of his lifespan. Warmer water may help him, more water changes will help him. An Indian Almond leaf may relax him. All these are first steps before going to medication.

 

Thank you! I will definitely start cleaning his water more often now. I’m worried he’s still in critical condition however so not sure if he’s going to make it, he’s back to breathing more rapidly and lying on his side. Do pet stores carry Indian almond leaves?

 

Thank you! I will definitely start cleaning his water more often now. I’m worried he’s still in critical condition however so not sure if he’s going to make it, he’s back to breathing more rapidly and lying on his side. Do pet stores carry Indian almond leaves?

Some do, I get mine from the local fish store, or they are ordered through Amazon.

 

I also have a betta in a 5 gallon and I noticed when nitrates are over 20 ppm he doesn't act like himself. Not to the extent of your betta, but prolonged exposure to high nitrates and poor water quality can cause some major issues because of the stress it puts on their bodies. I also personally believe that 78-80 is the optimal temp for bettas, but that's just been my experience.

I also do a 50-60% WC each week and my nitrates are never above 10 ppm. I agree that increased WCs are the best way to go, just try to be as delicate as you can if he's timid of the syphon. Amazon has IALs but I prefer to use organic rooibos tea in my homemade blackwater extract for their benefits. It's way cheaper and I can make big batches to store in the fridge to add to WC water later. I now only keep the IALs to create make-shift caves against the glass that he can explore.

Also, would you be able to get a photo from above so we could see his composition more? I'm not sure what you mean by food sticks, it's possible he could be malnourished.

 

I also have a betta in a 5 gallon and I noticed when nitrates are over 20 ppm he doesn't act like himself. Not to the extent of your betta, but prolonged exposure to high nitrates and poor water quality can cause some major issues because of the stress it puts on their bodies. I also personally believe that 78-80 is the optimal temp for bettas, but that's just been my experience.

I also do a 50-60% WC each week and my nitrates are never above 10 ppm. I agree that increased WCs are the best way to go, just try to be as delicate as you can if he's timid of the syphon. Amazon has IALs but I prefer to use organic rooibos tea in my homemade blackwater extract for their benefits. It's way cheaper and I can make big batches to store in the fridge to add to WC water later. I now only keep the IALs to create make-shift caves against the glass that he can explore.

Also, would you be able to get a photo from above so we could see his composition more? I'm not sure what you mean by food sticks, it's possible he could be malnourished.

Thank you! Yeah I’m going to do more WCs now, I think his water was pretty dirty the past week so yesterday and today I did some WCs with the vacuum to get some of the dirt from the gravel. I think I’ll do it one last time tomorrow to really finish cleaning before starting WCs weekly. I’m going to slowly increase the temperature as well! I just get nervous because the heater is already past 81 deg but the thermometer still reads 74 (I trust the thermometer more). Wait so you just brew that tea and then add the water into the tank? Sorry I don’t know a lot about this. He’s in the same position as before but he moves around to different spots and then continues lying flat. I’m attaching some more pics, not sure if that’s more above? Also showing the food I’ve been giving him!

 

Hey guys, I woke up this morning and he didn’t make it I don’t think I’m going to get another fish for a while because I’m moving in a few months but now I’m concerned about the snail I still have. He’s a nerite snail. Would he be able to live in the tank by himself with the plants and everything?

 

Sorry for the loss.

Would he be able to live in the tank by himself with the plants and everything?

I don't see why not..?