Nervous something is wrong with Betta

Hey guys! I posted on this forum a few days ago about my inherited betta, who I thought was a girl bc his name is holly, but I was informed she is a he!
Anyways besides the point lol. My question was initially about bettas playing in bubbles, but I really feel as something is off. Holly used to swim all over the tank and love to watch anyone around the tank and would swim over to you if you came close. Now, he just flips around in bubbles, flares at the bubbles and/or heater, and lay on the ground? His mouth has seemed to be stuck open for days, I noticed it the same time that I noticed the weird bubble behavior. I will attach some pictures. Never seen his mouth like this until a few days ago.

the tank is fully cycled and I tested the water, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, and nitrate 20. I did a 50% water change and vacuumed the gravel as I was nervous about the nitrate even though I know 20 is normally ok, but I brought it down either way.
Temp fluctuates between 76-78.
I have not tested pH. I’m not sure if this could cause an issue but I will go ahead and check it now anyways.
i just don’t know what’s going on and I’m concerned. I’m not very educated in betta fish. I have an axolotl but a betta is so different! Please help me out and let me know what you think the issue is or any suggestions I should do. Thanks.
just seems like he is either laying on the ground or flipping around in bubbles. Just weird compared to his normal behavior. Sorry if I sound like I’m overreacting!

 

Bubbles is kind of normal for a betta, "normal" can depend a lot on their personality! The mouth thing though...that is weird and the only thing i can think of is something stuck in there? Or possible lockjaw...

 

Bubbles is kind of normal for a betta, "normal" can depend a lot on their personality! The mouth thing though...that is weird and the only thing i can think of is something stuck in there? Or possible lockjaw...

I was thinking something may be stuck in there, I have tried to look as hard as I can but don’t seem to see anything. And he seems to eat perfectly fine! I had no idea lockjaw was a thing, does it happen for any particular reason and does it heal itself?

 

I was thinking something may be stuck in there, I have tried to look as hard as I can but don’t seem to see anything. And he seems to eat perfectly fine! I had no idea lockjaw was a thing, does it happen for any particular reason and does it heal itself?

Never had it happen on my fish, but from what i have read, seems a kind of random thing, both with coming on and going away. No clue how to try and fix that though

 

Never had it happen on my fish, but from what i have read, seems a kind of random thing, both with coming on and going away. No clue how to try and fix that though

Thank u so much, I will research lockjaw and see if anyone else has any other ideas. It’s very strange! I just don’t want him to be suffering or anything. Came out of no where

 

Thank u so much, I will research lockjaw and see if anyone else has any other ideas. It’s very strange! I just don’t want him to be suffering or anything. Came out of no where

From what i have seen on the rare posts about it here, it usually does

 

Good luck! Beautiful betta by the way!

 

Beautiful boy you have there!

Is he putting out a lot of bubbles from his gills? My current betta keeps his mouth open all of the time, and I am pretty sure there is an issue with his osmoregulation. Could the same thing be happening to your guy? I've seen this in bettas before, but only accompanied by the release of bubbles from the gills (that is, if it isn't a jaw issue).

Just a thought...

 

BigManAquatics ButtercuptheOranda Rose of Sharon

hi guys! I just wanted to thank y’all for the help and give you an update. I figured out what was wrong (I think), and it’s actually a little funny!
I had a relatively cheap heater that I had directly next to the bubbles in my tank. Part of the behavior I was noticing from holly was that he would flare and then charge at the heater, then get stuck in the current of the bubbles. After a bit of investigating, I realized he could see his reflection in the heater. I genuinely think he was trying to attack the heater and hurt his mouth in the process from consistently bumping into it. I have videos of him just like smashing his face into it !
Flash forward, I got a better heater (as the other one was not heating the tank great anyways), and I put the heater on the other side of the tank. Weird behavior: STOPPED. Back to his previous activities. Much more active. Mouth is slowly closing. Seems much more relaxed.
crazy, right?

 

I can believe it. Never know WHAT may trigger a betta!