Very Sick Fish, Not Mine?

hello,

i'm watching a friend's fish and I think she's really sick. the first time I changed the water in her tank (using room temperature distilled water) she immediately started floating on her side. I thought she had swim bladder so I am fasting her for three days. she seems to be on her side less but is now floating motionless at the top of the tank for the majority of the day. she also is breathing through her gills a lot and eating bubbles. I tried lowering her water level so she could breathe more easily and got her a plant to rest on but she won't touch it.
I also have purchased some aquarium salt but am hesitant to use it because i'm not sure how large the tank is, maybe 1 gallon plastic bowl (and yes, I am well aware that this is an unhealthy environment for the fish but it's not something I can fix and my friend says the fish has had no health issues until now.)
is it possible that she's too cold? I bought a thermometer as well and it said the temperature is fine but i'm worried that she's cold. i'm scared to buy a heater because the bowl is plastic. these symptoms have been going on for about four days.
i'm sorry this is so long but I am losing sleep over the health of the betta fish and I just want her to get better, any advice is appreciated!

 

Do you know the temperature of the tank since fine is subjective. Tank parameters, as in ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? Aproximate age of fish?

 

The temperature was about 75, she is maybe 9 months old and I'm not sure about the water levels. I went to the pet store yesterday and the person in the fish department told me it sounded like a diet thing and to not worry about ammonia if I'm doing about a 40-50% water change every day

 

Can we get a picture possibly?

 

What is he being fed? How much and how often?

 

Can we get a picture possibly?

sorry for the so so camera quality. I don't think she has any signs of fin rot but the part where her fins meet her abdomen look paler on both sides. She is also contorting her body in a way that looks like she is in pain, but her abdomen isn't bloated (in the way that it looks with dropsy)

 

What is he being fed? How much and how often?

I had been feeding her 2 or 3 pellets of Aqueon brand betta food each morning until Thursday morning when I tried to fast her to see if it would help with her floating sideways issue

 

sorry for the so so camera quality. I don't think she has any signs of fin rot but the part where her fins meet her abdomen look paler on both sides. She is also contorting her body in a way that looks like she is in pain, but her abdomen isn't bloated (in the way that it looks with dropsy)

I may have just screamed something bad. That tank is so small! The end of the fins look to be fuzzy, are they? Tell her to upgrade this poor thing or snitch on her and steal him and get a proper home!!!

 

Firstly, you have a bowl, which is too small. You’ll also need a filter, and heater. What do you mean by the temperature being “fine”? Here, I will make a list lf what you should get for this betta.

Tank, preferably a five gallon, but a 2.5 gallon is acceptable.
Heater, you need to have the water at 80 degreess.
Filter, this is a must! You aren’t cycled unless you have one.

I would also do daily water changes, possibly even more since you have a bowl. It’s a definite must right now, this is before medicating with anything. Water changes make a huge difference.

 

I may have just screamed something bad. That tank is so small! The end of the fins look to be fuzzy, are they? Tell her to upgrade this poor thing or snitch on her and steal him and get a proper home!!!

I know :/ yes, I guess they do look sort of white and fuzzy on the ends. is that an infection?
I wish I could get her a better tank ... but i'm really confused as to how the fish was in such good health in this bowl until I started taking care of her.

 

Firstly, you have a bowl, which is too small. You’ll also need a filter, and heater. What do you mean by the temperature being “fine”? Here, I will make a list lf what you should get for this betta.

Tank, preferably a five gallon, but a 2.5 gallon is acceptable.
Heater, you need to have the water at 80 degreess.
Filter, this is a must! You aren’t cycled unless you have one.

I would also do daily water changes, possibly even more since you have a bowl. It’s a definite must right now, this is before medicating with anything. Water changes make a huge difference.

thank you for your advice, I'll pass this on to my friend. I wish I could get this for the fish but I don't really have the means right now. i'm concerned about how to keep her in ok shape while she's still in my care

 

I know :/ yes, I guess they do look sort of white and fuzzy on the ends. is that an infection?
I wish I could get her a better tank ... but i'm really confused as to how the fish was in such good health in this bowl until I started taking care of her.

It is a fungus. Dont feel bad its not your fault. Go out and grab a bigger tank with filter & heater. Id snitch on them and get proper setup. Try daily water changes to clear it up.

 

thank you all for your advice. I was able to find a 3 gallon tank with a filter, but the store didn't have any heaters left (and the tank is plastic) I'm trying to acclimate the water but can't get the temperature above 72 .is there anything I can do without a heater?

 

thank you all for your advice. I was able to find a 3 gallon tank with a filter, but the store didn't have any heaters left (and the tank is plastic) I'm trying to acclimate the water but can't get the temperature above 72 .is there anything I can do without a heater?

Other then haveing your room temp higher. Nice job finding one, is it the 3 gallon tetra halfmoon? I had that one.

 

Other then haveing your room temp higher. Nice job finding one, is it the 3 gallon tetra halfmoon? I had that one.

it's a 3 gallon from Aqua Culture, which I think is a tetra brand?
the fish is moving around a lot more and seems to be much more alert. i'm really relieved, thanks again to everyone in this thread

 

it's a 3 gallon from Aqua Culture, which I think is a tetra brand?
the fish is moving around a lot more and seems to be much more alert. i'm really relieved, thanks again to everyone in this thread

Try microwaving some water(distilled) and pour it slowly into the tank. It can help for a little bit until you find a heater.

Or, you can wrap blankets around the tank,

 

There are always spots in the house that are warmer than other areas. If you are in a same level apartment, that is of no help. Heat rises, so my upstairs is always warmer than my downstairs. When the air is on, my bathrooms are freezing, Heat on...they cook. The farther the tank is from the thermostat, it is usually warmer. I wouldn't drive myself crazy because of this. Considering what the betta is used to, this is a huge upgrade.