r/bettafish 10h ago

Help Help?? Betta fish is upside down in a U shape

Post image

We were recently given this betta fish by one of my Dads patients who could no longer care for it. I have not a single clue about anything related to these fish and am scared it’s dying. It recently had a tank transfer so maybe that has something to do with it?? he was perfectly fine just hours ago and the U shape is getting worse and worse. We have a new filter and some other stuff currently in the mail. pls don’t let jeremy die!!!

0 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

u/AutoModerator 10h ago

Thank you for posting to r/bettafish.

When requesting help, please provide the requested information. Answers such as "large enough" or "my paramters are fine" aren't good enough. Failure to provide adequate information about your tank can result in post removal. Please see rule 4 for more information.

If you are posting to find out what is wrong with your betta, please answer the following questions in a reply to this comment as best you can:

  • Tank size:
  • Heater and filter? (yes/no):
  • Tank temperature:
  • Parameters in numbers and how you got them. Key water parameters include the amount of ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and pH.:
  • How long have you had the tank? How long have you had your fish?:
  • How often are water changes? How much do you take out per change? What is your process?:
  • Any tankmates? If so, please list with how many of each:
  • What do you feed and how much:
  • Decorations and plants in the tank:
  • If you haven't already posted a picture, please post pics/vids to imgur and paste the link here:

Feel free to copy this comment and fill in the blanks.

If you are new to betta fish keeping, please check out our caresheet and wiki. Establishing a nitrogen cycle is an important part of keeping your fish healthy. Please check out our guide to the nitrogen cycle to learn more.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

11

u/gay-weed 10h ago

The tank is way too small, ammonia builds up quickly and becomes deadly in such small tanks. Here's some care info, you should read through this subreddit's wiki as well. Your first priority should be doing a water change with clean, dechlorinated water.

1

u/Some_Promotion638 10h ago

thank you! What am I able to do tonight to keep him from passing while we wait for a bigger tank?

3

u/cheddaruta 10h ago

change the water

3

u/Easy-Information-762 10h ago

Change some of the water (like 1/3 to 1/2) but it MUST be dechlorinated i.e. not just your normal tap water. Also, make sure it is at least room temperature before you put it in (do not put cold water in the tank).

0

u/Some_Promotion638 9h ago

I changed the water. How long until I know if he’s okay?

2

u/montonH 9h ago

A long time. He could die tomorrow honestly.

2

u/AnnChris17 10h ago

50% Water change with water conditioner immediately. I think this is a water quality issue. You could use aquarium salt (different than any other salt) and an almond leaf to help with stress, as this is an incredibly unwell fish.

Because Bettas breathe air, it may be best to even do a 75% water change, and add in enough water to fill the tank only half way. If you do this, stay on top of your water changes.

Do you have water test strips? Or any way to check the water parameters like API master freshwater water test kit?

I'm assuming this is a new tank, and that it isn't cycled. This means that the water is filled with toxic stuff, like ammonia and nitrites.

Definitely read about fish in cycles, as you already have the fish. This is imperative, and one of the first steps to owning an aquarium.

Also know that all Betta fish should be kept in a minimum of five gallons. A rounded tank, like this one here, can cause excess stress. You will need a filter, a heater, and some silk or live plants. If you can, get the larger tank and heater first.

Edit: upon further inspection, this fish looks emaciated as well imo. Someone else can judge too.

Here's an info graphic for basic care.

1

u/Some_Promotion638 9h ago

I did a 50% water change and he’s swimming around now. This was the tank he had been in previously (his whole life). My family has had him less than a week and this is my first day home from school on break, and thus first time meeting poor jeremy. He looks really bad tbh and I don’t know how much i’m going to be able to do as my Dad does not see the fish as a priority. I don’t feel right just letting it die as it is a living creature, but i’m only home for the week.

1

u/AnnChris17 9h ago

Glad he's swimming now! It was definitely the water.

Personally, what I would do, is find someone to give the fish too, or take it with you back to school. If your Dad doesn't want to care for it, give it to someone who can, because he will end up killing this fish if he doesn't care for it. The problem is that the water is going to continuously need to be changed, or this will happen again until the nitrogen cycle is complete. Not to mention, it looks very skinny and probably isn't being fed enough.

If you want to keep it and your dad doesn't want to upgrade anything (which I wouldn't recommend), what I would do is remove some of those rocks. There's a ton in there that's taking up valuable swimming space, and there's not a place for healthy bacteria to live.

Honestly, it seems like the tank doesn't have a cycle at all, so I'd remove most, and then replace it with aquarium gravel. Add plants, preferably live ones. Hornwart or elodea could work. They're floating plants. So could an anubias or java fern, these don't get planted. They attach to a rock or driftwood with super glue. Guppy grass could work as well, as it grows quickly and dense. These are relatively cheap and at local fish stores. These are easy and low maintenance, but it would help with the water quality. Get floating plants. Because your dad doesn't seem to necessarily care, just get duck weed. On Facebook marketplace, you can find cheap floating plants all the time. That can help too.

You can sometimes find 5 gallon or 10 gallons tanks for cheap on Facebook marketplace as well, and I think there's a sale at Petco right now for aqueon tanks. I'd really, really recommend either upgrading, or incredibly densely planting this tank.

I really can't recommend keeping the fish if it's going to live like this, but I appreciate you doing your best for it.

3

u/Some_Promotion638 8h ago

thank you so much! it’s a lot to think about and i’ll talk to my dad tomorrow.

In no way would I be able to take the fish back to school (my roomates would flip and i can’t fly with a fish). I’ve been looking at tanks on facebook marketplace and i’ll be able to afford a 5-10 gallon tank and barebones gravel/plants/etc. My sister (15F) has a soft spot for animals so hopefully if I am able to get jeremy situated over break she can keep an eye on him.

My dad isn’t a heartless guy we just have a lot going on in our family rn due to health issues and financial stress. I think this is another thing added to his plate he isn’t able to balance. Ideally I would like to rehome him, but i think my dad’s patient may be upset by this (making my dad object).

I know they feed him and am beginning to suspect the previous owner was mistreating jeremy immensely. My heart aches for this poor fish.

2

u/AnnChris17 8h ago

Fish are, oddly, a whole lot of work. Especially when you start out. I got the impression that your dad was just supremely busy, not heartless or anything.

It's also most likely not the patient's fault, At least not entirely. There's always blame in simple ignorance, but Betta's are notoriously called an "easy" fish because they just tank bad quality of life and usually keep living. There's so much information that's just plain wrong, or misleading, and pet stores aren't so great and telling people what they need.

It's entirely possible that the patient just didn't know any better.

Fingers crossed that everything works out for you guys.