BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish strange happenings with my betta fish

two days ago I though my beautiful betta, Hue, was having a heart attack or somethin. He was swimming very fast around the top of his tank on his side. Then sank to the bottom of the tank and stayed there for almost an hour. Now he swims around, eats but there are no bubbles on the surface and he just dosn't seem himself, he's still coming to me when I call but he's not as lively as usual. There dosen't seem to be any problems with fin rot or fungus but I'm still worried. any suggestions?

Worried hue's mum.
Ozsan

Did you do a water change just before this happened? The only thing I can think of is there is something in the water that is irritating him....other than that I don't know what it could be Ozsan.

Try doing a water change making sure you add a water condtioner/dechlorinator ...and that the temp is very close to the temperature of the water he is in now.

No water change before the event but his light blew a globe a day or two earlier and it took a couple of days to get a new one. I've changed some of his water now and he seems a bit better but still not quite himself. I usually use water which has been boiled from the kettle when I change the water is this ok or should I use tap water? He's such a good fish I don't want to lose him. Before this incident he was very happy blowing his little bubbles all the time.

Well, I don't know about boiling the water. It might just cause all the heavy metals and such in the water to become consentrated. What you should do is.... fill a bucket of whatever size container you need for water changes with cold tap water....(not hot or warm because warm/hot water has more dissolved elements in it than cold) Add water condtioner/stress coat(an additive that removes all chlorine and chlorimines from the tap water)...and let it sit for at least a day. (I always have water on hand for water changes)
This should help with water conditions Ozsan.

If you have a heater in his tank it may help to put a heater in the water bucket as well so that the temps are the same...but if his water temp is near room temp, not a worry.

Hope this helps Ozsan. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

He has a heater so when his light was out the temperature didn't drop so I know that's not causing the problem. I'll do that with some water, I have a spare heater which I can use to get the temp right.
It's just worrying as he's usually so bright and happy and at the moment he's not himself.
He;s a spoilt little fish with everything he could want. And I'm going to do everything I can to make him happy again.
As you might have guessed I love my little fish. :-)

well Hue seems to be a lot better now, he's coming to me and wagging his pretty tail and looks a lot happier. I'm going to have to do a water change soon so I hope that doesn't upset him again.

Glad to hear Ozsan... :-)