What does an unhealthy betta look like?

Signs Of Unhealthy Betta
Some of the most common signs of an unhealthy betta are a lack of appetite or inactivity. Betta fish may also become discolored, lethargic, and standoffish when they develop health issues. The appearance and attitude of the betta is the most common sign of deteriorating or poor health.
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What does a dying betta look like?

Other signs that offer a clue to knowing when a betta fish is about to die include discoloration along the fish's body, such as white or brown spots. Strange swimming movements or a shortening / eating away of the fins can also point to severe illnesses.
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How does a sick betta fish look?

The general signs of illness are lethargy, discoloration, loss of appetite, labored breathing, and damaged and/or clamped fins. Unfortunately, many of the most common betta fish diseases share these symptoms and correct diagnosis can be difficult if you've never had experience with them before.
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When should I worry about my betta fish?

Some common indications of health issues in betta fish are reduced activity, decreased or absent appetite, staying close to the top or ground of the tank, swelling of the belly, weight loss, convulsions, eyes bugging out, frenzied behavior, significant color fading, rapid breathing, gooey skin, frequent scratching, ...
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What does a stressed betta look like?

Strange Swimming: When fish are stressed, they often develop odd swimming patterns. If your fish is swimming frantically without going anywhere, crashing at the bottom of his tank, rubbing himself on gravel or rocks, or locking his fins at his side, he may be experiencing significant stress.
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How to Save Your Sick Betta Fish



Is my betta sick or lazy?

Lethargy or Sluggishness

Bettas typically explore all day and sleep soundly (hardly moving) at night. A betta that lies on a plant or at the bottom of the tank all day is not a healthy betta. Sluggishness can signal virtually any illness but it also signifies that the water may not be optimal for good health.
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How do I make my betta fish healthy again?

To keep it clean, do not overcrowd with too many fish, add aquarium salt to water, and disinfect the tank. To limit the spread of disease from one fish to another, immediately remove dead fish, quarantine new fish for two weeks before introducing them to a tank, and wash your hands after handling fish.
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Why is my betta fish on the bottom of the tank?

Sleeping Betta Fish

One of the most common reasons for a Siamese fighting fish on the bottom of the tank is that it's sleeping. Betta fish often enjoy laying on their sides while resting. It's comfortable for them, even though it looks like very strange behavior to most aquarium keepers.
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What does a betta fish do before it dies?

Common Betta fish behaviors before death are lethargy, fading color, and increased stress. Prolonging your Betta's lifespan can be made possible by paying close attention to your Betta's behavior and taking your fish to a certified fish veterinarian if you notice any of these symptoms.
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How do you tell if a betta is struggling to breathe?

That's why if you see betta fish gasping for air at top of tank, it means they're trying to breathe. They sometimes do it randomly. But that's not a reason to ignore it. If you look closely and see them hyperventilating, then that means they are having a hard time breathing.
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What color should my bettas gills be?

A Change In Gill Color

The gills will turn from their normal color to red or purple. As the ammonia poisoning becomes more severe you may even notice your bettas gills bleeding. You should also check to see if the gills look inflamed, which is another sign.
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Why is my fish not moving but still breathing?

If fish are experiencing acute stress (i.e., gasping up at the surface, lying on the bottom and not moving, or darting around the aquarium), you can be pretty sure that the water has been poisoned in some way. Maybe cleaning sprays got into the aquarium, or something released toxins into the water.
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Why is my betta fish acting weird?

A sudden, dramatic drop in water temperature is the most likely cause of a Betta acting weirdly following a water change. Bettas, like all fish, are cold-blooded and can not regulate their own body temperature. They are completely reliant on their environment to keep their bodies at the right temperature.
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Why is my betta laying on its side?

The tank water should be between 75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. If the water is too cold, your betta will become lethargic and lie on his side. Too cold water, poor water quality and general neglect are all causes of diseases, any number of which could make your betta lie on his side.
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Why is my betta moving slow?

Like any other animal, old Bettas tend to slow down as they get older. They simply don't have the energy to zip around their habitat like they did when they were younger. Their bodies start slowing down and they have a harder time keeping up with younger fish.
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Why is my betta swimming slowly?

If your tank is below 78°F then this could be why your betta has swim bladder disease. When the water temperature in your tank drops below the ideal temperature it's going to cause your bettas digestive system to slow down.
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Do water changes stress betta?

Frequent Water Changes

Obviously water changes are going to stress your betta a little bit. But not changing the water is going to stress him out a lot more. You should perform water changes once every week or two weeks depending on the size of the tank.
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How do I know if my betta is cold?

One of the best ways to know if your betta fish is experiencing temperature shock is by checking the water temperature of the tank with a reliable thermometer. If the water temperature is drastically out of the ideal range (+/- 10 degrees), then you're most likely dealing with a sick betta.
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What does ammonia poisoning in betta fish look like?

Signs of ammonia poisoning in bettas

Your betta buddy won't want his food, and he'll become very lethargic, laying around on the substrate with his fins clamped to his sides. You may notice that your fish's gills have become a lilac or red color and have the appearance that they're bleeding.
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What does nitrate poisoning look like in fish?

Common symptoms include gasping at the surface of the water, hanging near water outlets, rapid gill movement, and a change in gill color from normal pink to dark brown.
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What does ammonia burn look like on fish?

Red or Purple Gills and Bloody Patches

The fish's gills will take on a red or lilac color, making them look like it's bleeding. As the problem progresses, the fish's tissues will begin to deteriorate, evidenced by red streaks or bloody patches on their body and fins caused by ammonia burns.
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Is my betta getting enough oxygen?

Signs of Low Oxygen

They will swim less vigorously and even eat less often. As oxygen levels drop further, the fish will begin to show labored breathing and more rapid gill movements as they desperately attempt to get enough oxygen from the water by passing more water over their gills.
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How do I give my betta fish more oxygen?

Increasing water movement is the quickest way to increase oxygen (O2) levels in a fish tank, as it allows more O2 to dissolve and carbon dioxide (CO2) to be released. This can be easily done using an air pump, performing large water changes, manually stirring the water, or placing a fan near the aquarium.
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