My betta is floating, bloated, has black gills and fin rot. Help!

Question

My betta is staying near the surface and blowing air bubbles out. He is not balanced, he tries to stay normal but floats sideways sometimes. He also has black gills, bloated belly and also his fins are melting. He is not as bright that used to be. He tries to swim down to the bottom of the tank, but he floats back to the surface. Can you please tell me what I should do to help him? Pet's info: Fish | Betta | Male | unneutered | 0.02 lbs

Angel Alvarado, LVT · Accepted Answer

By your description, there may be seversl issues here. Check the water chemistry and quality. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Ideally, you want the following parameters: 0 ppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrites, 20 ppm or less nitrates, pH around 7, water temperature between 78 F and 80 F. Perform partial water changes to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Decrease the water level to make it easier for your fish to surface. Fast him for 2-3 days then feed bits of cooked and shelled green peas until swimming and defecation are normal. If he remains bloated, prepare a bowl of water at the proper temperature and dissolve 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt for each gallon. Allow for a 15-30 minute swim once or twice daily. In the main tank, use an antibiotic, such ad Kanaplex or Maracyn, to treat infection/fin rot. A conditioner such as StressCoat can also help fins. These products can be found in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

My betta is floating, bloated, has black gills and fin rot. Help!

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