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

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.

Check the water chemistry and temperature. Elevated ammonia or nitrites can be toxic and low temps can affect activity. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. You can use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Perform partial water changes, if indicated, to stabilize chemistry and maintain or improve water quality. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 40 ppm or less. If possible, turn don the filter flow so the little guy isn't pushed around by a strong current. Bettas prefer slow moving water. Lower the water level to make it easier for him to surface. Bettas are air breathers. Feed Micro Pellets or crush regular pellets so he can eat them. You can moisten pellets with a bit of garlic juice to stimulate his appetite.

He does look very stressed. You can tell by the clamped fins and loss of color. There is also evidence of fin rot. The product pictured may aid in treatment of minor infections, but at this point, your little guy may need antibiotics. The cornerstone of treatment and recovery of any infection in fish is clean water. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample to test water chemistry. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Water chemistry can affect quality which can lead to stress and illness. Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. Perform partial water changes (no more than 30% total volume) every few days to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. Also, turn down the filter flow, if possible, to the lowest setting. Bettas prefer slow moving water. The plain aquarium salt pictured can be used, but you mustn't use too much. Generally, a teaspoon of salt per gallon of water is recommended. Thoroughly dissolve it in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it in. When performing water changes, treat only the amount of water being replaced with salt or you will overload the tank. If you used more than this amount initially, perform a 50% water change. Treat with salt for no more than 14 days at a time. Reassess fin condition after 2 weeks. Perform partial water changes as described above to reduce salinity afterwards. To treat infection consider an "all in one" treatment, such as LifeGuard (by Tetra). Find it in the Aquarium section at the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated. The salt and antibiotic can be used in conjunction. During this time, discontinue the infection remedy treatment.