Help decoding odd betta fish behavior? He’s sick?
My betta fish has always been pretty active. Over the weekend, his activity slowed down but it’s getting worse. He now just sits along the bottom (almost burrowed in the rocks or resting on the leaves, but it’s a different kind of resting than I’ve seen before…almost like he’s relying on it just to stay upright rather than just resting).
Ever so often, he swims very quickly around his tank once or twice, shooting himself up to the surface to get air. It appears as if he has to swim as fast as he can while skimming the top or shooting his head out of the water because he can’t maintain posture at the surface otherwise. Then, when he quits swimming he just sinks to the bottom but he’s kind of lop sided as he’s sinking (leaning to the right). Other than his side fins moving a little he’s still as he sinks.
He’s not eating either and between he and my other betta, he was always the little pig who ate immediately. 
Anyway,
He will die in his own time, don’t try to kill him. Try to buy something that will give more Oxygen in your tank and a filter, then put some fish medicine in ( which you can get in any pet store) before it’s too late. (bye).
a remedy ive been told about for some betta sicknesses is feeding them a piece of boiled, peeled, chopped up pea…just something ive heard about ive never needed to use it on my betta. you could try that, if it doesnt work then go to your pet store they have fish medicines and stuff there. i would change some of your water too…i hope hes okay!
doesn’t seem like a disease as much as it does a bladder problem, but him in another bowl with a live plant that gives alot of oxygen and a bubbler with a stone not to much of a current tho…if he still feels like he is in pain its up to u on whether or not to let him live it out or just end his life…there are painless euthanizations…but he should be fine if u can get his bladder fixed up…hope this helps
There are few things that can make an active betta in-active or less active. One, really obvious he could be sick. If this is the case, try cleaning his tank often and introducing a little aquarium salt. (this is great stuff that can help make the water less hospitable for bacteria, viruses and parasites as well as lowers fish stress)
Two, we’re still sort of in winter and when betta’s get cold their activity drops with their appetite.
Definitlly get some air flow, if he’s unable to surface to gulp air he’ll drown soon. They aren’t great with filters though, this tends to encourage or worsen fin rot.
You want to warm him and airate him as soon as possible. The longer he spends on the floor the more likelly he is to get fin rot. It’s an opportunistic bacteria that usally it picked up from resting on the floor for these little guys.
As for feeding, try dried bloodworms, these smell fantastic (to them!) and usually jumpstart even the sickest fishies. Everyone luvs bloodworms! Plus they don’t break donw as quicklly or sink like pellets, you can easily remove any left overs before they mess up your water.
Of course, clean his tank and water, good housekeeping can often perk them up as well especially if some odd contaminante was introduced. (either from the tap or enviromental. ie, lotion, some soap scum, perfumes and most aerosols)
Best of luck!
None of those are good signs….
Use this to help diagnose
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8833
He may just be old aswell…
good luck!!!