Sick Betta Fish Laying Bottom [6 Reasons and How To Prevent]

Betta fish are known for their bold colors and active movements. When sick, they often lay at the bottom of the tank gasping for air, breathing heavily, or even sometimes laying still on its side. If you notice your betta fish doing any of these things, you must act quickly to save your beloved pet! 

In this article, We will be discussing 6 reasons why sick betta fish laying at the bottom of the tank and how to fix them.

My Sick Betta Fish Laying Bottom Of The Tank? Is It Dead?

My Sick Betta Fish Laying Bottom Of The Tank Is It Dead
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No, your sick betta fish is not dead even though it may look like that.

If your sick betta fish is laying at the bottom of your tank and breathing heavily, there might be something wrong with him/her.

Fish that are lying on the bottom of the tank doesn’t mean that they are dead. You have to take a closer look and try to figure out what’s going on with your sick betta fish.

Below I have listed some common reasons why a sick or stressed-out betta can lay on its side and stop moving completely.

Also, read: 7 Ways betta fish recognizes their owners! Read here!

6 Reasons Why Your Betta Fish Is Lying at The Bottom?

6 Reasons Why Your Betta Fish Is Lying at The Bottom 
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These are the 6 common reasons your sick betta fish is laying bottom of the tank:

Reason 1: Betta sick with a swimbladder disorder

The swim bladder is an organ that helps the betta fish control its buoyancy. It is located just under his stomach, which he uses to direct himself in the water. If sick your betta’s swim bladder becomes swollen or damaged then it will have difficulty controlling where it floats and you might notice that sick betta fish laying bottom. If you notice that your sick Betta is not eating and you found him sick at the bottom of the tank then it is probably sick with swim bladder disorder.

To help fix my betta I recommend buying a product called “Quick Cure” 

(Link: here) by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.

Do you know: Betta fish have tongues! Read this article to know how many teeth?

Reason 2: Betta sick with constipation

Have you noticed your sick betta fish laying bottom because of constipation? This is quite common. Betta Fish are carnivores and they tend to eat their food whole without chewing it, which sometimes causes problems when things get stuck in the digestive tract. You can fix this by feeding your sick betta fish some peas.

Reason 3: Betta sick with dropsy

Dropsy is a disease that causes the scales of sick betta fish to stick out like pine cones, making them look almost comically large! Dropsies are typically caused by internal bacterial infections which cause toxins to build up inside your sick Betta’s body. If you notice sick betta fish laying at the bottom and pine cone scales then dropsy may be your problem. 

To help fix my sick Betta, I recommend buying a product called “Drops-O-Matic” 

(Link: here) by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. It is an easy way to treat sick betta fish with dropsy at your home.

Reason 4: Betta sick with an internal bacterial infection

Internal bacteria infections are the most common cause of sick betta fish laying on their side or bottom, gasping for air, and not eating. This is because sick bettas have extremely sensitive stomachs that cannot handle much abuse. This causes sick betta fish to not eat and lay at the bottom of the sick tank.

To help fix my sick Betta I recommend buying a product called “Ulcer-Care” 

(Link: here) by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, which prevents internal bacterial infections from happening in sick bettas. It works great for sick betta fish with internal bacterial infections.

Reason 5: Betta sick with a fungus

Fungus is not as bad for sick bettas. The reason that your sick fish might be laying at the bottom of the tank could just be because he’s resting after his long fight against fungus! If you notice sick Betta Fish laying on their side but they are still breathing then this might be your problem. To help fix sick betta fish with a fungus, I recommend buying a product called “Fungus Eliminator” 

(Link: here) by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, which will cure sick Betta Fish of fungus within its body and make them healthy again!

Reason 6: Betta sick with a tumor

Tumors are sick betta fish with one of the worst diseases that you can treat. Tumors will typically cause sick Betta Fish to lay at the bottom and not eat, however, they might still be breathing. This is because their body has no more strength left in it and sick bettas need all of their energy to fight off the sick tumor. If you notice sick betta fish laying at the bottom and not eating then your sick Betta might be sick with a tumor! To help fix my sick Betta, I recommend buying a product called “Tumor Guard” 

(Link: here) by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, which is a miracle worker for sick betta fish with tumors.

These are the most common reasons why your sick Betta Fish might be laying at the bottom of the sick tank and not eating, if you notice any of these symptoms then my advice would be to go ahead and order some products from this article! These products work great for sick betta fish and make them better in no time! If you have sick betta fish laying at the bottom and not eating then order some of these products today!

Also, read my friend’s article: Why your betta fish is laying at the bottom of the tank

How To Fix a Sick Betta Fish?

How To Fix a Sick Betta Fish
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Well, sick betta fish laying bottom is a bad sign and your sick Betta needs help as soon as possible. So here are some things to do:

– Do frequent water changes (change 25% of the tank’s water daily; or 50 % twice per week). 

– Make sure that you have proper filtration (keep the filter running for 24 hours).

– Check PH levels. If it’s not between pH0 and pH12, then you need to change some things (get a water test kit). 

– Make sure that there is enough oxygen in the tank; sick betta fish needs more oxygen than healthy ones.

– Feed your sick fish with a portion of food that will not worsen the disease.

If you have just one sick betta fish laying bottom, then there is nothing to worry about. In most cases, these are some temporary problems, and sick Betta fish recovers after a while of proper care. But if sick betta fish lays on the bottom for more than a few days, then you need to do some additional research.

Also, read: 20 Best tank mates for betta fish

What To Do If You Find You Betta Lying Down (Possibilities)

What To Do If You Find You Betta Lying Down
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You may find your betta lying at the bottom of his tank. This is normal when you first get him, but it should resolve after he acclimates to his new environment. It can also be a sign that something isn’t right in the water conditions or with how you care for your sick fish if this continues past day one.

Below is some possibility you can find if your betta fish is sick and lying at the bottom of the tank.

Is Your Betta Fish Laying on The Bottom Of The Tank Breathing Heavily?

This sick betta fish behavior is often overlooked by many owners. Why? Many people don’t know what to do if their sick pet betta fish is laying at the bottom of the tank breathing heavily!

Let me explain in more detail…The reason why your sick betta fish might be laying on the bottom of its aquarium or bowl is that sick betta fish can’t breathe! 

PREVENTION:

First of all, you need to understand sick betta fish behavior. If your sick pet betta is laying at the bottom and not eating – it’s a bad sign! 

A healthy betta fish will come to the top of its bowl or aquarium when you approach. It’s sick bettas who lay at the bottom because they can hardly swim.

Also, read: 11 Reasons why a betta fish lays at the bottom of the tank?

Is Your Betta Fish Laying on The Bottom Of The Tank and Not Moving?

That is a common sick betta fish symptom. So, if you see your sick betta fish laying on the bottom of the tank not moving then pay attention to it and consider that as an indicator for health problems. 

As I said before sick Betta’s will lay at the bottom of their tanks being lethargic and acting sick, so if you have a sick fish be sure to check its behavior. 

PREVENTION:

The sick fish has to be treated properly and it must receive the right medication. Also, you should avoid using any medications that can leave behind chemical residues.

Is Your Betta Fish Laying On The Bottom Gasping For Air?

The sick betta fish is laying on the bottom of the tank gasping for air. There are some signs that your sick betta fish may be dying, and one of these includes breathing heavily while lying on its side at the bottom of its aquarium. 

If you notice this behavior in your sick betta fish, there can still be hope for sick betta fish. 

PREVENTION: 

Always keep sick betta fish separated from healthy ones to prevent the spread of disease. 

Make sure that sick betta fishes have enough space in their aquariums and avoid overcrowding them with too many sick bettas together. Sick bettas should also be quarantined away from everyone else when they are sick so as not to infect other sick bettas with the same disease.

Is Your Betta Fish Laying on The Side But Not Dead? 

If your sick betta fish is laying on the side but not dead, there are a lot of reasons for this. It could be really sick or just resting after being up at the top of the tank gasping for air. 

There’s no definite answer to how long should I wait until it passes away? Yes, you can wait and see if it dies but most sick fish don’t make it through the night. 

PREVENTION: 

If sick fish are not treated, they will die most likely. Some sick bettas can be helped if you treat them with medicine and keep a close eye on their behavior. Most sick bettas need to go see an aquatic vet as soon as possible for treatment. If the sick fish is sick, you need to do something right away. 

Is Your Betta Fish Not Eating and Laying at The Bottom?

If your sick betta fish is not eating and laying at the bottom, it might be a sign of internal infection. Internal infections are caused by bacterial, fungal, or parasitic growth in the body cavity or organs. 

Symptoms can include bloating which makes your sick betta look like an over-inflated balloon with scales protruding and a visible abdomen. You might also notice bright red or purple color on sick betta’s body, jaundice (yellowing of sick betta’s gills), swelling around the eyes, and difficulty breathing.

PREVENTION:  

Prevention is always better than cure. Make sure sick betta fish has the right environment to live in, including:

– A heater; 

– Proper filtration (betta tank should be filtered and cleaned regularly); 

– Plants (live plants like Anacharis help maintain healthy water by removing nitrates). If you don’t have live plants, a sick betta fish tank should be decorated with natural-looking silk or plastic ones.

Betta Fish Behavior Before Death (Here’s How To Find)

Betta Fish Behavior Before Death
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There are many signs a betta fish shows before dying. If you know what to look for, sick betta fish laying bottom.

– Swimming at the top of the tank gasping for air

– Constantly staying on the top swimming side to side

– Shaking and not able to swim straight, sick betta fish laying bottom.

– Not eating at all sick betta fish laying bottom.

If your sick pet is doing any of the behaviors explained above we recommend taking it to a vet as soon as the sick betta fish is, laying bottom. Also, we wrote a detailed article to find out whether your betta fish is about to die or not. Mentioned below!

Also, read: These are 7 common betta fish behavior before death!

Conclusion

Sick Betta Fish Laying Bottom - Conclusion
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The sick betta fish laying at the bottom is a sign that your pet needs immediate help with his or her health. If you notice some sick behavior in your sick betta fish, it’s time to go see a veterinarian for treatment.

By following all of these steps on how to fix sick fish and prevent this from happening again, you should have your sick betta fish back to his or her healthy self in no time.

Did you know? If left untreated, sick betta could die within 24 hours because of their weak immune system.

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