So randomly my mom's betta stopped swimming. He just sits at the very bottom of the tank on his side and doesn't move. He has a very hard time swimming to the top to breathe and eat. We lower the water level a lot so it's easier for him and sometimes he'll come sit on one of the decorations which is right at the surface so he only has to move a lil bit to get to the top. Is there any medicine I can give him so he can swim again? He is roughly 1.5 yrs old.

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50 Bowfront, 2 Acei, 2 Yellow Labs, 1 Orange, 1 Albino, 2 Blue African Cichlids
30 Gal, 3 Fantail Goldfish, 1 Black Ryukin, 1 Common Pleco
20 Gal, Mollies, Platies, Cories, Algae Eaters
15 Gal, Swordtails, Balloon Mollies, Rasboras
10 Gal, 2 Knight Gobies
10 Gal, 2 Bolivian Rams
1.5 Gal, Male Betta

Does he look any different? Are his fins smaller or ragged? Is his stomach bloated at all? Does he have any fuzzy white patches on him? Does his spine seem curved?

A picture would help in diagnosing the problem, if you can post one. I hope he recovers soon. :(

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Creatures great and small, I love 'em all! But mainly the fish.

I agree,we need a pic of him.Sounds to me like swim bladder disorder.Some will get it and float while others will sink.Its usually due to genetics,food or water quality.

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

No to all of those. Only thing different looking is he is a tad bit skinnier and you lays down in almost a "C" shape. I'll post a picture in a minute.

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50 Bowfront, 2 Acei, 2 Yellow Labs, 1 Orange, 1 Albino, 2 Blue African Cichlids
30 Gal, 3 Fantail Goldfish, 1 Black Ryukin, 1 Common Pleco
20 Gal, Mollies, Platies, Cories, Algae Eaters
15 Gal, Swordtails, Balloon Mollies, Rasboras
10 Gal, 2 Knight Gobies
10 Gal, 2 Bolivian Rams
1.5 Gal, Male Betta

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50 Bowfront, 2 Acei, 2 Yellow Labs, 1 Orange, 1 Albino, 2 Blue African Cichlids
30 Gal, 3 Fantail Goldfish, 1 Black Ryukin, 1 Common Pleco
20 Gal, Mollies, Platies, Cories, Algae Eaters
15 Gal, Swordtails, Balloon Mollies, Rasboras
10 Gal, 2 Knight Gobies
10 Gal, 2 Bolivian Rams
1.5 Gal, Male Betta

Have you gotten a look at him from the top? If his scales are jutting out (making him look almost like a pine cone), then it might be dropsey. Otherwise, I'd suspect swim bladder disorder like majerah said. I don't know what to do about that, but she probably would; she's the betta expert here.

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Creatures great and small, I love 'em all! But mainly the fish.

Nope, nothing at all funny looking on him. Just skinnier and he has a really hard time swimming. How do you fix swim bladder? I was hoping I could get something like Melafix, but I know you can't use it on Bettas.

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50 Bowfront, 2 Acei, 2 Yellow Labs, 1 Orange, 1 Albino, 2 Blue African Cichlids
30 Gal, 3 Fantail Goldfish, 1 Black Ryukin, 1 Common Pleco
20 Gal, Mollies, Platies, Cories, Algae Eaters
15 Gal, Swordtails, Balloon Mollies, Rasboras
10 Gal, 2 Knight Gobies
10 Gal, 2 Bolivian Rams
1.5 Gal, Male Betta

From the pics he looks to have popeye,which is due to water quality.If thats the case he may recover if you keep him as pristine as possible.Otherwise,lowering the water level and keeping him cozy is about all you can do.I had one,you could see her Swim bladder,what was left of it.It busted so she couldnt control herself anymore.She lived for about two years like before passing.She seemed happy otherwise.

Have you seen those leaf hammocks?They consist of a plastic leaf and a suction cup.Perhaps getting a few of those to go around at different levels of the aquarium for him will help make his trips easier up.

I know several people who have made a special need tank for bettas in the same condition,out of totes.They use the shallow ones and decorate it with tons of plants and platform like things to help the fish out when they swim about.

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

Betta can't swim because he is old and dying. That is all. They don't usually live longer than a couple years. Though certain types can last several years, it is unusual.

In actuality the average lifespan of a betta splenden is six years.The ones found at stores are mostly old breeders and a couple years old already.

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

Ive seen the leaf hammocks. The water is low enough where he can rest on the barrel decoration and one plant and not have that hard of a time getting to the surface. Thanks for all the advice!

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50 Bowfront, 2 Acei, 2 Yellow Labs, 1 Orange, 1 Albino, 2 Blue African Cichlids
30 Gal, 3 Fantail Goldfish, 1 Black Ryukin, 1 Common Pleco
20 Gal, Mollies, Platies, Cories, Algae Eaters
15 Gal, Swordtails, Balloon Mollies, Rasboras
10 Gal, 2 Knight Gobies
10 Gal, 2 Bolivian Rams
1.5 Gal, Male Betta

Aw, poor little guy.

Do you mean like his body is curved? Is he always like that or only when he lays down?

only when he lays down he lays on his side and "curves" his body.

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50 Bowfront, 2 Acei, 2 Yellow Labs, 1 Orange, 1 Albino, 2 Blue African Cichlids
30 Gal, 3 Fantail Goldfish, 1 Black Ryukin, 1 Common Pleco
20 Gal, Mollies, Platies, Cories, Algae Eaters
15 Gal, Swordtails, Balloon Mollies, Rasboras
10 Gal, 2 Knight Gobies
10 Gal, 2 Bolivian Rams
1.5 Gal, Male Betta

hmmm... he looks sick to me, but i'm not a betta expert. my parents won't let me get a betta, even when i said i would keep it covered so the cats won't get to it

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Please correct me if i mispell a word.

<- That looks like a fish in a jar. Poor fishy. :(