Hello, I got a male betta at petsmart about a week ago. I noticed he stayed at the top of the cup,with his back fin touching the surface, I thought maybe it was because the cup is small. Now he is in his vase and still stays at the top. When he tries to swim to the bottom he looks like he is struggling. He swims around for a few seconds and then stops swimming and just floats back to the top.
Could it be a swim bladder issue, gas, or maybe his muscles aren't devolped enough to swim properly from being in the cup so long?

Thanks

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Elizabeth, SW Ohio
29g almost set up
Male and Female Betta

This is very common behavior with Male Bettas. I have one in my 55G and one in my 20G tanks. They always stay at the top where the floating plants are. Male Bettas have a hard time swimiing because they have such long fins. Guess who bred these long fins into them? Females do a lot better at swiming and will usually explore their tank more.

Happy New Year!

As he swims more will he get better? He does have interesting fins, my sister looks at all kinds of betta breed pics and said she hadn't seen fins like his, they are kinda curly. I will post a pic of him tomorrow when I have better lighting.

Thanks and Happy New Year

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Elizabeth, SW Ohio
29g almost set up
Male and Female Betta

Can you get a picture of him?It sounds like swimbladder issues to me.Does he look bloated?What size tank is he in,is it heated,filtered?What do you feed him,how much and how often?

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

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

Take the fish back. It's got a swim bladder problem and you don't need to be stuck with the time and expense of trying to cure. it.

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27 to 35 tanks from 5 to 55 gallon fresh water tanks. 300 to 350 gal in all.
Spawning mostly Killies, Live bearers, American & west African Cichlids, Pencil fish. 4 species of spawning Corydoras, & some Bristle nose Plecos. Other less than 6 inch species from time to time.

In St. Louis
Change As Much Water As Often As You Can

He is in a betta vase, so I guess its 1 gallon. Its not heated or filtered except for the bamboo I put in there. I know they should have heated and filtered water. I just moved him from the cup to this yesterday. He swims fine on the surface and he's swimming around more today. He's not bloated. I feed him about 5 pellets every other day, is this to much or to little? He also displays and gets frisky and swims all the way from top to bottom when the female is where he can see her. He is also making bubbles.

close up pic

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Elizabeth, SW Ohio
29g almost set up
Male and Female Betta

Update, he is swimming aound all through the tank top and bottom now. He much more active than he was. I am thinking he had just been in that tiny cup to long.

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Elizabeth, SW Ohio
29g almost set up
Male and Female Betta