This is my fish Akio. (He's in a glass since i was cleaning his bowl) He's a betta.
I'll start with when I got him.
The research I found said he was ok without a heater/filter/ect. And the people at the fish store did not say anything. Akio has been fine since I got him, he ate fine, he swam around. He rested ontop of his silk plants, ate happily, and liked to nibble my finger.
I have had him for a year and a half, with no problems. Aside from some fin rot, because I have gravel at the bottom of his bowl. (And I can't buy marbles atm) I then found some information saying he indeed DOES need a heater and more of a shallow/wide tank. Then a deep one. And I've been kicking myself since I had read the wrong information. My family doesn't have money for a heater, or new tank. But this is not why i'm posting.
A few days ago I came into my romo to find Akio unable to swim properly. He was floating, freaking out and couldn't swim down. I removed him from his home, and put him into a glass. Which I then wtinessed him basically go belly up, but he snapped back and -tried- to swim to the bottom. I cried. Since this is my first pet, it really scares me. (Even if it's just a fish.) I then stayed up until 3am maknig his water warmer and watching him. He just kept floating almsot right over. But after a bit he found out a way to keep himself steady and rest against the glass. During that time my bf was reading up incase he ahd a disease. Which we found out swim bladder/constpiation sounded closest to it. His stomach was not swollen however, he just had no bouyoncy.
He survived the night, and the next day I cooked him a pea, cut it up and fed it to him. Over the course of the day he got better bit by bit. Yesterday he pooped fine (so i fed him 2 pellets later on), and I began cleaning his home to put him back into it since he seemed so much better. But I noticed him getting weird again a bit before I did. Once in he tried to swim down, and his fins were going crazy. He had to rest alot, and it was like he didn't know where the glass stopped or ended. He bumped ito it alot, and keeps trying to eat something that isin't there. Akio was still floating, but he was smart and figured out a way to use the plants to hold him in place. Making it much easier for him to rest. Today I have also fed him another 2 pellets, and he was happy eating those. I got a mirror and he poofed out, I took it away and he patrolled his bowl.
During his 'sick' time, I noted white on his belly and chin. It has not been there before, and I read it was stress. He's a maroon/dark maroon/black. So it being so white under him is weird to see, I've heard it can also be natural coloration? I'd like input from some others. So i don't get the wrong information again.
I also don't think it's Swim Bladder, but I have no diea what else it could be. Is my betta sick? Or stressed?
I don't know how many gallons his bowl is, but it's quite deep.
He eats Betta Bites, and I use Nutrafin AquaPlus water conditioner.