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Hi,I have a pet betta fish that has recently been swimming weirdly. it leans towards one side a lot and is having difficulty while swimming. I left him with a friend for 3 weeks over break where his water was not changed and he was not fed properly. I have tried to make him fast for 3 days at a stretch and also changed his water (solutions i read online) but it does not seem to help. i am very concerned, what do I do? He usually lies horizontally on top of his bowl. Thank you for your help :)

Hi,I have a pet betta fish that has recently been swimming weirdly. it leans towards one side a lot and is having difficulty while swimming. I left him with a friend for 3 weeks over break where his water was not changed and he was not fed properly. I have tried to make him fast for 3 days at a stretch and also changed his water (solutions i read online) but it does not seem to help. i am very concerned, what do I do? He usually lies horizontally on top of his bowl. Thank you for your help :)

Updated On February 13th, 2017

Pet's info: Fish | Unknown - Fish | Female

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Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

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It's possible Blue may have a problem with his swim bladder which helps control a fish's upward and downward movement and helps them to stay upright. Testing the water and making sure the filtration system (yes, bettas require more than just a bowl to live comfortably) is working properly may also help. If you see any other strange signs such as growths, molds, etc, most of these can be treated with products found in your local pet store.

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