My betta fish is scared and won't eat. What can I do to help?

Check the water chemistry and water temperature. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates 30 ppm or below. Water temp should be between 78 F and 80 F. Add only plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt). Add no more than 1 teaspoon per gallon and treat for 10-14 days. Lower the water level by half to make it easier for her to reach the surface. Bettas can breathe room air if necessary. Soak pellets in some garlic juice to stimulate her appetite.

Check the water temperature first. Bettas are tropical fish and do best between 78 F and 80 F. Next, check water quality. This can be done by using a home test kit or by submitting a water sample for testing. The local pet store may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence ( 0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. Perform partial water changes if necessary. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Offer an appropriate diet as well. Bettas are carnivorous, so make sure the flake or pellet is not mainly vegetable matter. Hikari makes a great Betta diet in pellet form. You can also offer blood worms, shrimp or Daphnia to add variety to the diet.

He may be dealing with some swim bladder issues. The swim bladder is what keeps a fish upright and controls buoyancy. Infection, poor water quality or constipation can affect the swim bladder. Perform a water change. Use aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. My choice for conditioners are AmQuel and NovAqua. You can purchase them in most pet stores or fish stores. Bettas are warm water fish and do best between 78 F and 80 F. Anything below 75 F will be stressful. A small tank heater may be necessary to maintain proper temperature. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt) per gallon of water in a cup of tank water and gently pour it in. This will act as a general tonic reducing stress, improving gill function and treating minor infection. Change the water daily to maintain quality and dissolve just enough salt to treat the water being replaced. Fast him for 3 days, then offer small bits of cooked, shelled green peas until defecation and swimming are normal. You can soak the bits in some garlic juice to stimulate his appetite and boost the immune system. Transition to a quality pelleted diet and fast for one day each week to maintain GI health.

Check the water quality. This can be done with a home test kit or you can submit a water sample for testing. Most pet stores or aquarists will do this for free or for a nominal fee. Correct any imbalances as indicated. Check the water temp as well. Aim for 78 F to 80 F. Use a tank heater to prevent temps below 74 F. Offer a good quality pellet such as Hikari BioGold. You can also feed blackworms or bloodworms. Live worms may get him eating. Freeze dried tubifex worms may also stimulate his appetite. If there are no outward signs of bacterial or fungal infection, consider parasites. You can use metronidazole for fish. It is sold in most pet stores in the aquarium section. Follow label directions and gauge his response after treatment. The raised scales are a concern because that can be a symptom of dropsy. Dropsy is common in bettas and usually fatal. It is typically accompanied by a swollen abdomen though. Fish tuberculosis is another serious concern. This is a slow, progressive illness that can kill fish and ruin tanks/bowls. Start with the basics as listed above. Try water changes with conditioned water and offer different foods to get Thorin eating. You can request a consultation to discuss his condition in greater detail and for additional resources.

The ideal water temperature for bettas is between 78 F and 80 F. Check water quality and perform a partial water change if necessary. Used aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent shock or stress. If he won't eat pellets, try soaking them in a bit of garlic juice. This can serve as an appetite stimulant as well as an immune system booster. You can also offer freeze dried (or live) bloodworms, brine shrimp or tubifex worms. The "wiggling" when he swims may be normal for him but check his fins for signs of fin rot which can make swimming more difficult.

That looks like a very small tank for sweet Cherry. Bettas really do best in a larger space, I would consider 2.5 gallons the absolute minimum. The larger the tank, the safer the water conditions will be. They also need a filter and water heater. They are tropical fish and really need the water to be 78-80*F. Hopefully this is just a husbandry issue rather than a disease. Check out this article for more advice: https://vetmed.illinois.edu/pet_column/betta-fish/

Thanks for reaching out about Kiho. How often do you change out your food source. By the pictures, there seems to be a spinal curvature which is often associated with scurvy (vitamin C deficiencies). Vitamin C is not stable in foods. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostics/treatment plan. Anti-inflammatories could help mobility. Improving vitamin C at this point will not reverse changes. Check and correct water quality and pristine water is needed to recovery. Betta Fix does nothing but delay proper treatments. Good luck.