My Betta doesnt move much?

-A couple of days ago I noticed my betta wastn't moving alot. Now he barely moves, he just stays close to the top of the water, and now he is barely eating, I put a mirror in front the tank to see if he will flare, and he doesn't. He does not seem to have any noticable bacteria of anything like that on him. I don't know what to do.. please help me! I'm worried about him. I've had him for over a year now.Water temperature?



Cool water will make them less active, to the point where they stop eating and die.



Water should be 75-80F.



Also, removing the fish and doing full water changes is stressful. You should be doing part water changes each week, the fish never comes out of the tank. Keeps conditions in the tank more stable.



Running the tank empty does NOTHING to "condition" the water. Use water a water conditioner for that, it works instantly.



IanHe is probably about 2 years old and most betas last about 4 years or more. I'm not questioning your pet caring but have you over fed him? Is he bloated? Has he passed?



Maybe he has ick but i doubt it.



Try changing his food and maybe give him a friend, buy him a girl betta. This sounds ridiculous but betas can die from loneliness.



I had a male betta who was exhibiting the same behavior, i bought 3 girl betas and changed his food to tettrabetta pellets and in about a week, he was back to being my happy little betta!
There may be a lack of oxygen in the tank, have you got an air pump? Also there could be too much ammonia in the water. Have you got a filter?
There are a few possibilities.

1) Does he have a heater? Bettas are tropical fish & need water @ a steady 78-80 degrees. Cooler temps. cause color loss, clamped fins, lethargy, digestive issues, loss of appetite, stress, illness &/or death. 1-gallon (7.5 or 10 watt heater @ PetSmart and PetCo), 2.5-3 gallons: 25 watt heater (@ most pet stores), 5 gallons: 50 watt heater (@ most pet stores). Hydor & Marineland make good heaters.



2) How big is the tank? Nothing >2.5-3 gallons (& some say nothing >5 gallons) is ok for one betta. You can cycle a larger tank (5+ gallons) which is less work, water & $ for you & less stress for your bettas over time or keep an uncycled tank, but it's more work. If you aren't cycling the tank, filters are pointless; if you are cycling the tank you must have one cuz it helps establish biological filtration, i.e. the tank cycle. People usually prefer sponge filters. Cycling the tank w/fish usually takes 4-6 wks., w/o 4-8 wks. You could get dividers & have them each in their own section of a 10 gallon tank. Here's info. on traditional cycling: http://www.worldcichlids.com/faqs/cyclin鈥?/a>



3) How often do you change the water? Is the tank cycled or not? Water changes remove ammonia, which is toxic & forms in water from uneaten food, waste, his breathing. It's colorless & odorless so you can't tell if the water's ok by seeing if it "looks clean." For uncycled 100% water change tanks: 1 gallon: change 100% of the water (& rinse off plants, gravel, take the fish out, etc.) every other day; 2.5-3 gallons 2-3 times/week; 5 gallons 1-2 x's/week. Do NOT do this w/the filter tho if the tank's cycled; if it's not the filter serves no biological purpose & way as well be left out. Many people say not to change all the water but w/uncycled tanks you MUST; otherwise the ammonia levels, which are toxic, continually rise since you're leaving some in w/every water change. Because of the this, the % of ammonia in the water also rises each time. Any ammonia is enough to stress, sicken or kill fish, so none is the only ok amount. In a cycled tank, you'd change 10-25% of the water & vacuum 1/3 of the gravel 1x/wk.



4) It's possible he's just old. Pet stores sell them usually between 9-18 months, possibly even older depending on the store. Are his tail & bottom fins (caudal & anal) starting to grow together? If so, he's an older boy & that's a good indicator, as they'll continue growing together until he dies.



Check Craigslist, freecycle,com, Ebay, backpage.com or online fish forums for the above items as people usually sell tanks &/or equipment cheaply or give them away.



Also, you can't see bacteria on fish, just as you can't w/people & it's in all water all teh time anyway. It's only bad/cold water & stress that you need to worry about, as that will compromise his immune system which will leave him prone to infections & parasites. Females wil fight in tanks to small for their territorial needs, so you always needs @ least 4 females in a cycled, heavily planted tank 10+ gallons, tho they can still not get along, kill each other, etc.-it depends on the females' personalities & all are different.