You got some excellent advice in this thread.

100% water change.
Betamax
Salt (max 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons)

This should make him healthy again. Betas are usually about a year when
sold because people like them with the big fins, which take about that long
to develop. If you've had him a year, I doubt it is old age.

When he's healthy again cut the salt in half. The salt really keeps them
healthy.

Good luck



"IDzine01" wrote in message
om...
Hi Kodiak,
If he's in a half gallon bowl, I'm assuming it's not cycled. Bettas
are extremely sensitive to ammonia and nitrites. They require 100%
water changes to be performed before any ammonia becomes present. If
you haven't already, purchase an ammonia test kit. (preferably the
test tube kind like the ones Aquarium Pharmaceuticals sells). In a
tank that small you may have to change the water every week or less.
Each betta produces ammonia at a different rate depending on the fish,
the amount and type of food you feed, the tank size, filtration and
water additives. As you know, Bettas are also sensitive to chlorine
and chloramines. If you haven't contacted your local water supplier,
you should be treating for both. While chlorine dissipates after
several hours, chloramines does not. Many water treatment facilities
now treat their water with chloramines. I personally use Kordon's
NovAqua and AmQuel together to keep Chlorine, chloramines and heavy
metals at bay. AmQuel (or AmQuel Plus) also will help neutralize
ammonia if you need to buy yourself an extra day before your water
change.

When you clean out your bowl, take your betta out using a cup (nets
can tare fragile fins) and clean the tank using just hot water making
sure to also clean any gravel, marbles or decor well. This will insure
there is no ammonia in the water.

Honestly, there are MANY things that can cause a betta to become
lethargic. I'll list a couple of possible things you can do to ensure
he stays healthy and you can check them against your current
practices.

1. Really 1 gal is the smallest recommended tank size (2.5 gal or
larger is greatly preferred)
2. The perfect temperature is 78 F. (25.5 C) Although between 75 and
81 is safe as long as it's stable. Anything less then 75 can cause
lethargy and less then 70 can cause illness or even death.
3. Water should be treated for chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals
4. should not be OVER or underfed. Live or frozen foods are preferred
over dry pellet, flake or freeze dried.
5. Regular testing of ammonia, nitrites and pH is essential and
testing of nitrates, kh, and gh is not a bad idea either
6. Tank water must be changed (100%) before any ammonia becomes
present. (Unless tank is cycled, then 20% water changes will do)

If he's not well, it may be best to move him away from any fish he may
be flaring at regularly. (aka another betta) Being in constant
fight-mode can be stressfull for any betta, but especially one that's
a little under the weather.

Well, those are the very basics. I hope something will stand out to
you and your betta will feel better soon.



"Kodiak" wrote in message
...
Fish about 1 yr old, has become extremely lethargic.
Sits on the bottom. He's in a half gallon bowl. I usually change
50% water once a week, now i'm doing 30% every 2 days.
I use dechlorinated (aged 48hours) temperature matched water.
I was also adding dechlornator stress relief formula, but i stopped that
now. Any ideas?
...Kodiak