Is my betta showing signs of depression?

[florine]

Hi, I'm after some advice - my betta's been looking pretty down in the dumps lately. I've been slack with the water testing, to be honest, since I've never had issues with nitrates, nitrites or ammonia. But I just tested the water and I'm pretty sure the KH and GH are too high for him.

I was thinking of trying Indkento4 almond leaves - would they help lower these levels? Could this be what's making him so lethargic?

My tank's at 26c and it's 5.5gal, if that helps.

[gildfish]

I think your water readings are actually okay, to be honest. Could be something else going on, though - he might have popeye, that's what it looks like to me. Would love to see some more photos of him, especially from the side and from above, if you can get those?

[florine]

I think your water readings are actually okay, to be honest. Could be something else going on, though - he might have popeye, that's what it looks like to me. Would love to see some more photos of him, especially from the side and from above, if you can get those?

Here are the pics, thanks so much for taking a look. I've been keeping fish for a bit over a year now, but I'm still learning heaps. Any advice is super appreciated, I feel like I'm still pretty new to all this.

[gildfish]

Looks like popeye's the issue, but don't worry, it's only minor. I'd recommend starting with salt baths - there's a ton of info online if you search for it.

By the way, I'm still learning too, been in the hobby for just over 3 years now, and I've come to realize there's always something new to pick up.

[infold]

He's just got that laid-back, been-around-the-block vibe that's so typical of Bettas.

[gildfish]

He's just got that laid-back, been-around-the-block vibe that's so typical of Bettas.

Look at post #3, the second pic. I'm no expert, but isn't that what popeye looks like?

[infold]

I think your water readings are actually okay, to be honest. Could be something else going on, though - he might have popeye, that's what it looks like to me. Would love to see some more photos of him, especially from the side and from above, if you can get those?

I agree, the second pic in post #3 does show some signs of popeye. Thankfully, it's not too advanced, and your suggested remedy of salt baths seems like a good course of action.

[florine]

He's just got that laid-back, been-around-the-block vibe that's so typical of Bettas.

Cheers for the help, really appreciate it

[florine]

I think your water readings are actually okay, to be honest. Could be something else going on, though - he might have popeye, that's what it looks like to me. Would love to see some more photos of him, especially from the side and from above, if you can get those?

That's really helpful, thanks. I'll look into it and start tomorrow.

[graye]

Water changes are crucial now, not tomorrow. Your betta's popeye indicates an infection in his sinus, which needs immediate attention. I hope you've been doing regular 25-30% water changes weekly - this is far more important than testing the water. In a 5-gallon tank like yours, pollutants can build up quickly, and popeye is often a sign of a dirty water-related problem.