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Other petsEliSeptember 13, 2026

Friends betta is having bouyancy issues, they said it’s a common recurrence for swim…

Friends betta is having bouyancy issues, they said it’s a common recurrence for swim bladder issues. For a long time the fish hasn’t had normal swimming patterns, sinks easily and relies on support around the tank. Betta has begun to lose color and turn white/grey around the face. No fuzz or growth that I can see and he is still excited for food and interaction and seems to be in “good spirits”. Not sure what to do to help, friend says she cannot afford a vet for a fish. Water specs are all normal. 10 gallon tank with heater and what looks like a sponge filter. 2 snails that are totally fine and normal.

A licensed veterinarian’s answer

DWDylan Wilson, DVMVerified VetSmall Animal, Mixed Animal, Preventive Care, Laboratory Medicine · KY license 293504Answered Sep 15

Hi Eli, sorry to hear your friends betta is having issues. I agree swim bladder disorders are common for many aquarium species. My rule of thumb for bettas is to check the amount of current in the tank and reduce it to a minimum since they are naturally in low current habitats. They can tolerate low oxygen environments and many don't require a lot of water movement. Likewise, I regularly would perform a 10% or 20% water change for long term established tanks or set up a "hospital" tank to keep a closer eye on the fish and to give any over the counter remedies. Swim bladder issues normally resolve on their own with reduced feeding and letting the fish naturally expel gas. Consuming fibrous or foreign objects can cause excess gas build up as well as bacterial overgrowth in the GI tract. Please send anymore information such as age and gender for the fish as well or pictures to help with a discussion.

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