Is my betta sick?

[folklor]

I'm freaking out - I just went to feed him this morning and he's just lying at the bottom of the tank, breathing really hard and not even trying to swim. I've moved him up to his floating log so he can get to the air easily, but I'm seriously worried. He moves a bit when I open the tank, but then just goes back to gulping air - I don't know what to do.

[folklor]

I'm freaking out - I just went to feed him this morning and he's just lying at the bottom of the tank, breathing really hard and not even trying to swim. I've moved him up to his floating log so he can get to the air easily, but I'm seriously worried. He moves a bit when I open the tank, but then just goes back to gulping air - I don't know what to do.

[folklor]

I've had this happen to me before, not just with this betta, but my previous ones too - they all started showing signs of illness around the 9-month mark. I do my weekly water changes, feed a varied diet, test my water, treat diseases as advised, and maintain proper tank conditions. It's frustrating because I feel like I'm doing everything right, but they still end up getting dropsy and passing away. I'm starting to think there's something I'm missing, but I'm not sure what it is.

[happyone]

If I'm being honest, it's possible the issue lies with where I'm sourcing my betta fish from - maybe they're of poor quality or weren't kept in the best conditions before I got them. It's no secret that keeping fish in small cups is far from ideal, and I've been buying from the same place each time, so it's definitely something to consider.

[onyxlady]

I've had him for a while now. What I'm really trying to figure out is what's going on with his health. You asked about the pH, GH, and KH - I can check those for you. To be honest, I haven't checked them recently but I can give you the readings from my last water test.

I've been wondering the same thing - if it's the source of my fish that's the issue. I've been buying from a big pet store, but I'm starting to think that might be the problem. Maybe I should try looking for a reputable breeder or a local fish shop for my next betta, instead of going back to the same place that might be selling me poor quality stock.