Ammonia is very toxic to fish and can kill them if the levels get too high. Pinning down whats behind your fishs behavior is the first step to fixing it. Though bettas have different sleeping habits, too much sleeping might indicate a problem. Betta Fish If youre anything like us, you enjoy quick naps during the day and deep sleep at night. Betta fish vertical death hang - Taunt On Water If your betta's body suddenly looks puffed up or swollen, this is a sign of sickness. Most of the time, the death hang is solved by a couple of extra water changes or a remedy for Swim Bladder Disease. However, bettas are also prone to a condition known as vertical death hang, which can be both deadly and heartbreaking for owners. This can lead to a betta fish swimming in circles, or even floating vertically in the water. All four are essential for the health of your fish. Betta Vertical Death Hang (Head Down Tail Up) Causes + Fixes Floating with the head down and tail up and struggling to stay upright is caused by swim bladder disease which can result from illness, physical injury, or environmental causes. I got home late yesterday evening and didn't see him so I'm not sure if this has been going on since yesterday night. With dropsy, the entire fish swells up, and the scales stand out a bit from the body. In addition to keeping the tank at the optimum betta fish water temp, it should stay clean to avoid diseases and infections. Its always exciting to watch your bettas playing in the tank; however, they need their beauty sleep too. Betta Fish Need a Heater and Filter in Their Although there is still much to be learned about how domestication is affecting bettas, the process has produced a plethora of pretty fish whose fantastical colors and shapes may never have existed otherwise. However, these fish can be fragile, and because they tend to have long, flowing fins, they can be injured quite easily. Dave Gibbins has been collecting Betta fish for over 10 years. Japanese Fighting Fish is reader-supported. If the water temperature is unsuitable, betta fish will also go to the tanks top or bottom area to find the right temperature. Uneaten food pellets in the tank will eventually break down and pollute the water. Why is my fish sleeping vertically? The first reason could be an unknown injury or disease. So, you need to keep the flow rate very low. Apart from the head facing downwards, other signs of a swim bladder disease are swelling around the belly, lethargy, and a curved spine.. Finally, if the water temperature in their tank is not warm enough, they can become inactive and even die. As a professional, the vet can diagnose your bettas and offer treatment. Dead snails, fish, or shrimp are another aquarium waste source.