Sick Betta Fish

HELP …I think my betta fish is dying Baby Blue is almost a year old. About a month ago, I thought I would be a good "Betta Mom", so I purchased a 2.5 gallon aquarium, with light, under gravel filter, etc. When he lived in a bowl, I always did 100% water change, and washed his bowl with soap and water, followed by a good hot rinse. I know now not to use soap. So, I did the same thing with the 2.5 gallon aquarium, filled the water right up to the top, closed the lid and thought nothing of it. Well, he has since lost his color, and looks like he has internal bleeding; he does not eat, looks like he's struggling to breath and stays at the top of the water in a vertical position. I don't think he can even swim. He had some kind of “blood bubble” that leaked all over then fell off. He is now leaking a bright yellow color. HELP. This is my first fish and my kids and I desperately want to save him. Any advice would be most appreciated.

where is he "leaking" from?

Did you use a water conditioner to remove the chlorine? Has the little aquarium been cycled? None of this stuff is difficult or very technical. Fish cannot tolerate large changes in water parameters like temperature, pH, etc. New aquariums tend to have ammonia and nitrites (both toxins to fish) before they go through the nitrogen cycle. If you have some wet gravel or plants from old aquarium, they will help start the nitrogen cycle. If not, changing half the water every day for a few days will remove the toxins and allow the fish to recover. Just moving the Betta will shock his immune system, and that's probably what happened.

As usual, I forgot to say welcome. Please let us know how the Betta is doing, and ask all the questions you need to.

It's coming from the beginning (or front) of what I think is the anal fin (under his belly).

it's like a liquid??? or spots? or as if it is pooping but yellow?

it was like a long string of bright yellow liquid hanging out of the fish?? I've never seen that before, and I've had him for almost a year!

Welcome to the forum!

I'm sorry that your fish isn't doing so well.

Sounds like as John described he's been shocked from the move. Did you use a water treatment? To remove the chlorine from the water?

Also... Don't feed him for a couple of days. Leave the light off and give him a chance to recover.

Please do daily water changes, but not 100%, more like 30-50%... Keep that up for a week and see if he looks any better.

Good Luck to you!

After reading your post again, I noticed the part about the water being all the way to the top. A Betta needs some breathing space above the water, so if the water is touching the plastic cover, he can't breathe air. He needs ambient oxygen as well as that he absorbs through his gills. The air space should be warm, damp, and at least an inch away from the top.

I had the same problem! As soon as I put my fish in an aquarium with filter and air pump my fish didnt move... for 2 days he kept hiding and gasping for air...But my water is not filled to the top.... Weird!.. I put him back into his old aquarium.. i know how u feel... its sad.