:eek: Something's up with my Beta fish.. it's a male and I got it about a month ago.. he's been fine and healthy but these past 2 weeks about he hasn't been eating nearly as much as he used to... it seems to be gasping for air all the time but I don't think its choking since its been doing that for a while.. and just today I couldn't find him in the bowl but lucky he had just jumped out, so he's still alive now.. but I don' t know what's wrong with it and if anyone has any ideas please tell me! :confused: :D :)

Unfortunately, he is probably about to meet the end of his existence. I used to make beta bowls, and sorry to say... but this is a sign. Beta's are known to not live very long. However, I did have one that lived for 3.5 years. Good luck.

He doeswn't seem that old though... He's still very rich in color and dark purple and red.. and still has all of his fins... don't they usually get to losing the fins and turning pale?

Are you keeping the water clean?
Do you notice any spots (white) on him at all?

No he looks as healthy as any fish... and I keep the water clean, I change it every week.

But another thing I have to keep changing his water more often because the food I put in there he doesn't eat so it get dirty so much more quick.. I'm putting in a lot less food

You are doing good by decreasing his food.
Betas only need 1 or 2 flakes a day.

Keep an eye out for illnesses, jumping out of the water is a sign of parasitic infections such as ick.
This may not be the case, but it's just something to watch out for.

No worries about the gulping.
Betas breath with an organ called a labyrinth - it is comparable to our lungs.
They go to the surface of the water and gulp a breath of air and that's how they breath.

A lot of times fish will have internal illnesses that are out of our control.
You can only do the best you can do.
Continue to keep the water clean like you are doing and keep food down to 1 or 2 flakes a day.

I hope all goes well.

You could also try to get a water plant and stop feeding him. Just let him eat the plant roots. Or, do a combo of both.

OK thanks for the help, but he has jumped out of the water once already I was so lucky to find him at the moment he jumped out! I'll keep changing the water and take care of him I guess and see what happens. Appreciate the help

You're welcome

I noticed when I had fish the colored gravel seemed to dirty the water or retain dirt even when I rinsed it off when I changed the water. I think the dye comes off or something so I switched to natural pebbles.
Also you could maybe place a screen on top of the bowl so he can not jump out.