I live in a college dorm right now, so my only pet is a blue beta that I keep in a small charge. I change the water weekly, and when I do so, I transfer him in his water to a cup, then rinse out the bowl, rinse off the few pebbles in there, dry them, replace the bubbles, fill the bowl about 2/3 with bottled water, and then add him and 1/3 of the normal water back into the bowl. Well, he's a more fiesty guy then the ones I've had before, and today as I was transferring him to the cup, he jumped out and landed in the sink. I had a paper towel on the bottom of the sink in case he did pull something like this, and scooped him up as quick as I could and put him in the cup. I did my usual cleaning routine, and put him back in his bowl and went back to my dorm room. I was sitting down at my desk when I noticed him floating at the top of the bowl, covered in tiny bubbles! I'm like, what's going on!? Then I noticed that he seemed to be having trouble keeping himself upright, and when he tried to go down a couple times, he would float back up! What happened!? He's jumped out before, which is why I change his water near a sink so he doesn't drop to the floor, and he's been fine those two times or so when I've had to pick him up and put him back. I don't have a fish net, so when I do transfer him, it's by pouring..... Oh man, I hope I didn't hurt him! I'm not fish savvy or anything, and I've never had problems with this before in the past! What happened? Did I mess up his swim bladder somehow or something??? Help! And the bubbles don't seem to go away either! :(

Could some soap have gotten into the water? What kind of bottled water do you use? Some cheaper brands may just be tap water and still have chlorine which harms fish (and requires dechlorinator). Bettas will blow bubbles to make nests, especially after water changes. The fact that he has trouble maneuvering indicates that something is wrong though. He may have been injured when he jumped out and may recover on his own. Or, something is wrong with the water. Swim bladder problems don't show up all of a sudden. Fish that are stressed or ill also have trouble swimming. Not knowing for sure what is going on, you may need to do another water change. Use spring water (most grocery chains have their own brand). Never use distilled water. Expensive bottled waters aren't worth the price. Cheaper ones may just be tap water. You may have gotten a bad batch of water unless he was hurt by the jump into the sink which is also very possible. I hope he recovers!

Whew! I'm so glad he's ok now! He's swimming like normal again, and all the little bubbles have gone off of his body - I know he didn't blow these ones himself, it's like they just appeared and clung to him, almost like carbonation, which totally freaked me out! At home I was using Deer Park water when I changed it, that or Poland Springs - here, I'm using some brand I've never heard of, called Sam's Choice.....I'm looking at the bottle now, though, and it says it has flavor enhancing minerals on the front - could this have caused the bubbles?? Lessee....on the back it also says it has been "triple filtered and ozonated [what is this? could this have done it?] to offer you the consistent quality of the freshest, sodium free water. We enhanced the water by adding essential minerals for an even more satisfying and refreshing pure taste." Basically, this is, like, Wal-Mart brand water. I will probably be buying different water from now on..... or using tap and letting it sit before hand. I know not to use distilled water, and thankfully I never have used it. I used to have drops that would dechlorinate the water and take out some other stuff, but I don't have them anymore, which is why I had been using bottled water instead.... Well anyways, thanks for the help, and thankfully Louis is doing well again! He's swimming normally, and was sitting on the bottom this morning, plus coming up for food like usual when I fed him. Whew! I was scared! Thanks again --

-Sarah

Oh, the bubbles were on the fish? This usually means that gases are coming out of solution. I get this with my well water so I have to aerate it well. If the water is at all carbonated, you would get that. Good spring water should not do that. If bubbles come out, they can come out inside the fish giving it the equivalent of the bends that divers get when they come up too fast when in the ocean. So, I'm guessing it was a problem with the water that you got. The filtration and ozonation should not have caused the problem. Ozone (O3) run through the water kills things. I guess if not properly removed, some of that gas could remain (not good). The addition of some minerals shouldn't cause a problem. Bettas naturally come from waters with low to moderate mineral levels though.

I'm glad he's better. In the future, either buy plain spring water (nothing fancy) or use tap water with dechlorinator added. Good luck to you both!