about a year ago I was at pet smart and decided too grab one of their bettas because i had an extra tank setup and he really stuck out too me. as soon as i got him acclimated and in the 10 gallon I had, I noticed he swam really weird, almost like it was a struggle too even move.
i have had a couple bettas from pet smart that seemed quite healthy but couldn't swim well, but he was much worse.
so I originally medicated him kept a good eye on him, and watched the water parameters. he would almost look dead sometimes because he would cram himself into any tiny space there was like the décor between the thicker plants , and he would just lay there on his side or sometimes vertical. when i fed him he struggled too ever see the food so id put it right in front of him when he was at the top but that seemed to just scare him and he would start swimming really sporadically before hiding in a decoration I put in. I didn't really know what to do because he looked healthy his weight was fine surprisingly, his fins looked normal, his colors were bright etc.. so i kept making sure the water was good and keeping an extra eye on him till one day i couldn't find him :(( i looked inside his hideout which was wide enough for him to escape and i never saw him really struggle to get out. but there he was inside it dead. I wanna know if i should have done more, or if anyone has any info on what this was.
I assumed it was genetics because his eyes looked off .they were larger than any id seen before and they faced the front of his head more than the side, plus he didn't look sick at all. he struggled swimming and acted really afraid of everything that moved but had delayed reactions to it. i sadly didn't take any photos otherwise id share them
