Hey!
Thanks for the info. I did get a filter about 2 weeks ago (maybe more.. time flies!). It is for a 10 gal so if I do upgrade to the 10 I have a filter that will work for it.
I put some fake plants to help break the current a little so he isnt rolling all over the place. He seems to have gotten used to the movement now.

What I tried to do was leave the sand only in the spot where he would look for food so he knew where to find the food all the time. But because he is rolling on his belly over the sand frantically looking for food, it kept being irritated so I removed the sand from that section too. In his feeding spot now is just bare bottom tank and I always drop the food in that spot so that it doesnt get stuck in the rocks and he will never find it. I chose sinking food so it doesnt fly in circles around the top and drop in a random spot.

I took Felis advice and decreased the feeding. The pellets are very small (like pieces of course sand almost) and he is always hungry so I was feeding him every day. I am going to try every other day and see how that goes or I will feed every day and less pellets (2-3 instead of 5-6) if needed.

He doesnt seem uncomfortable but I do want that irritation on the belly to go away. It is hard to get a pic of it but it doesnt seem to have gotten worse since I removed the sand so I think that was it.

Ill try to get some good pics later today when he is a little more active.