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  • why do my bettas die?

    I have lots of fish and many gallons of water in my house.  I have everything from black ghosts to oscars to rams and....well lets just say it's very diverse.  Everyone does great except bettas (and card. tetras but nevermind that).  Apparently bringing a Betta to my house is a death sentence for them and I don't know why.

    I buy one, then in about 6 months or so, they get dropsy.  and soon die.  I feed them betta bits and they don't get treats (bloodworms and krills) like the other guys do and I always put them in their own little 5 gal tank.  The temp stays at 75-76 dgf and the ph stays at 7.0-7.2 they have a few little live plants and a cave and the little crap in tank filter that works okay enough I suppose for the tank it's in anyway.

    could it be inbreeding or do I just have bad luck or the touch of betta death?? 8O

    so far every single one of them has died this way and the time is always about the same, 6 months then BAM!!! it's over.
    got any idea guys?? I sure don't.

    Almost forgot, it does not matter where I get them from either. be it a lfs or walmart or where ever.
    UGH!!!

  • #2
    Re: why do my bettas die?

    The number one thing that people talk about when having Betta's is the lack of water changes.
    My betta has been living for close to 1 yr in his bowl, but every two weeks just like the other tanks in the house I actually empty his tank 100% out, clean the gravel and then I add completely 100% fresh water into his bowl.  There is little to no filtration in tank and therefore they need frequent water changes just like the other fish in the house.

    just my 2c worth.

    Jesper

    What fish do Jesper have
    180 WC T. Moorii Chilambo +1 Petro trewavasae.
    110
    Cyps, WC Xeno Spilopterus Kipili WC/F1/F2 T. sp red Kiku
    58 S. Decorus

    "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: why do my bettas die?

      You do 100% water changes? That's too much, isn't it? I do 30% every week. I figure the bacteria is the same as with regular tanks.

      Lucy, are the bettas in bowls or are they in a 5 gallon tank? Is it just 1 in the tank? How big are they usually?

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: why do my bettas die?

        I have twelve bettas, and he is right about doing the water changes....I have 3, 3 gallons tanks, 3 one gallon tanks, and one ten gallon, i change the water about every two to one week, especially if the tank is under 5 gallons, i clean them regularly. Complete water change is a key to there health in my opinion too... so they can stay happy

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        • #5
          Re: why do my bettas die?

          phoenix, are you saying you need to do complete water changes? Because that really doesn't seem right....but if so...guess I have more work to do with my water changes - hah...I've got 20 adult bettas...

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          • #6
            Re: why do my bettas die?

            on the smaller tanks, yes, i do complete changes, to keep the water fresh and clean, not all my tanks are filtered.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: why do my bettas die?

              Do either of you use stress zyme when doing water changes?  It is cheap and only requires small amounts but is suppose to promote beneficial bacteria.  Personally, I am a fan of using plants to keep water on the non-toxic scale.  Just cause plants eliminate nitrites and convert to less harmful nitrates.  
              Either of these help water conditions.  Sorry to hear about your fish.  I had death problems with owning guppies.  I rarely purchase them anymore.  I know complete water changes too often can kill off beneficial bacteria and be hazardous, but I think live, healthy plants can be just as beneficial as bacteria.  
              Hope you can find a working balance.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: why do my bettas die?

                Question - don't mean to be taking away from Lucy's problem, but I'm sure this stuff will help her, too.  I'm curious about the water changes. Maybe if I do over 50% weekly water changes from now on?  And I was also thinking about adding java moss to all my betta vases.  Is this better than what I'm doing?

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                • #9
                  Re: why do my bettas die?

                  I think the two things you need to worry about when doing water changes is chlorines in the water, and removing too much beneficial bacteria.  Other things such as using an internal or HOB rather than a UGF or none at all certainly contribute.  Mosses could help your tank or you betta could get caught in it and perish.  

                  One thing I have started doing recently is filling up bottles with tap water and leaving them out for a few days because I read chlorine evaporates fairly quickly.  I use this water to top off my tank between water changes.  I use to take my tap water and dechlorinate and run an air pump for a half an hour before using the water during water changes.  This was overcautious and once I got a python I found that I could put tap water directly into the tanks (with dechlorator first of course) and my fish would be just fine.  The python saved me alot of time, but first I needed to find that balance that worked for me.  

                  There is alot of factors.  With guppies I eventually gave up on the species because I found more hardy species that worked better and that I enjoyed more.  I cannot imagine trying to maintain a marine tank.  When I get one of those expect me posting every week freaking out.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: why do my bettas die?

                    Because I clean the tank out 100% of all the water every two weeks there usually is not enough "problem ammonia" and other issues in my Betta tank.  I have noticed my betta does like it when he is put in fresh water

                    What fish do Jesper have
                    180 WC T. Moorii Chilambo +1 Petro trewavasae.
                    110
                    Cyps, WC Xeno Spilopterus Kipili WC/F1/F2 T. sp red Kiku
                    58 S. Decorus

                    "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: why do my bettas die?

                      dj, I already have some moss in with one of my bettas and he never seems to get stuck in it and I think he actually enjoys it (plus it makes the vase look a little less plain). I'll start doing larger water changes on my betta vases - I just don't think I can bring myself to do a full 100% water change...just seems so wrong (not to mention extremely time consuming in 20 vases).

                      Thanks for the help guys. I hope some of this helps Lucy. Bettas are awesome and I hope you can figure out how to keep them alive long enough to fully enjoy them : )

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: why do my bettas die?

                        If you have a big betta bowl with a filter system, then you need to be aware of the "nitrogen" cycle.  And you should do partial water changes monthly.
                        If you have a small betta bowl or no filter system, then you need to do a complete water change weekly.
                        If you use Houston Tap water you will find that they use chloramines, not chlorine.  Chloramines last longer in the water and then break down into chlorine and Ammonia.   Be sure the water conditioner you use works on chloramines.   If you prefer to age your water, plan on waiting a week for the chloramines to evaporate.

                        Food - bettas eat bugs -   They prefer live food, daphnia, brine shrimp. black worms, sketer larva & snails.   They do better with a varitey of high proteen foods.
                        If you feed dry foods, be aware that they swell up when they get wet, so presoak the pellets before you give them to your betta.

                        Bettas need exerxise.  Place them next to another betta or a merror for an hour a day.  They will flair and develop strong beautiful fins.   between exercise peretriods, card them (place an index card between their bowls) this will prevent them from becoming complacent.

                        Plants & decorations are up to you. PP (Personal Preference)
                        'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are but dust ...'
                        He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four-year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: why do my bettas die?

                          PhishPhreek to the rescue! Haha. I have a question for you, though - can the plants stress out the bettas? I have some java moss in with one of my bettas and he honestly seems to like it. I've never had any problems with him getting stuck or anything. Does it really matter?

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: why do my bettas die?

                            You mean you have to do water changes???  (just kidding)

                            I do maintanence on the betta tank (5 gal acrylic bow front) just like any of the others I have.  which means every saturday it gets about 1.5 gal. removed and replaced and every two weeks it gets vacuumed.  I use a conditioner that breaks down chloramines and heavy metals.  I have (had - tank on standby right now and empty) a few little plants for him to lounge about in.  I feed them 3 small feedings per day.  And the filter is one of those cheap pen-plax deals that gets a bubbler attached to it and you cram it into the tank, not the best but I figured it would do for a 5 gal with one betta in it.

                            My first betta (beef cake cause he got HUGE) lived for about 2 years before he died (in a 42 gal tank), but it was dropsy that got him too.  First he *just like all the others) got acites (swollen abdomen) then he got all pineconed then he died.  None of them stopped eating until they were within 24 hours of death.  

                            Right now I'm laying the blame at my feet (perhaps poor quality food or malnutrition :( ?) but thought I would see what others thoughts were.

                            Just as a side note, I did not have this problem years ago when I lived in a different state and kept bettas in my community tanks, so it could be something to do with Houston's wonderful  water quality (maybe I should do something to it that I'm not doing now).

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: why do my bettas die?

                              Originally posted by AnotherWoogie";p="
                              can the plants stress out the bettas? I have some java moss in with one of my bettas and he honestly seems to like it. I've never had any problems with him getting stuck or anything.
                              I know quite a few betta breeders that use java moss in their spawn tanks and later in their grow out tanks.  Baby  bettas are acustomed to hunting in the java moss for infusoria (tiny food critters), daphnia and such.  Also it makes the water softer and lowers the pH.   All things that Wild Bettas expect.

                              I also know more than one who keeps java fern in all of his adult betta containers for similar reasons.
                              'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are but dust ...'
                              He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four-year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

                              Comment

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