Dead in a day. Now what?

[Hallyx]

Problem apparently similar to Wistearya's in this section. What's with these sudden deaths?

My new Petco/king of which I was so proud was adjusting nicely to his new home. After a week of decreasing skittishness, he was eating enthusiastically, evacuating copiously, responding appropriately and gaining weight.

I put him to bed Thursday night well-fed and healthy. Friday morning, he looked a little slow and pale, showing less than his usual volume of feces. I checked the water and decided not to feed him that day.

At 4pm he was very pale, breathing hard and running into the walls, but swimming upright when not resting on his filter or in his plants. I immediately did a 50% change and began a "Help" post to this forum.

At 6pm he looked and behaved even worse. I began to prepare an epsom salt bath. By the time I was ready to put him in, he was dead.

He was in a 5gal unfiltered tank with live plants at 79* eating 9 Omega One pellets per day in 3 feedings. I performed at least a 50% change almost daily (he put out ammonia like a goldfish) so he never saw >.25 NH3 nor any NO2.

I'm still in shock. I've never heard of bloat killing an apparently healthy fish so quickly. I've dealt with something that looked like this before, always to a positive outcome. What is possibly going on?

[ravenwinds]

It's kind of scaring me! Last week I received the last of 7 bettas from Thailand...they seem perfectly fine but one of my other sorority girls doesn't...so now I'm all paranoid! So far, only some of my mollies and guppies have died...I guess its water changes and aquarium salt for the lot of an insane amount of tanks!

I am so sorry for your loss:(...

[carotid]

water changes means nothing if you don't vacuum your gravel and remove all the poop at least once every 3-5 days especially when you're feeding 9 pellets a day

[ravenwinds]

Very true...always do vacuuming w/water changes...I always do!

[Hallyx]

Good point. Thank you.

That's the reason I run bare-bottomed tanks; so I can monitor the amount and quality of the poops. Also to keep plant and food debris from accumulating.

I always vacuum. It is particularly important when running without filters.

[wystearya]

I'm so sorry for your loss! It is always hard, especially when your not sure what went wrong. :/

[Tikibirds]

It's possible he was sick when you got him. Even if there are no visible symptoms, he may of been subjected to high ammonia levels in his cup which can compromise their immune system.

did you use conditioner?

[Hallyx]

Originally Posted by ravenwinds

I guess its water changes and aquarium salt...

I've followed your other thread with great interest, yet I am unclear as to what you're using AQ salt for.

Thanks, Tiki, I always use conditioner, even with my pure sweet well-water. Something about keeping the heavy metals attenuated. Is that correct?

[TorisExtraordinaryBettas]

it doesnt sound like you did anything wrong. I've had pretty good luck with my "store bought" bettas but those fish you buy at the petsmart, petco, ect. are more offten than not imbreed and the slightest thing will make them sick or even kill them. im very sorry for your loss and i would try to get my money back

[TorisExtraordinaryBettas]

the salt kills infections, inside and out. i use it when my bettas are looking a little sick and they get better within a couple days

Originally Posted by Hallyx

I've followed your other thread with great interest, yet I am unclear as to what you're using AQ salt for.

Thanks, Tiki, I always use conditioner, even with my pure sweet well-water. Something about keeping the heavy metals attenuated. Is that correct?