Dead in a day. Now what?

1618 Views 21 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Perry the platypus, Nov 18, 2012

Hallyx

Discussion Starter · Mar 19, 2012

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?

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

ravenwinds

· #2 · Mar 19, 2012

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

· #3 · Mar 19, 2012

your betta

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

· #4 · Mar 19, 2012

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

Hallyx

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 19, 2012 (Edited)

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

· #6 · Mar 20, 2012

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

Tikibirds

· #7 · Mar 20, 2012

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

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 20, 2012

ravenwinds said:
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

· #9 · Mar 20, 2012

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

· #10 · Mar 20, 2012

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

Hallyx said:
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?

ravenwinds

· #11 · Mar 20, 2012

Thanks, Tori...
Hallyx...basically some of my mollies and guppies have recently died; not all old. I have a lot of tanks, too many mollies due to breeding like cockroaches(only prettier!)...I've had to put some of the seemingly healthy youths in w/ my bettas, including my Thai bettas that I just got! Seeing this thread and Wystearia's thread has given me the paranoia big time. So because some mollies have died that at one time resided with the mollies that now live w/ my very expensive fish...ok, I know I'm freaking out! LOL....
The extra water changes will do me good!)

bettanova2

· #12 · Mar 20, 2012

I have experienced the same problem like yours (yes, one of my betta has died two months ago). A healthy betta can be suddenly dies if he/she can't digest the overload of foods properly.

Maybe your betta is constipated..He may looked sick and pale in color and always at the bottom in few hours after the feeding. Some bettas can just digest the food very slowly.

Just to be safe, I only feed my bettas very small amount only once per day (no more that that). Sometimes I don't even feed it in 1-2 days the fish is still healthy (don't worry the fish won't get starved, it needs time to digest). After that, I do not see any of my fish has died in this situation. (And pls correct me if I am wrong).

Mumma

· #13 · Mar 20, 2012

I agree bettanova2. Whether it was over feeding that killed him or not, in my opinion feeding 3 times a day is excessive. A fishes stomach is roughly the same size as it's eye. I feed my bettas 2 pellets once a day and fast them 1-2 times a week. This allows them to digest and pass everything. The only fish that do not need fasting are fry and juveniles.

Btw I'm sorry for your loss. :-(

ravenwinds

· #14 · Mar 20, 2012

Good catch Mumma and BettaNova2...I didn't even notice the 3x per day feeding!

Guess I was being too paranoid about my bettas...

Sorry, I agree w/ them...that is too much...
Despite my worries, all my bettas are fine, swimming, learning English...I feed them no more than 3 New Life pellets for betta 2x per day, alternating w/ frozen bloodworms or mysis or brine shrimp about 3 feedings per week, and I have 1 skip day a week. Really, it is recommended to have a skip day per week to help clear them out a bit.

Hallyx

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 20, 2012

I've thought long and hard about the feeding question. Understand that this was a two-inch long juvenile (nose to peduncle...as big as some Aquabid giants), and underweight, to my eyes. Took him a week to get eating comfortably out of my hand; another week to work up to 9 pellets/day, and he was pooping tons. I changed his water nearly every day

I've had other fish get constipated. Fasting for a few days, slowly introducing small quantities of food (with a little garlic juice). Less than a week and they were fine. None of them went from displaying minor symptoms to terminal in less than ten hours.

I'm sorry if my tone sounds defensive. I had just begun to accept him as my pet and started to think of names. I'm really angry at myself for not responding quicker and more effectively. Sigh...

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bettanova2

· #16 · Mar 20, 2012

Mumma said:
I agree bettanova2. Whether it was over feeding that killed him or not, in my opinion feeding 3 times a day is excessive. A fishes stomach is roughly the same size as it's eye. I feed my bettas 2 pellets once a day and fast them 1-2 times a week. This allows them to digest and pass everything. The only fish that do not need fasting are fry and juveniles.

Btw I'm sorry for your loss. :-(

Yeah..I also think that betta's stomach is extremely small just like its eyes.

ravenwinds

· #17 · Mar 20, 2012

I feel like I keep changing my mind depending on who is speaking...kind of like a politician!

Hallyx, you have a lot of experience, you know what to look for, and how to care for fish. You reminded me of something very important: every fish, especially bettas, are different! If you're experienced, and take it slow, like you have appeared to, you can attune yourself to the individual fishes needs. Also, until you pointed it out, I forgot that you mentioned he was BIG....

So, I am sorry I doubted your skills and I am sorry you lost him.

Tikibirds

· #18 · Mar 20, 2012

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

Conditioner takes out heavy metals, cholorine and some remove ammonia and nitrates. I killed my 1st few fish by not using conditioner and by not changing the water/not knowing about the nitrogen cycle. never listen to the idiots working at petstores :evil: We all have to start somewhere and we learn from our mistakes.

Perry the platypus

· #19 · Nov 17, 2012

It's scaring me too. It's so hard when they suddenly die.

registereduser

· #20 · Nov 17, 2012

I was all upset when I saw this post from Hal! Then I realized it's NINE FREAKIN' MONTHS OLD!

Please don't bring up old threads people!

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

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