[dragnz2159]

Like some of you may know, my betta, Triton, died yesterday. I wasn't going to get another one right away, but my neighbor showed up with a new veiltail for me. I cleaned the tank, gravel, and decorations with really hot water, no chemicals. I also changed the filter cartridge. I set the tank back up and over a period of 90 minutes, I slowly acclimated my new betta to his tank. He seemed okay when he finally went into his tank and swam around for a few minutes. Then, he started either resting on the bottom or hanging out at the top with his fins clamped. he wasn't really trying to swim, just float. I thought he was stressed from his move, so I left his light out and checked on him from time to time. I tried to feed him last night, but he wasn't interested. He just wanted to float at the top. I didn't think much of it because I knew he was probably a little stressed. This morning I saw him swimming around a little and then go back to floating. A couple of hours ago I found him on the bottom gasping for air. I moved him to the container he came in with the water level pretty low, and he would try to swim, but then just lay motionless, still gasping, but not trying to breathe at the surface. I know he is suffering, but I don't know why. I don't know if he was already sick when my friend got him or not. I'm also not sure if it something in my water that I am not testing for that could be the cause of two bettas dying in two days. I do not have city water. I am on well water. There is no chlorine in my water, but I am still using a conditioner as there are heavy metals, nitrates, and ammonia. Can someone please help me?

Housing
What size is your tank? 2.5 gallons
What temperature is your tank? 78
Does your tank have a filter? Yes
Is your tank heated? Yes
What tank mates does your betta fish live with? None

Food
What type of food do your feed your betta fish? Omega One Betta Buffet Pellets (if he would eat)
How often do you feed your betta fish? One pellet twice per day as I just received him and he hasn't eaten what I gave him.

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? I just set the tank up yesterday and today I performed a water change.
What percentage of water do you change when you perform a water change? 50%
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Prime

Water Parameters
Have you tested your water? Yes
Ammonia: <.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 20 ppm
pH: 6.6
Hardness: 75
Alkalinity: 40
Phosphates: 0

(Test strips were used for the Hardness and Alkalinity. API liquid kits for the other parameters.)

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? Clamped fins
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? Not swimming. He was floating, but now he is at the bottom gasping for air.
When did you start noticing the symptoms? Yesterday. My friend just purchased him from Petco yesterday. He has gotton worse today. I thought last night that he was stressed from getting a new home.
Does your fish have any history of being ill? Just got him yesterday, so I'm not sure.
How old is your fish (approximately)? Just got him yesterday.

 

[dragnz2159]

Update: He passed away last night. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts as to why I have lost two bettas so close together.