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Mysterious Betta Fish Deaths2007-11-24 23:38:48

Two of my 8 bettas died mysteriously . I need some help.

(1) They died very quickly. One day, they were eating like pigs, then the next, they would not eat anything and stay at the bottom. And on the following day, they died.

(2) All of my other bettas are happy and fine, and I treat them all the same way. They have their individual 2- or 3-gallon filtered tanks that are cycled (ammonia/nitrite reading 0 daily for several weeks now). I do a 50% water change every week. I use filtered water (with Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Tap Water Filter) with the recommended amount of Electro Right and Ph Adjuster (for ph of 7.0). I have the thermostat set at 80F. I feed them primarily Hikari Bio Gold Betta pellets, with freeze dried brine shrimp and bloodworm thrown in once or twice a week for variety. So I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

Initially, I was feeding 5 pellets once a day. Now I do only 3, just because I can't think of anything else I could be doing wrong.

What's going on?

Answers:

Most likely they died of shock if this occurred soon after a water change. Whether due to temp or pH I can't be sure. You should avoid the 50% water changes, and the electrolyte/pH stuff. Bettas don't need it. They can live in pH ranges of 6-8, and KH from 0 to 25. As long as they don't experience rapid changes, or chlorine tap water is fine. Every experienced betta breeder I know uses tap.

As a biologist I'm pretty down on any water treatment that isn't absolutely needed. Add anything to your water is a big risk as there are often secondary effects to it your aren't aware.