betta fish died

[kathydip]

A guy I work with just bought a new betta fish. He said that they got him a nice 2.5 gallon tank set up. He made sure he treated the water before he put the betta in. They also bought some ghost shrimp and some betta approved plants to place in the aquarium. The betta was fine but about 36-48 hours after the betta died. So have most of the ghost shrimp.
He has signed up for the site but his posts are being monitored now so I am putting this in for him.
I told him that Sasami would be able to help and that there are a lot of other people on this site that could help as well.

I will let him know to look for your reponses to this post. I am sure you will hear from him as soon as the monitors post his posts.

[Ambieruns10]

Hmm, what temp was the water?

Possibly he put too much stuff in at once. You need to wait for you water to cycle before adding fish. There were probably too much nitrates(?) and they were poisened.

[mulder]

don't you have to let the water with the filter run for 24 hours before you add fish and stuff? get the filter good and working. it also takes a long time to get the chlorine out?

[Skratikans]

not in a 2.5 and after you dechlorinize the water with a chemical, which will work instantly. very cold temp may not kill a young betta, i know that from experience, it must be somthing else..maybe the ghost shrimp were unhealthy and were secreting toxins that caused everyone to die within the tank

[kathydip]

Thanks guys. Hopefully he is checking this.

[Sasami]

Since it's a 2.5-gallon you can't really cycle it and need to do 100% water changes so cycling isn't the issue. Actually, cycling such a small tank can be dangerous.

Temperature probably wouldn't have caused such a quick death either. But when you said he heated the water first does that mean he put in warm water or used an actual heater?

If the tank is a Mini-Bow tell him to take the filter out because they are too strong for bettas and will bother the shrimp, too. In a small tank for a betta you do not need a filter.

Was the water dechlorinated? And that doesn't mean leaving it out overnight. Maybe he forgot water conditioner? If not, maybe your town uses chloromines and his dechlorinator doesn't remove those?

The water should be tested in case the pH is really off or something. Though I doubt that's the problem.

But there's a good chance he did nothing wrong. Sadly, many bettas are unhealthy when purchased . Remember, they are often shipped from Asia and are kept in very small containers. Several don't even make the trip.

[Kendalle]

if he got it from walmart, they often die with in hours, one time i was there the betta's didnt have enough water. most were swimming on their sides because they couldnt swim upright and we told a worker and they said yea the water evaperates, we put out new fish.

[Kendalle]

they normally have ick too, i dont know about betta but a few of my friends had fish that killed all their others because their fish had ick

[kathydip]

I will have him check this thread out.

How horrible that Wal mart just doesn't care. Heck they water the plants don't they? I don't think the walmart near me ever has bettas. Which is a good thing because I would have gotten myself in trouble.

I guess I was lucky with my betta fish he lived for some time with us. He lasted longer than the other bettas in the family. I think they cleaned the bowls with antibacteria soap though. Poor bettas.

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by kathydip I will have him check this thread out. How horrible that Wal mart just doesn't care. Heck they water the plants don't they? I don't think the walmart near me ever has bettas. Which is a good thing because I would have gotten myself in trouble. I guess I was lucky with my betta fish he lived for some time with us. He lasted longer than the other bettas in the family. I think they cleaned the bowls with antibacteria soap though. Poor bettas.

Yeah, many Wal Marts suck but it actually depends on the store. Our Wal Mart takes much better care of their fish then our PetsMart . PetsMart sucks...they sell vases for bettas, anyway.

[marcwakefield]

HI All, I am the person which prompted KathyDip to start this thread.

She got most of the details down however here is the complete story:

I had read through betta care on a variety of sites before purchase, and asked the fish people at the local pet store where I purchased everything. (not pet smart or wal mart)

I got a 2.5 gallon tank which came w. a small submerged filter. I made sure the filter was on the slowest setting. I used water conditioner and put in the new betta--who appeared healthier than others before the purchase. I had asked about cycling and waiting to add the fish, but was instructed that the conditioner would be fine for this type of fish. I tested the water for ph and nitrates, both were perfect, temp was 78degrees.

After 24 hours the fish seemed adjusted and fine.

The next day I brought home 3 small aquatic plants, 1 snail, and 10 ghost shrimp. (all based upon my reading). I tested the water for ph and nitrates, both were perfect, temp was 80 degrees.


Within an hour or two half of the ghost shrimp tried jumping out.
Within 12 hours the rest had jumped out (the tank did have a lid, but had a small opening in the back) or were dead inside. Only one or two remained alive. The fish had died. I tested the water for ph and nitrates, both were perfect, temp was 80 degrees.


I went to a Pet Smart and asked and they said maybe the plants + the small filter was too much?? oxygen poisoning? --I didn't know this was possible. I removed the filter.

2 days later
I purchased a new betta, named him Max, and added him.
Snail + one ghost shrimp still alive, with same 3 plants.

One week later Max is master of his domain. when I shut off the room lights at night before shutting off his tank light, he puffs up and becomes tough guy for the fish in his reflection.

I did a partial water change after 1 week. 2 days later I noticed crazy amounts of bacteria/microorganisms (looking like particles, but moving) everywhere in the tank, especially on the plants. Within 12hrs of noticing I did a complete water change and rinsed gravel and plants as well. Tank clean, Max still happy. I believe he must've ate the last ghost shrimp as it's nowhere to be found.
He totally gets along with his roommate Gilbert the aquatic snail however.

Does anyone have any insight on either the possible cause of death of the first fish, or reason for the microorganisms after the 1st partial water change. (I guess it's possible the first fish was just sick?)
-marc

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by marcwakefield HI All, I am the person which prompted KathyDip to start this thread. She got most of the details down however here is the complete story: I had read through betta care on a variety of sites before purchase, and asked the fish people at the local pet store where I purchased everything. (not pet smart or wal mart) I got a 2.5 gallon tank which came w. a small submerged filter. I made sure the filter was on the slowest setting. I used water conditioner and put in the new betta--who appeared healthier than others before the purchase. I had asked about cycling and waiting to add the fish, but was instructed that the conditioner would be fine for this type of fish. I tested the water for ph and nitrates, both were perfect, temp was 78degrees. After 24 hours the fish seemed adjusted and fine. The next day I brought home 3 small aquatic plants, 1 snail, and 10 ghost shrimp. (all based upon my reading). I tested the water for ph and nitrates, both were perfect, temp was 80 degrees. Within an hour or two half of the ghost shrimp tried jumping out. Within 12 hours the rest had jumped out (the tank did have a lid, but had a small opening in the back) or were dead inside. Only one or two remained alive. The fish had died. I tested the water for ph and nitrates, both were perfect, temp was 80 degrees. I went to a Pet Smart and asked and they said maybe the plants + the small filter was too much?? oxygen poisoning? --I didn't know this was possible. I removed the filter. 2 days later I purchased a new betta, named him Max, and added him. Snail + one ghost shrimp still alive, with same 3 plants. One week later Max is master of his domain. when I shut off the room lights at night before shutting off his tank light, he puffs up and becomes tough guy for the fish in his reflection. I did a partial water change after 1 week. 2 days later I noticed crazy amounts of bacteria/microorganisms (looking like particles, but moving) everywhere in the tank, especially on the plants. Within 12hrs of noticing I did a complete water change and rinsed gravel and plants as well. Tank clean, Max still happy. I believe he must've ate the last ghost shrimp as it's nowhere to be found. He totally gets along with his roommate Gilbert the aquatic snail however. Does anyone have any insight on either the possible cause of death of the first fish, or reason for the microorganisms after the 1st partial water change. (I guess it's possible the first fish was just sick?) -marc

You said you tested pH and nitrates but in a small tank those are actually the least of your worries. You need to test ammonia since in small tanks you do 100% water changes which normally keeps it down. You should be changing all of the water at least once every other week.

What kind of snail is it? Most snails are extremely messy and will produce enough ammonia to kill fish in such a small tank .

I don't think it would've been too much oxygen. But I do suspect ammonia poisoning. Shrimp are very sensitive to it so they were most likely trying to "escape".

Of course, if there wasn't any ammonia or nitrites then it probably wasn't your fault at all. You may have just gotten a bad fish...it happens sometimes.

The little organisms you mentioned were probably planaria which often appear during ammonia spikes. Or if there is rotting food, high nitrates, etc.