Unexplained Betta Death

Apr 10, 2012
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#1
I have a 20 gallon planted tank that has been running for well over 6 months now. My beautiful male halfmoon plakat betta, Phoenix, has been the lucky resident for most of it. His personality and health have been great. I finally decided to add a few more residents to the tank a few days ago. On the 23rd I added an African Dwarf Frog (ADF) and 2 Mystery Snails. Everybody seemed great. Phoenix was curious, but overall did really well with the new additions, no signs of stress. Yesterday, the 23rd, I noticed the ADF had stopped moving. I left it alone and came back and checked to see if it was even still alive, and no he was a goner. Phoenix was still normal, no problems.

Then this morning I turned on his light and I thought it unusual that he wasn't waiting on me like he usually does. Then after some looking around, I found my buddy at the back of the tank lifeless. I'm not gonna lie, I cried. You get attached to these little guys. Anyways, I checked my water and nothing pointed at that being the cause. Did I bring something in with the frog and snails? What type of illness happens so quick without any signs?

If anyone has any ideas it would be most helpful. Thank you.
 

FreshyFresh

Superstar Fish
Jan 11, 2013
1,337
23
38
East Aurora, NY
#2
Sorry about your loss! Over the past few years I too have experienced sudden death of 2 male bettas at different times. This was in my planted 10g, where I do weekly 50-75% water changes in and nitrates are never hit 20ppm. What are your water parameters in ppm (ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) and what's your water change schedule?
 

Apr 10, 2012
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#3
First thing I checked was the ammonia levels, it was sitting at 0 (or lowest point on the scale, the good one according to the card). Then for the nitrates and nitrites I had to check those with a strip. Those were low and not showing any danger signs on those. I usually do water changes every couple of weeks and its usually about 25% each time.

I have never had a fish die without some sort of warning sign. This took me completely by surprise. I mean if he was 2 years+, it might make sense, but I've only had him since June.
 

FreshyFresh

Superstar Fish
Jan 11, 2013
1,337
23
38
East Aurora, NY
#4
Following any fish death, you really need to have a means to measure for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. You need a liquid test kit to do this, like the ~$25 API Master Test Kit. The kit will last you for years. Strips and cards are not accurate, just very general guides.

25% WC every few weeks isn't nearly enough either. You should stay with a weekly schedule to keep parameters from swinging wildly. I generally don't do less than 50%, just to keep it consistent.

Trust me! When I first started keeping fish in the late 1970s (even up to the late 1980s), I knew nothing of proper water params, changing water, etc.. If I had a fish last a year, it was a miracle!
 

Apr 10, 2012
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#5
Thanks so much for the replies. The ammonia test I have is the liquid form. I do need to get the master test kit for everything else. Definitely on my list for how to spend Christmas money. I will also start a weekly water change schedule instead of my current one.
 

FreshyFresh

Superstar Fish
Jan 11, 2013
1,337
23
38
East Aurora, NY
#6
The API master test kit has bottles to test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Once a tank is cycled and producing nothing but nitrate, you don't typically use the ammonia and nitrite tests except when things may have gone haywire on you, or you're setting up a brand-new tank.

You do your weekly water changes to keep nitrates at a healthy level. I try not to let my tanks go over 20ppm for nitrates. Anything more than that registers "red" on the API test. Lower is orange. None is yellow.