Bettas Swelling And Dying

[Don Trinko]

I have 2 3 place betta tanks. In the last several weeks 2 have died. Their abdomin swells and the can not swim correct. one more appears to have this problem. They are several years old. The tanks are heated and filtered.
Any Ideas? Thanks Don T.

 

[Nim]

Don,
It sounds like 2 possibilities but someone may come and correct me.
Bettas usually have a very short life.. usually 2-4 years depending on temperature you keep them so its possible they may have reached their end of life.
Swelling of bodies is an indication of dropsy which is a result of bad water conditions. How do you keep your bettas and at what temperature. I have had experience with Bettas sweeling up if kept below 24 degrees C but on many ocassions they have recovered when temperature is raised to 28 over a period of 2-3 days.
If its dropsy then I am afraid water quality would be the only issue and you need to look deeper into it. As far as I am concirned, dropsy has been uncurable for me though infected fish have been known to live for over a year with swollen bodies once the condition improves but that was a few years ago. not faced dropsy for a long time now.
Nim

 

[Don Trinko]

I keep the water at 80 F. Each tank has a small inside filter in one section. I do a partial water change occasionaly (once a month?) and I suck out the crud on the bottom occasionaly with a turkey baster. The ones that died are over 2 years old. I feed them Hikari betta gold. Thanks; Don T.