Help, Why Did This Happen

[devon_charm]

HELP! for some reason all my baby bettas have died! they are a week old and they were all swimming around fine last night. i have been feeding them with liquifry and BBS. I turned the filter on a couple of days ago and i have been doing carefull water changes. i keep the temp steady. What happened and how can i make sure it doesn't happen again. Please help.

 

[nemosworld]

check the water stats and tell us what you find

 

[Amerce]

I can only advise from personal experience.

I don't use a filter at all for the first 2 weeks, and only feed them on microworm for the first week and then on their second week I start them with a little bit of brineshrimp.

No water changes for at least the first 2/3 weeks, only top up the water very gradually with mature pre-warmed water.

You have to be so careful not to overfeed them, so small quantities 3/4 times a day, not large doses. Microworm is great cause it stays alive in the water column for at least a couple of days, whereas BBS only survives for a few hours before dying and polluting the water, which is why I don't feed them that till at least 2 weeks old. Also when you scoop microworm up remember in one brush load you have zillions of the little blighters so once again small brushloads is the operative word.

Small regular feeds, small regular water changes, constant heat and a secure lid to keep the humidity in the tank, so the lid only comes off for very short periods of time.

 

[devon_charm]

I can only advise from personal experience.

I don't use a filter at all for the first 2 weeks, and only feed them on microworm for the first week and then on their second week I start them with a little bit of brineshrimp.

No water changes for at least the first 2/3 weeks, only top up the water very gradually with mature pre-warmed water.

You have to be so careful not to overfeed them, so small quantities 3/4 times a day, not large doses. Microworm is great cause it stays alive in the water column for at least a couple of days, whereas BBS only survives for a few hours before dying and polluting the water, which is why I don't feed them that till at least 2 weeks old. Also when you scoop microworm up remember in one brush load you have zillions of the little blighters so once again small brushloads is the operative word.

Small regular feeds, small regular water changes, constant heat and a secure lid to keep the humidity in the tank, so the lid only comes off for very short periods of time.

Thanks for that, i have another marble pair ready to go but i'm alittle disheartened buy this first loss. All i can hope is better luck second time round and i'll give your advice ago.

Also on staring into the tank for ages to be sure not to throw any live uns away i have spotted one little fella still alive, what should i do with him?

 

[afishdude]

for the first week bettas arnt big enough to eat BBS. and liquifry isnt a good option. they posably could have starved to death.
you should start with micro worms or vinager eels for the first week.

 

[devon_charm]

for the first week bettas arnt big enough to eat BBS. and liquifry isnt a good option. they posably could have starved to death.
you should start with micro worms or vinager eels for the first week.

god i could have killed them ok next time i will start with micro worm

 

[afishdude]

i like vinager eels better

 

[nemosworld]

i prefer infusoria for the first 4 days and then newly hatched baby brine shrimp+infusoria until a week and half old. then brine shrimp from there until 1 1/2 months. then grindal worms. i like infusoria better than microworms and vinegar eels because you really don't need a starter culture and they're easy to keep

 

[devon_charm]

i prefer infusoria for the first 4 days and then newly hatched baby brine shrimp+infusoria until a week and half old. then brine shrimp from there until 1 1/2 months. then grindal worms. i like infusoria better than microworms and vinegar eels because you really don't need a starter culture and they're easy to keep

Ok sorry if this is a little dumb but how do you make and keep an infusoria culture?

 

[nemosworld]

http/www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Live%20Food,%20Infusoria.htm
that site has a pretty good explanation on how to start. goodluck on your next spawn

 

[dmarie04]

Don't beat yourself up. Betta fry are really fragile when they are that small and entire spawns have died off at around a week old for, sometimes, no apparent reason at all. I also don't feed BBS until they are a couple weeks old (and don't go near non-live foods until they are a bit older), but maybe that's what went wrong. And maybe not. You've gotten some good advice on what to feed your next spawn. All I can add is, Good Luck!

 

[devon_charm]

Ok so my babys have hatched and are now, i have been adding infusoria to the water and have started my Microworm culture so wish me luck guys, i'm hoping this time i get it right

afishdude i would try the vinager eels but i cant seem to get hold of them over here in the UK it doesn't help not knowing where to start so if you have any ideas it would be great

 

[afishdude]

i got mine from a friend in the states.
try here?
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vinegar-eels-Microwo...1QQcmdZViewItem