Moving This To This Section As Well =)

[guitarsoloist]

Reposting this here with the proper information as I am a newbie.

Tank size: 5.5 gallons
pH: Not sure about any of the readings yet, will do a test when I am home
ammonia: same
nitrite: same
nitrate: same
kH: same
gH: same
tank temp: 81-82 degrees fahrenheit

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Was completely fine until I noticed a large white split on the side of his stomach. I could not tell if there was fungus growing on his side or coming out from the inside. In the span of 24 hours he went from healthy to dead.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 25% every 2 weeks, 50% once a month

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: None, I only use tap water conditioner and a 7.0 ph balancer when I first set up the tank about a month ago

Tank inhabitants: Only a single male betta

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): None. I've had two small roman like decorations since the first fish I had, I also have a tall green and red plant and a mixture of rocks, gravel, and marbles (bought from a fish store) on the bottom

Exposure to chemicals: None as far as I know

Digital photo (include if possible):

My tank is very, very clean. I do not have any excess food or waste on the bottom of the tank and my water is crystal clear liek it always has been. I have had this fish for just barely a month and was getting ready to do a monthly water change. I was feeding him flakes twice a day, usually 4-5 tiny ones. I would also go a day here and there without feeding him to let him clean his system out. He didn't look bloated at all when I noticed the split. His stomach was the same size it had always been. I would consider overfeeding if it wasnt for that reason.
The main problem is that me and my boyfriend have identical tanks (he actually is battling a bad case of algae at the moment) and he has the same fish he's had since the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, I've gone through 3 bettas that all died. It's very frusterating! Can anyone shed some light?

 

[Robot_Rooster]

i heard that it is better to have a sandy bottom for tanks with bettas in as the bettas fins can catch on the gravel and get ripped, and if its once a day try and make it twice they feed like humans need food or they will be lethargic. but someone with their expertise could give you a real answer

 

[Neon.Tetra]

I'm sorry to hear about your fish. Its sounds like a fungal infection that spread rapidly. From what I've read and learnt on these forums 25% a week seems like a good enough amount for that tank. Could someone clarify this?

I don't think the gravel in your tank could have damaged the fish, the stones appear quite smooth and round. Some people have more luck with bettas than others, it just depends on what betta you get.

Good luck for any future bettas you get.

 

[tibby25731]

Do you have a filter? Even with a filter i would be changing a betta tank water by 25% a week. If you have no filter then you would need to change water every few days.
Don't bother with additives such as a pH balancer. Check out the pH in your tap water. If there is a problem there are better ways of adjusting pH and keeping it stable, such as addition of a little coral gravel. You'd have to have a real problem with pH to have to change it for your betta though.

 

[Honeythorn]

I'm afraid you didn't do frequent enough water changes wether you have a filter or not. Every two weeks is definitely not enough at all. My own betta tank is a heated and filtered 5 gallon hex and I change 50 % every week without fail. I suggest you and your boyfriend change at least 25% every single week ( do it on the same day each week perhaps to keep it consistent and easy to remember ) seeing as you have the same tanks.

 

[guitarsoloist]

I do see what ya'll are saying about water changes. Everyone is different and I've heard different theories on how often and how much. My boyfriend's tank has a male betta and 2 neons and he does the same amount of water changes. He has absolutely no issues, his fish are insanely active and healthy. It really is leading me to believe that its the flakes I use. Possibly the brand, maybe the color additives? It is possible too that while our houses are close, he may receive water from a different city's pump and the balance of vitamins and harmful chemicals could be different.

Ugh! Frusterated! Now I don't know if I want to get another one as I am upset, and really do feel like I killed this one even with how I took care of him! =(

 

[tibby25731]

I'd say, get another betta, but use a filter. if your boyfriend has a filter, pinch a little of his mature filter media to seed your filter. A filter will make the world of difference. And a weekly water change on a small tank only takes a few minutes, and again it will make so much difference. Get another betta, and keep coming to this forum for advice.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

One thing to consider is that you may have a parasite or disease living in your water column. Let the tank run empty for a month before trying another fish. That way any pathogens living in the tank won't have a host and will die out. You might also want to try a fishless cycle and add pure ammonia to the tank. Ammonia is pretty toxic, so a high concentration for a week or so will help kill off any potential pathogens.

Other than that, my only suggestion is to be very picky about selecting your next betta so that you definitely start out with a healthy one.

 

[guitarsoloist]

I actually do have a filter running lol.
Thank you for all of the advice but I think I discovered the culprit. I took a look at him when I scooped him out of the tank and noticed that the "split" was actually a scrape wound. It looks like he caught himself on something and cut it deep enough to kill him. I'm going to be taking the fake seashells I have in my tank out as well as the plastic plant. Going to look into a softer plant or possibly a live one.
I will be doing some testing on my water (in the tank and also from the tap) to check ph balance and all. I also will run the tank empty for a while to rule out a fungus. Now that I saw the damage on this fish I think it may be what happened to my last fish. He was a lot darker so I probably did not notice the damage, and it was probably what was giving him nasty infections.
Lesson learned the hard way, unfortunately.

 

[azulfire24]

also, i might have missed it, but do u have tap water? or well water? and are u using waterconditoner regaurdless? cause city water can have clorine and some well water can have high levels of metals, but a quality water conditoner,, added to the bucket of new water , mixed, and then added to the tank, would take care of both problems...

and yes bettas are nasty little buggers to each other, but still a somwhat slow and delicate fish, and can and do hurt them selves on decoration and whatnot..

i use a sand substrait with live < as in TRUE AQUATIC > plants or silk ones ,, and any thing that has a pointy or sharp edge has to go....


a good rule is to drage a set of panty hose over the prospect plant and if it snags,, get something else...


also where r u buying ur fish from ,,? a nice young healthy one from a small breeder would be a better start then,, a possibly unhealthy pet store < shot glass > specimin..


cheers and dont lose faith.. oh and just make sure the tank is sterlized before you put a new buddy in... any way you do it dont leave any soap or chemical in the tank or tank stuff.... rinsing to overflow for several minits in the bath tub is a good way to go..

ive used a weak bleach solution and thourgh rinsing, but maby some one could suggest a better way to sterlize

soap is very bad for fish by the way,, and any left over will most certinatly kill a new buddy..

 

[ThePiggy]

I definitely would not use any type of soap to clean the tank with.

An option is to take the gravel, decorations, and filter (not the media) and give them all a white vinegar soak. Then let them air dry and then rinse well and add back into the tank.

Personally, just to be safe, I would get rid of your filter media. Then get some of the mature media from your boyfriend's tank and run it in your filter with new media until it is cycled before getting another betta.