Salam
Fish Herder
I am having a major problem with my betta sorority. I haven't said anything yet, because I was hoping it was just a 'bad batch', but now it is getting ridiculous. I have just cried my eyes out because yet another one has died 
Quick story: I got a new tank and added a filter with mature media in it. I added some ammonia which was processed within 12 hours, so I knew that it was safe to add my fish.
Firstly I put three otos and six pygmy cories in. They were all fine (and they still are!).
Then the next day I added eight female crowntail bettas to the tank. I was so excited that I even started a mini journal on them. It was my pretty, girly tank filled with little divas. All bettas came from the same source, I picked them up at this guy's house who basically works from his shed. He doesn't live far from me, so when I knew that he was picking them up from his supplier I straight went and got them. They were still in their original bag from the supplier.
First two days, no problems. All fed well, there was nice movement in the tank and no aggression. Third day, one died. Ok, maybe a weak one I thought. Fourth day, two others were dead. Fifth day, another two. Sixth day, one more. So in less than a week I had six deaths. I obviously checked all the stats and everything came back perfect. What I noticed though was that all of them had VERY bloated bellys when they died. So I suspected dropsy.
So, me back to the fish seller and complained. I knew they were not in his water as they were still in the bags from the supplier, but I thought it must have been something with the supplier's water. He promised to replace them f.o.c..
Ok, so I waited a little as he had to get them first. In the meantime, otos and pygmys and remaining two bettas have the tank for themselves, but all happy and no more deaths.
Then last week he finally got me six new crowntails. He said they were from a different supplier, but I don't really trust that as he told me he got a DOA guarantee so probably same supplier. I was hopeful that it the others died of a disease and that the new batch would do better. How wrong I was! It's now a week and I am back down to four. Four deaths within a week again! Two of the remaining survivors are from the original batch, the other two are newer ones.
The fourth one (well in total tenth one!!!) has died in front of my eyes. She was at the top, suddenly lost her balance and dead. It was like two minutes! Honestly, I've never cried this much for a fish. Her belly was huge and it literally popped open! I also noticed this on the other lighter coloured ones that died before.
Again, I checked all the stats and it all came back perfect. I just don't know what to do anymore. They are dropping like flies, I don't want them to suffer, I don't know what's going on. Please someone help! From googling I can only suspect dropsy (although I never fed any live food to them) or tuberculosis. And both are unstoppable. While all this is happening the pygmys and otos are as happy as ever, so it must be some kind of betta disease.
Tank size: 80 litres / 25 gallon
pH: 7.4
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 10
kH: unknown
gH: 8
tank temp: 26
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): See above
Volume and Frequency of water changes: twice weekly, 25%
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: None
Tank inhabitants: Remaining four crowntail bettas, six pygmy cories, three otos
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): See above, the new bettas
Exposure to chemicals: None
Digital photo (include if possible):
I have photos, but they are VERY distressing. I don't know how to hide them in a spoiler, maybe a moderator can do this so people only click if they are ok seeing it. Please be warned, it's not a nice sight, so for now only scroll down if you are not eating or you can bottle it.
Quick story: I got a new tank and added a filter with mature media in it. I added some ammonia which was processed within 12 hours, so I knew that it was safe to add my fish.
Firstly I put three otos and six pygmy cories in. They were all fine (and they still are!).
Then the next day I added eight female crowntail bettas to the tank. I was so excited that I even started a mini journal on them. It was my pretty, girly tank filled with little divas. All bettas came from the same source, I picked them up at this guy's house who basically works from his shed. He doesn't live far from me, so when I knew that he was picking them up from his supplier I straight went and got them. They were still in their original bag from the supplier.
First two days, no problems. All fed well, there was nice movement in the tank and no aggression. Third day, one died. Ok, maybe a weak one I thought. Fourth day, two others were dead. Fifth day, another two. Sixth day, one more. So in less than a week I had six deaths. I obviously checked all the stats and everything came back perfect. What I noticed though was that all of them had VERY bloated bellys when they died. So I suspected dropsy.
So, me back to the fish seller and complained. I knew they were not in his water as they were still in the bags from the supplier, but I thought it must have been something with the supplier's water. He promised to replace them f.o.c..
Ok, so I waited a little as he had to get them first. In the meantime, otos and pygmys and remaining two bettas have the tank for themselves, but all happy and no more deaths.
Then last week he finally got me six new crowntails. He said they were from a different supplier, but I don't really trust that as he told me he got a DOA guarantee so probably same supplier. I was hopeful that it the others died of a disease and that the new batch would do better. How wrong I was! It's now a week and I am back down to four. Four deaths within a week again! Two of the remaining survivors are from the original batch, the other two are newer ones.
The fourth one (well in total tenth one!!!) has died in front of my eyes. She was at the top, suddenly lost her balance and dead. It was like two minutes! Honestly, I've never cried this much for a fish. Her belly was huge and it literally popped open! I also noticed this on the other lighter coloured ones that died before.
Again, I checked all the stats and it all came back perfect. I just don't know what to do anymore. They are dropping like flies, I don't want them to suffer, I don't know what's going on. Please someone help! From googling I can only suspect dropsy (although I never fed any live food to them) or tuberculosis. And both are unstoppable. While all this is happening the pygmys and otos are as happy as ever, so it must be some kind of betta disease.
Tank size: 80 litres / 25 gallon
pH: 7.4
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 10
kH: unknown
gH: 8
tank temp: 26
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): See above
Volume and Frequency of water changes: twice weekly, 25%
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: None
Tank inhabitants: Remaining four crowntail bettas, six pygmy cories, three otos
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): See above, the new bettas
Exposure to chemicals: None
Digital photo (include if possible):
I have photos, but they are VERY distressing. I don't know how to hide them in a spoiler, maybe a moderator can do this so people only click if they are ok seeing it. Please be warned, it's not a nice sight, so for now only scroll down if you are not eating or you can bottle it.
And what then? Thinking of scrapping the sorority as it really is breaking my heart watching them die, but would it be safe adding the otos and pygmys to other community tanks?
not to mention they are usually only "eggy" when being conditioned for breeding by being exposed to a male...
