I bought a beta and it died with in a week.?

Question

The tank was ran for about a couple of days. I had the water in the tank as well as the tap water tested. Water was room temp. Everything was fine. We added our beta, feed it "Beta pellets" once a day as recommended. My wife checked on it, everything was fine, the next minute it was siting on the bottom belly, up dead. What happen?

Answer 1

What's the temperature of your room? Bettas are tropical fish, and their water temperature should be 76o-86o. Chances are, you didn't have the water warm enough to suit your fish.

I know when people see the betta in the cups at pet stores, it doesn't seem as they should need a heater. But without one, they're susceptible to attack by fungal infections. That's why you see them in blue water- the color is from Methylene blue, which is an antifungal medication to help keep them from getting sick. Pet stores that care for the fish properly, put individual males into tanks with other compatible fish (so they have access to warm, filtered water) or use the "betta wall" where the fish are still in small, individual container, but the water is on a filter system to a common sump, where the water is heated and filtered.

There's also the possibility that the fish had some other internal infection when you bought it that wasn't evident. I've bought some that came with intestinal worms, velvet (a small external parasite), and other illnesses.


ADDITION: I've never used anything but tap water to keep my bettas, and I've had up to 14 at one time. As long as you use a conditioner to remove chlorine or chloramine (and make sure you know which your water company uses and use the proper conditioner to neutralize it, it's fine to use: http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/chlor.htm

Answer 2

The problem is the temperature. Room temp is around 22-24 degrees celsius.

Answer 3

Beta can not go into City water under any curcumstances

Answer 4

should have bought a vhs