New Betta died :(
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
-
Pandora114
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 397
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:28 pm
- My Puffers: C. travancoricus RIP both of you little guys. Tank will be a F8 after GSP goes full marine
T. nigroviridis Named Pepsi - Location: Comox Valley, BC, Canada
- Contact:
New Betta died :(
Tank Params:
Amm: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
Size: 2.5gallons
Temp: 80f (maintained by a 50watt heater)
Tankmates: nothing
Food: Hikari Biopure frozen bloodworms
Additives: Prime for dechlor, 2 drops Flourish Excell and 2 drops Flourish fert for the anubais Nana.
Filtration: Sponge filter.
Cycled using gravel from established tank and left over puffer food. Been cycled for about 2 months or so.
Had him...since Saturday.
DH thinks it's because they're kept in such crappy conditions (even though he was in more water than most at the LFS) that once they get put into the proper conditions, they kinda go "EEP! I'm in Heaven! *dies*"
Amm: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
Size: 2.5gallons
Temp: 80f (maintained by a 50watt heater)
Tankmates: nothing
Food: Hikari Biopure frozen bloodworms
Additives: Prime for dechlor, 2 drops Flourish Excell and 2 drops Flourish fert for the anubais Nana.
Filtration: Sponge filter.
Cycled using gravel from established tank and left over puffer food. Been cycled for about 2 months or so.
Had him...since Saturday.
DH thinks it's because they're kept in such crappy conditions (even though he was in more water than most at the LFS) that once they get put into the proper conditions, they kinda go "EEP! I'm in Heaven! *dies*"
- edmlfc1
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 2011
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:03 pm
- My Puffers: Elvis (Stars & Stripes) R.I.P. 9/11/11
125G:Fahaka (Annabelle) - Location (country): U.S.A.
- Location: Texas
Re: New Betta died :(
Dosen't sound like anything you did. It was probally sick before you got him.
Sory for your loss.
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- Agnate
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1203
- Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:44 pm
- My Puffers: -
1 Abei Puffer [Monotrete Abei]
(Captain Abe) - Location: Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: New Betta died :(
If I'm not mistaken, Bettas only live for about 5 years or so, and a lot of times you get Bettas in the store that are already 1-3 years old. Like you said, if he's been living in a cup for that time span, it's likely that he had some complications already. 
Sorry to hear about your loss. Bettas are fish that I always feel so bad for.
Sorry to hear about your loss. Bettas are fish that I always feel so bad for.
Did our staff successfully help you? The Puffer Forum is an incredible resource and is run completely on the donations of its viewers. Proceeds from the Puffer Forum store go towards future contests and keeping the site running. Donations may also be made via PayPal.
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
- pinkfloydpuffer
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 315
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:24 pm
- My Puffers: C. travancoricus: Kensington
- Location (country): USA
- Location: Utah
Re: New Betta died :(
I agree... I've had two bettas die within 1-2 weeks of me buying them. Mine got dropsy, it was awful. I really think it was nothing you did wrong, but irreversible damage done by being kept in nasty water for too long.

80 gal brackish-3 Green spotted puffers
20 gal planted freshwater- dwarf puffers, south american puffer, ghost shrimps
10 gal planted freshwater-female crowntail bettas, L-187b Thomasi pleco, trilineatus cories
10 gal freshwater divided-crowntail betta, male and female halfmoon dragon bettas
5 gal freshwater-red cherry shrimps
-
Pandora114
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 397
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:28 pm
- My Puffers: C. travancoricus RIP both of you little guys. Tank will be a F8 after GSP goes full marine
T. nigroviridis Named Pepsi - Location: Comox Valley, BC, Canada
- Contact:
Re: New Betta died :(
I think I'll get one from a reputable breeder in my province next time. Sure he'll cost more, but, at least I know I'm getting a good one
- pinkfloydpuffer
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 315
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:24 pm
- My Puffers: C. travancoricus: Kensington
- Location (country): USA
- Location: Utah
Re: New Betta died :(
I think that's a good idea. And he'll be healthier, so the extra $ will pay off cause he'll live longer then your other one.
(well most likely)

80 gal brackish-3 Green spotted puffers
20 gal planted freshwater- dwarf puffers, south american puffer, ghost shrimps
10 gal planted freshwater-female crowntail bettas, L-187b Thomasi pleco, trilineatus cories
10 gal freshwater divided-crowntail betta, male and female halfmoon dragon bettas
5 gal freshwater-red cherry shrimps
- Agnate
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1203
- Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:44 pm
- My Puffers: -
1 Abei Puffer [Monotrete Abei]
(Captain Abe) - Location: Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: New Betta died :(
If you find one earlier, you might be able to pick your preferred species/colour blend. 
Did our staff successfully help you? The Puffer Forum is an incredible resource and is run completely on the donations of its viewers. Proceeds from the Puffer Forum store go towards future contests and keeping the site running. Donations may also be made via PayPal.
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
-
Pandora114
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 397
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:28 pm
- My Puffers: C. travancoricus RIP both of you little guys. Tank will be a F8 after GSP goes full marine
T. nigroviridis Named Pepsi - Location: Comox Valley, BC, Canada
- Contact:
Re: New Betta died :(
Agnate wrote:If you find one earlier, you might be able to pick your preferred species/colour blend.
yeah I like the black dragon HM to be honest...but I'll need a better tank for him, was thinking maybe a 5gal waterhome package.....I'm not gonna get a nice betta and toss him in a boring Small pals pen lol.
Thinking getting something like this:
http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA/ctl ... assicblack
for a nice show type Betta, plant it nice with some Anubais family and java moss.
I think I'll do that once we move. Since Bettas live 5yrs or so, we'll be moving next year...(Found a way to ship my puffers across country so happy)
- pinkfloydpuffer
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 315
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:24 pm
- My Puffers: C. travancoricus: Kensington
- Location (country): USA
- Location: Utah
Re: New Betta died :(
I have a 5g minibow for my bettas
Make sure to cover the opening for the filter though, I've had a betta jump out through there and I found her dry 

80 gal brackish-3 Green spotted puffers
20 gal planted freshwater- dwarf puffers, south american puffer, ghost shrimps
10 gal planted freshwater-female crowntail bettas, L-187b Thomasi pleco, trilineatus cories
10 gal freshwater divided-crowntail betta, male and female halfmoon dragon bettas
5 gal freshwater-red cherry shrimps
-
Pandora114
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 397
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:28 pm
- My Puffers: C. travancoricus RIP both of you little guys. Tank will be a F8 after GSP goes full marine
T. nigroviridis Named Pepsi - Location: Comox Valley, BC, Canada
- Contact:
Re: New Betta died :(
soo if I get a black betta, some white substrate with a few anubais and some java moss on a rock would set him off just right?
- pinkfloydpuffer
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 315
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:24 pm
- My Puffers: C. travancoricus: Kensington
- Location (country): USA
- Location: Utah
Re: New Betta died :(
That sounds beautiful! 

80 gal brackish-3 Green spotted puffers
20 gal planted freshwater- dwarf puffers, south american puffer, ghost shrimps
10 gal planted freshwater-female crowntail bettas, L-187b Thomasi pleco, trilineatus cories
10 gal freshwater divided-crowntail betta, male and female halfmoon dragon bettas
5 gal freshwater-red cherry shrimps
- Agnate
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1203
- Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:44 pm
- My Puffers: -
1 Abei Puffer [Monotrete Abei]
(Captain Abe) - Location: Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: New Betta died :(
I found my betta did so much better in the 20 gallon I had. He's not overly happy in his 5 gallon right now. 
I might upgrade him to the 28 gallon bowfront when I move Abe into a bigger tank. I'm sure he'd like it in there.
I might upgrade him to the 28 gallon bowfront when I move Abe into a bigger tank. I'm sure he'd like it in there.
Did our staff successfully help you? The Puffer Forum is an incredible resource and is run completely on the donations of its viewers. Proceeds from the Puffer Forum store go towards future contests and keeping the site running. Donations may also be made via PayPal.
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
-
Nick
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 3231
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:47 pm
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GSPs - Shakespeare and Jillybean
F8 - Velvet
My fiance:
DP - Emma Goldman
Narrow Lined Puffer - Ulrike - Location (country): Northeastern USA
- Location: Middletown, CT
- Contact:
Re: New Betta died :(
I just toss the filters that come with minibows(or rob them of their pumps - those little pumps are actually pretty decent as small individual powerheads for a nanoreef, I'm learning) and run a nano HOB filter, there's a red sea filter than turns over 50-70gph and can be stuffed with a small aquaclear sponge(if you cut a hole for the intake J) rather than it's junky default media.
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