Allie

My 12g tank which we divided into 3 is the cause of all my betta's death in the past month or so. I realized that Holly, Mr. Peach, Jasper, Aries and Buster (who isn't doing well today) were all in that tank since last Christmas at one point or another. Holly was always in it except the 15g for 2 days or so, until I realized she was eating the flakes for everyone else when I wasn't looking.
The bn fry in it now and are growing fast I don't think she was in it long enough to pass it along.
I am not sure which of the deadly diseases the tank carried, but I am not using it for fish ever again. Not even if I were to bleach it.
I have heard of other fish keepers having a tank which every fish that lived in died in short period of time. The tank of death someone called it.
At least I know what the problem was. We keep our tanks so clean and treat our fish which need to treated. It's kind of scary when you can't figure it out. I clued in last night before bed, when Buster looked a bit swollen and his fins haven't looked right since he started chewing them. He hasn't grown at all and he is/was small since I got him from Walmart (never again) back in March.
This confused the heck out of me. Glad I figured it out before I put anyone new in there.

Fishies-for-me

Has the tank ever been used for anything else?? did you buy it new. The reason I ask is that I have heard that tanks that have been used to house rodents can absorb bacteria into the silicone and leach it back out into the water if used for fish again and can be toxic to said fish. Sorry you have lost so many so fast...God luck with whom ever you are having trouble with now.

Allie

It was brand spanking new. When I go tit two years ago. It's only been used for fish. My sick keyhole was in in Feb when there wasn't any betta in it. He died I cleaned the tank but not with bleach. We never had any problems with it until after that...so that is my conclusion.

COBettaCouple

Maybe a total sterilization (put it in a tub, fill it with hot water & bleach - the 1:19 ratio, empty it, dry it, repeat) then store it for a few months in the garage or something and then repeat the sterilizing process again. Then add a ton of dechlorinator and cycle it from scratch.

Allie

Yeah I have to do it to the 5g Buster was in too. My bf may be going to use it for his baby ball python he is getting soon

Alessa

i am not sure becuase I dont own a baby betta... but... can iridovirus jump on to bettas?

i was thinking that because both are labrynth fish...and i have noticed that both of your bettas got sick, lost colors stopped eating, got bloated on a very short period of time... and it is the same thing that is happening with gouramis. also that virus can be inactive for a very long time....

Allie

It's a possibility that's for sure. Thanks
I found these articles to look thru
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&cl...&start=10&sa=N

Alessa

yes... I recently lost two gouramis out of the blue with perfect water parameters, and I noticed the symptoms of your bettas were pretty much the same... I found this scholarly article that talks about iridovirus being definately present on betta splendens... http://www.ibcbettas.org/StadBylawsF...t1999-2003.pdf

with that being the case, I guess that I (after doing some more research) make another post warning betta owners in the forum about the possibility of iridovirus in bettas...

i am going to research more on the topic in my university's online scientific journal database and I will keep you updated.

btw, I just remember that your case is not the only one in the forum of bettas that died overnight... gosh i hope im wrong.

Angela_96

you know thats what I used to call my 10g until I emptied it out and changed the gravel, cleaned it w/ an antibacterial soap, cleaned it again w/ just water to get the soap out, re-cycled (lol what a funny pun on words) and now I am "growing out" fish in it, only 3 at a time but the tank of death label is no more. I have live plants in it now too though.. I dunno if that helps?

Alessa

I just made a post about this in case someone knows more about iridovirus being in other species.

Allie

Thanks...it does sound like what happened with my betta.