My luck with Betta's is just terrible

So, I just got home a week ago from college and all seemed well with the fishies. My mom's been taking great care of them, but unfortunately Mr. Lewis was still getting himself into trouble. He had a completely tattered tail from what we believe is tail-biting, but aside from that, he seemed okay. Just a few days ago, he started looking a little bloated. I fasted him, thinking he was just constipated... but today, saw the dreaded pine-coning of the scales. Poor thing somehow got Dropsy. This is my third betta that I'm going to lose, and it's heartbreaking because I don't know what I'm doing wrong. My first two suffered from what was basically an incurable fin rot strand. I tried everything to save them. Spent $50-100 worth of treatment and medicine, and even tried giving "surgery". Yet both ended up dying. Now my little Lewis, who I've only had since last September, is dying. It's like, I feel like I'm providing them the best possible life I can give them. They have their 5 and 8 gallon tanks, filter and heater, real plants, good food, weekly wc's... I mean, I've seen bettas in those tiny bowls live longer than mine and I don't get it. Is it just bad luck? I don't know.

I'm thankful that my little Norman is doing great though. He's been so healthy and full of life. Not a single health problem so far. But Lewis... he's been through so much. He nearly killed himself the first 5 minutes of being in his tank by wedging himself into a corner, bit off and damaged his tail and fins, somehow poked his eye and it became infected and swollen, and now is dying from Dropsy. I don't know if this is my fault or if it's truly just bad luck. I feel so bad for him, though I don't know what I could've done to prevent this, if anything. As of now, I'm just trying to keep him comfortable but if he worsens, I'll probably have to euthanize him.

Gah, I just had to rant a little. I've never had such bad luck with my fish before until I started into the betta hobby. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong and why I've had 3 betta's die on me within 2 years. It's a feeling, not knowing what I'm doing wrong. :/ I love my betta's, but I've decided... no more betta's for me. They are such a personable little fish that are so full of life, and losing them is just too hard for me emotionally. I love all of my fish, but I feel more "connected" to my betta's since they have such sweet personalities. I can't deal with losing another one though.

Bleh, I apologize for this post. I'm just having a hard time deciding if I want to continue this hobby. So, have any of you guys experienced any bad luck cases with your betta/fish hobby too? Surely it can't just be me. :/

 

It's tough to keep going when you've had a string of rotten luck like you have. I'm sorry for your losses x

If you're interested perhaps answering a few questions may help to focus in on a possible cause.

1) What are your water parameters?

2) What kind(s) of filter do you use?

3) Any decor in the tanks of the deceased Bettas not in Norman's tank?

4) Any other differences between Norman's tank and the others'?

5) Where do you get your Bettas?

 

It's tough to keep going when you've had a string of rotten luck like you have. I'm sorry for your losses x

If you're interested perhaps answering a few questions may help to focus in on a possible cause.

1) What are your water parameters?

2) What kind(s) of filter do you use?

3) Any decor in the tanks of the deceased Bettas not in Norman's tank?

4) Any other differences between Norman's tank and the others'?

5) Where do you get your Bettas?

Thank you, it really is a feeling. :/ Of course, I'd actually appreciate any advice if it means I can help my fish better in the future!

1). Water parameters in both tanks are generally 0,0,0 but occasionally 0,0,5. I usually don't have nitrates showing because of the plants though. I've never had ammonia or nitrite readings, and I use the API test kits.
2). I use internal filters for both tanks. For Lewis, I had the filter placed in the corner with the flow of the water directed towards the side so it wouldn't propel him around the tank. The intake was also faced to where he wouldn't get stuck to it. For Norman's, I just have it regularly placed in the corner.
3). Both tanks are basically the tank, decor wise. Lewis had more plants in his because I tried "baby-proofing" it since he kept getting hurt. There was also no plastic things in his tank aside from the filter and heater. Both are very natural tanks, all real plants, driftwood, sand, and smooth rocks.
4). The only difference is size. Norman's is 7.9 gallon while Lewis's is 5 gallon. I wish I could afford a bigger tank but I'm tight on money currently. However, aside from that, both tanks are kept at about 79/80F, filtered, planted, and 40-50% wc's weekly. Both are also given Vitachem weekly and fed the same variety of food.
5). My first two betta's that I lost were imported from Thailand. I wanted to breed them, but unfortunately they both got the same strand of fin rot and passed from it. Norman and Lewis were bought from the same Petsmart, only about a month apart. I have a feeling they may be older than I originally thought, but when I got them, they were in beautiful condition. Lewis only had slight fin damage, otherwise was a healthy, active betta. He just went downhill after continuing to hurt himself by being well... just clumsy. :s

 

I bought a baby betta from petco and raised her in to adulthood.. had her for 4 whole years and since she died just out of the blue for no apparent reason, I just can't bring myself to get another one. So I can understand your pain but keep your chin up and just think at least he didn't have to live in a tiny bowl for his life no matter how brief it may of been.

 

My first ever betta was a blue/orange female and did pretty well. Lived for 3 and half years in a community tank with tetras, platies and golden rams.
My second one was a male dragon scale, If i'm honest he did terrible. He ripped his fin on an ornament in the tank, which led to finrot. He recovered from that well and was back to himself for about a month until he randomly starting breathing heavily on the bottom of the tank. Took a water test and the ammonia levels were sky high! After cleaning his filter I had forgotten to put the media back inside the filter that crashed the cycle and since he was in a small 2.5 gallon tank it built up quickly. I bought him a new 6 gallon and had to do a fish-in cycle with a betta... I did water changes every over day until the cycle was complete. About 2 weeks after the cycle was complete in the new tank his scales started to grow over his fins and eyes leaving him partially blind and an 'awkward swimmer'. He stayed like this for several months until getting an internal parasite that stopped him from eating or doing anything really. He was like this for 2 weeks didn't eat at all throughout the 2 week period. I eventually got him to eat a blood worm and he started to pick up. He was okay for 1 final month until the same parasite came back and eventually killed him :'(

The poor fish went through so much, I felt really bad for him. Since then I haven't had another betta. Might try again one day...

 

I'm so sorry for your losses... it sounds like you're doing everything you can for them, and you seem to take really good care of your fish. I'm positive that bad luck has a significant role here, but I did try to think of a few things:

Is there any way you can baffle your filters any more? Maybe with additional sponge or something? I'm not sure that's the issue but maybe it would help.

As for the medications, what were you using for the finrot? I ask because medicating for that usually isn't recommended since it can cause more stress than relief for the fish, and that stress can lead to other conditions. Clean warm water with no additives alone should heal finrot over time. Bettas are also super sensitive to meds because of their labyrinth organ. Many people who use any kinds of meds on a betta will only dose 1/2 what it says on the bottle.

Do you know your pH and KH? Your tanks and your tap. Since you were doing so many water changes, maybe there was a pH difference, which would cause shock and stress. Or it's a possibility your KH is low, which would cause pH crashes by itself. I'm just trying to think of stress sources that could lead to the development of other conditions, not saying that this is def a concern or anything.

After the deaths, did you take down the tank before replacing the fish? If not, next time empty the tank completely, rinse everything in warm dechlorinated water really well, use vinegar to clean the inside of the tank, and then try again.

That's all the ideas I have... I'm so sorry for your bad experiences. Please don't give up!

Sent from my SM-J320P using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

 

I bought a baby betta from petco and raised her in to adulthood.. had her for 4 whole years and since she died just out of the blue for no apparent reason, I just can't bring myself to get another one. So I can understand your pain but keep your chin up and just think at least he didn't have to live in a tiny bowl for his life no matter how brief it may of been.

I'm so sorry for your lose. But your betta must have had a wonderful home! 4 years in a loving home must have been the best home that betta could've asked for. I understand your pain though, it never gets easy to say goodbye to them. It makes it even harder to gain the courage to get a new one. I hope in time you're able to rescue another baby betta though and give that one a loving home. All in time, whenever the time's right.

My first ever betta was a blue/orange female and did pretty well. Lived for 3 and half years in a community tank with tetras, platies and golden rams.
My second one was a male dragon scale, If i'm honest he did terrible. He ripped his fin on an ornament in the tank, which led to finrot. He recovered from that well and was back to himself for about a month until he randomly starting breathing heavily on the bottom of the tank. Took a water test and the ammonia levels were sky high! After cleaning his filter I had forgotten to put the media back inside the filter that crashed the cycle and since he was in a small 2.5 gallon tank it built up quickly. I bought him a new 6 gallon and had to do a fish-in cycle with a betta... I did water changes every over day until the cycle was complete. About 2 weeks after the cycle was complete in the new tank his scales started to grow over his fins and eyes leaving him partially blind and an 'awkward swimmer'. He stayed like this for several months until getting an internal parasite that stopped him from eating or doing anything really. He was like this for 2 weeks didn't eat at all throughout the 2 week period. I eventually got him to eat a blood worm and he started to pick up. He was okay for 1 final month until the same parasite came back and eventually killed him :'(

The poor fish went through so much, I felt really bad for him. Since then I haven't had another betta. Might try again one day...

Gah, I'm so sorry to hear that. It sounds like you did everything you possibly could to save him though. It's just shocking to see how quickly they can go from healthy to near death like, over night. It makes me question the general health of these animals and if it just comes down to bad breeding by unreliable sources. I want to believe that it's really none of our faults, because the majority of people on this forum has the proper experience and passion to care for these fish, but I think some things are out of our control. :/ I'm sorry for your lose, but I think in time you'll find a new little friend to give a home to. It's so tough, I get it. Even I'm sitting here, wondering if I should just tear down my tank completely or not. I think we all need time to heal though before moving on and adopting a new little betta. Hopefully you and I both will be able to!

I'm so sorry for your losses... it sounds like you're doing everything you can for them, and you seem to take really good care of your fish. I'm positive that bad luck has a significant role here, but I did try to think of a few things:

Is there any way you can baffle your filters any more? Maybe with additional sponge or something? I'm not sure that's the issue but maybe it would help.

As for the medications, what were you using for the finrot? I ask because medicating for that usually isn't recommended since it can cause more stress than relief for the fish, and that stress can lead to other conditions. Clean warm water with no additives alone should heal finrot over time. Bettas are also super sensitive to meds because of their labyrinth organ. Many people who use any kinds of meds on a betta will only dose 1/2 what it says on the bottle.

Do you know your pH and KH? Your tanks and your tap. Since you were doing so many water changes, maybe there was a pH difference, which would cause shock and stress. Or it's a possibility your KH is low, which would cause pH crashes by itself. I'm just trying to think of stress sources that could lead to the development of other conditions, not saying that this is def a concern or anything.

After the deaths, did you take down the tank before replacing the fish? If not, next time empty the tank completely, rinse everything in warm dechlorinated water really well, use vinegar to clean the inside of the tank, and then try again.

That's all the ideas I have... I'm so sorry for your bad experiences. Please don't give up!

Sent from my SM-J320P using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

Thank you, I truly am trying my best. :/ Wish I could've done more though. As for the filters, I could put panty-hose on the intakes if that would be beneficial. The flow of the filters can't be adjusted too much though. Norman's filter is adjustable with a little dial, and it's on low-medium flow. He likes to play in it so I try to keep it moving just enough to give him a minI roller coaster. Lewis's is much better now since I moved it farther back. It is a strong filter though despite it being for "minI tanks". But yeah, I can definitely add a sponge or panty hose to the intakes.

As for the fin rot scenario, I tried for 3 months of just clean water, eventually adding salt after about a month and a half of no progress. I was changing both tanks 2-3 times a week, suctioning up all the dirt, doing constant water tests, and even dosing extra stress coats, vitamins, and feeding frozen foods. I gave in to medications after the 3 month when the female started getting another infection as a result from the fin rot. Nothing I tried worked, not even the medicines. I tried natural medications, IAL's, methylene blue dips, salt dips, Kanaplex, Betta Revive, and like 2 other things. Eventually I tried the surgical route that I was told may help, but unfortunately the stress of it all eventually killed them both. This fin rot was honestly not treatable and I honestly should have just let them be, since after the 5th time of medicating them with something different, I figured I wasn't going to win the battle. I'm wondering if it would've been better to just let them be and just try and slow the rate of the fin rot, or if that would have been a more painful way to go than what I tried doing to save them. Bleh, it was just a bad experience and terrible luck with something that should've been easy to cure.

As for ph/kh, the last time I tested it, I believe the PH was either 7.2 or 7.4. I'm not sure of KH, but the water hardness in my town is pretty hard. Unsure of the exact number, but I had called our local pool shop just for an idea and they said our town's water is slightly hard. I can test my water again tonight to make sure nothing's changed, but would the hardness or high ph affect my betta's? I had been told the reason my 2 crowntail betta's fins started rotting/crippling away was because the GH was too high for them. I tried softening the water with IAL but would the water really affect them that much? Lewis and Norman are halfmoons and only Lewis has had fin problems, but his I think was more due to injury/biting than water. I wonder though if the two are related somehow.

As for the tank, I didn't sanitize all of it. I did wipe down the sides with vinegar and emptied and refilled 100% of the water, but everything in the tank itself (substrate, plants, rocks, etc) weren't touched. Lewis isn't inside the actual tank anymore (he's still in the tub that is sitting in his tank) but would it still need to be disinfected? How would I go about disinfecting everything in the tank? :S

Thank you for your help. I don't know if I'll try again with betta's for a while. I'll probably just turn that tank into a shrimp tank or maybe a small endler tank. I know I don't want to tear it down, but I'm not sure if betta's are for me at the moment. I'll just have to hope my little Norman remains healthy and continues to thrive.

 

Just had to euthanize my poor Lewis tonight. His Dropsy was getting worse and he was just laying on the bottom breathing heavily and only moving to come up and breathe. He stopped eating too, so I figured euthanasia would be the kindest thing for him rather than starving or just progressively worsening. That was extremely difficult to do. I had to keep adding more clove oil in because every time I thought he was knocked out, he would swim to the surface to breathe. He was technically "asleep" but I guess by instinct, was still able to come up and breathe at the surface. I had to add a total of 7-8 drops for him to finally be at rest. I was sobbing, honestly that was so hard. I've euthanized two of my fish before when they had incurable illnesses but Lewis hit me so hard. It took a lot longer since I guess I wasn't adding in enough, but finally I saw him take his last breathe and he was no longer in pain. I feel like it was the best thing to do rather than let him sit there and suffer but it still makes me feel like some kind of monster. To take any animal's life just like that... it's so hard. But then I felt even worse for letting him sit there and suffer, so I don't know what to feel honestly. It just sucks that he got it in the first place and that I couldn't help him. After tonight, I can't possibly see myself getting a betta again, not if I might have to go through something like that again. It's just way too painful.

RIP my sweet Lewis.

 

I'm sorry for your loss x

 

This is really sad.
I also remember the first time I lost my first betta fish, it was due to same fin rot problem which was incurable. Things happened like that 2-3 times after that I changed my aquarium totally and now all fishes are fine.
Anyways sorry for your loss, but next time I would suggest to change the Aquarium and sell the current one. Believe me, your luck will change

 

Sorry to hear that. If you decide to get another one I hope it goes well for you