Please Help...

Please Help!!!! I have had 5 fish die in the last week. 2 females that live in separate bowls for about 3 days... and 3 males two of which were about 6 months old... I don't know what I am doing wrong... I have a total of 2 males left in separate bowls... I change their tap water about every 2 days I use a few drops of water conidtioner.... feed them about twice a day 2 betta pelets and I got the fish from different places such as a market...a tropical fish store and petco.... I don't know why they are dying suddenly... Most of them have floated at the bottom for a while about a day or two and then plop they are dead. They look like their bodies are heavy and they just lay vertical with their head up... The same symptoms each time... If anyone can help me with what to do I need to know before I kill the other two males that are left in separate fish bowls... They live in big bowls with glass jewels and the bottom and a fake plastic plant in each... What should I do... What am I doing wrong? I need help PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S. They don't live in direct sunlight just on the kitchen table! in California!
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Re: Memorial Section - Our Little Friends

it sounds like constipation!! I had the same problem with my bettas. Anyway simple remedy take a pea (or carrot but peas are better) thaw it out just enough to get the skin off it. then cut the pea to about half the size of their eye and feed it to them they should get them going again. I only do about 2 pea pieces at half their eye with about 15-20 seconds in between pieces so they chew. I really hope this helps. Oh before I forget constipation is caused by over feeding which it sounds like that is what you are doing they don't need to be fed every day I learned that the hard way was well.

hope this helps

 

I suppose you noticed that your question was moved.  I moved it so that it would perhaps receive more attention.  The thread you posted on is generally used for us to write a little something about a pet who has passed away and we want to memorialize.  The question you are asking needs more attention than that.

I have some questions I need the answers to before I can do too much to give really helpful answers, I am afraid. 

What types of fish are we talking about?  Are they all Bettas, or is this a community tank with several types of fish involved?

Is your tank heated and filtered?  If so, did you do a fishless cycle before adding the fish?  Do you know about the Nitrogen Cycle that needs to take place before you add your fish?  If not, here is the link to an article you need to read and may help to clarify the situartion a little. 
   https://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

How long has the tank been in operation?  What are your testing results if you are testing the water?  I need to know what the water test numbers are for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate.  These numbers are very importiant and have  a lot to do with fish health.  If you do not have a test kit, please do not be tempted to get the "dip sticks" .   They are very unreliable and can be hard to follow.  You need the type of tests that include a test tube and liquid in small containers that  tell you how many drops to put into the water you will put into the test tube.  The test kit most used here, I believe, is the Master Test Kit from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. or API. 

How old are the fish who are dying if you know?  If you are buying from a pet store they are more than likely full grown, but lately there have been some older fry showing up that have come from pet stores.

What is it that you are feeding your fish and HOW MUCH?  If the cause is constipation and it could be, but I kind of doubt it with the vertical swimming, the Main Cause is the Overfeeding of your Fish!!!  You can try the remedy for constipation just in case.  It will not hurt a thing and may clear the problem if that is the cause.   Please do read the following to get an idea of how to treat Constipation.



The information given there is mostly for Bettas, but if the problem is constipation there is nothing wrong with using the treatment on other fish as well. 

Welcome to Fishlore.com.  I hope I have been able to help a little.  I still do really  need the answers to the quesitons above but I  think the information you have to read may give you some ideas as to what is wrong with your fish.  Please do keep us informed and get the water tests done as soon as possible. 

Rose

 

I think it is constipation... They just live in bowls not a community tank or anything like that. They are both male betta fish and the previous ones that died were full grown males... The two females were babies and were from petco. I am trying a day without food as well as less food to see if this helps the two that are left. I am only going to give them one pellet of betta food a day for about a week and see if this helps. Any other thoughts please let me know. Thank you for your support!
P.S. Do you think that a betta can die in one day if they are overfed? Because the one fish died the day after we got it and I only fed it about 2 or 3 pelets in a full 24 hours?

 

At this point I would suggest a veggie fast. Only a small piece of Defrosted Frozen Pea the size of half their eye cut into 2 or 3 tiny chunks twice a day for a couple of days should take care of the problem. I would not give them pellets or bloodworms at all during this time. the dried food will only complicate matters.

Rose

 

definately a veggie fast most of the time they will look at u like u have lobsters in ur ears and refuse to eat but if u fast them for about 2-3 days with no food at all or they just refuse to eat they will eat the peas. InarI my betta loves them when he sees me get the bag out he comes right over and begs for them its kinda cute but I had to starve him for about two days b4 he would eat them the first time.

Hope this helps and good luck

 

So far the two bettas have lived!!! They look so much better now that I am feeding them less and doing a 1/2 of a water change every few days... Thanks for all of your help and concerns!<img src=" R.I.P. CoSmO my frist Betta ( The one that didn't survive)

 

Please just be careful you do not go too far the other way and not feed them enough. The usual betta meal is 3-4 pellets and should be given twice a day. Just be sure that you make them CHEW their food for about 15 seconds between pellets. They will swallow them whole if you just let them gobble them down. That will constipate them more quickly than overfeeding.

Rose