Betta died 2 days after transfer to new tank…help

[Ill]

So I had this betta for more than 6 months. Moved him from a 2.5 to a 5 gallon tank since algae was a pain to clean in smaller one especially with the small black imagitarium gravel from petco. I had java fern and anubias nana before. I stupidly bought frost colored glofish gravel from amazon for new tank in combination with old gravel. I rinsed everything well and also added a moss ball and anubias suction plant for the top of tank. My betta died 2 days later. He ate once only during time in new tank. The tank temperature was always 77/78 so I thought maybe he was used to warmer. I did cycle changes and checked water with api and all read ok. Someone tell me, was the reason he died the temperature, the new gravel, the plants, all of the above? I can’t go get another betta only to be disappointed again…

I noticed after I would change water he would come up for air then go back down and would just lay or hide under the bridge. I just don’t know what I should have done.

 

[Colin_T]

It's impossible to say why he died without seeing him and knowing everything, but it could be coloured gravel, chemicals in the new tank, toxic tap water (chlorine/ chloramine), or you had something on your hands when you were cleaning and setting up the new tank. If you used a bucket that had chemicals in, that might be the cause.

 

[Ill]

It's impossible to say why he died without seeing him and knowing everything, but it could be coloured gravel, chemicals in the new tank, toxic tap water (chlorine/ chloramine), or you had something on your hands when you were cleaning and setting up the new tank. If you used a bucket that had chemicals in, that might be the cause.

Hey Colin,

Thanks for your response. I used the same buckets as before and usually use gloves. I just wanted to be sure if it was gravel or the new plants as I was only instructed to simply rinse new gravel and new plants before inserting.

 

[Colin_T]

Live plants don't normally cause problems but coloured gravel can sometimes if it wasn't cured properly at the factory. It is rare but there have been a couple of occasions where coloured gravel (usually blue or red) has leached stuff into the water after it was rinsed and put in an aquarium. Unfortunately there is no way of telling if the gravel has cured properly until you add it to the tank. If it's safe the fish are fine, but if it is leaching stuff into the water, you start losing fish.

The fish might have been unwell when you moved it and the move simply pushed it over the edge.

The fish's fins look a bit clamped and the colour is a bit off but that can be from being sick and dying.

 

[Tacocat]

Hey Colin,

Thanks for your response. I used the same buckets as before and usually use gloves. I just wanted to be sure if it was gravel or the new plants as I was only instructed to simply rinse new gravel and new plants before inserting.

Was the tank cycled? That might have been the reason, but you did say you did daily water changes so that might not be it.

 

[BLK]

So I had this betta for more than 6 months. Moved him from a 2.5 to a 5 gallon tank since algae was a pain to clean in smaller one especially with the small black imagitarium gravel from petco. I had java fern and anubias nana before. I stupidly bought frost colored glofish gravel from amazon for new tank in combination with old gravel. I rinsed everything well and also added a moss ball and anubias suction plant for the top of tank. My betta died 2 days later. He ate once only during time in new tank. The tank temperature was always 77/78 so I thought maybe he was used to warmer. I did cycle changes and checked water with api and all read ok. Someone tell me, was the reason he died the temperature, the new gravel, the plants, all of the above? I can’t go get another betta only to be disappointed again…

I noticed after I would change water he would come up for air then go back down and would just lay or hide under the bridge. I just don’t know what I should have done.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Loosing our sweet fish can be heartbreaking. Give yourself time to reflect. You may be ready for another betta in the future. Good luck

 

[Ill]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Loosing our sweet fish can be heartbreaking. Give yourself time to reflect. You may be ready for another betta in the future. Good luck

Thank you!

 

[Ill]

Live plants don't normally cause problems but coloured gravel can sometimes if it wasn't cured properly at the factory. It is rare but there have been a couple of occasions where coloured gravel (usually blue or red) has leached stuff into the water after it was rinsed and put in an aquarium. Unfortunately there is no way of telling if the gravel has cured properly until you add it to the tank. If it's safe the fish are fine, but if it is leaching stuff into the water, you start losing fish.

The fish might have been unwell when you moved it and the move simply pushed it over the edge.

The fish's fins look a bit clamped and the colour is a bit off but that can be from being sick and dying.

Was the tank cycled? That might have been the reason, but you did say you did daily water changes so that might not be it.

Yes, definitely cycled even though he acted as if he couldn’t breathe well. I will most certainly be getting new gravel before the next fish. Any recommendations for water changes or new tank set up other than api stress coat and quick start drops? Hopefully just rinsing tank out and the plants will be sufficient…i have the new aqueon mini bow 5 gallon…

 

[FishHobby99]

So I had this betta for more than 6 months. Moved him from a 2.5 to a 5 gallon tank since algae was a pain to clean in smaller one especially with the small black imagitarium gravel from petco. I had java fern and anubias nana before. I stupidly bought frost colored glofish gravel from amazon for new tank in combination with old gravel. I rinsed everything well and also added a moss ball and anubias suction plant for the top of tank. My betta died 2 days later. He ate once only during time in new tank. The tank temperature was always 77/78 so I thought maybe he was used to warmer. I did cycle changes and checked water with api and all read ok. Someone tell me, was the reason he died the temperature, the new gravel, the plants, all of the above? I can’t go get another betta only to be disappointed again…

I noticed after I would change water he would come up for air then go back down and would just lay or hide under the bridge. I just don’t know what I should have done.

I am so very sorry for your loss. You were doing the right thing by doubling the tank size. I can’t say what went wrong, but perhaps others here have some good suggestions