Dying Betta

[Silencedogood]

Hi guys,

So, over the past week, my betta has been acting a little funny. He has been staying at the bottom of the tank and not interacting with the other fish. The past couple of days he stopped eating and now he looks very bloated. I did treat him for ick a couple of weeks ago by increasing the temperature to 86 F. Not sure if the prolonged high temperature affected him?

 

[EllRog]

Without parameters and details of the tank, there's not much help we can give. From a glance, he doesn't look good and I'm assuming he's in hard water seen as he has mollies for tank mates. I bang the drum of not keeping bettas with other fish for plenty of reasons, one being overfeeding, which he looks a victim of

Looks as if his scales are raised, I predict dropsy

 

[Silencedogood]

Water Parameters:
ph-7.2
nitrite-0 ppm
nitrate-20 ppm
ammonia-0 ppm
gh-200 ppm
kh-140 ppm
My tank is 30 gallons. I have livebearers, neon tetras, plecos, and bettas. I don't overfeed my fish and yes, his scales are raised. He's eight months old and was raised in my tank water.

 

[EllRog]

There's more than one betta in there? And with overfeeding, what I mean is, the betta will eat more than it needs as there is more food available as you feed the other fish

 

[Sgooosh]

i think bettas shouldnt be with hard water fish in hard water, it makes them more weak
along with tetras and plecos.
if he was raised in tank water it is ok.
plecos do you mean more than 1?
he has dropsy and mouth rot maybe

 

[juliejanu]

Like they said it does look like dropsy. It usually affects fish with compromised immune system, could be genetic but could also be from stress.
You could do epsom salt baths to reduce the bloating, I would also move him to another tank if possible.

 

[Silencedogood]

There's more than one betta in there? And with overfeeding, what I mean is, the betta will eat more than it needs as there is more food available as you feed the other fish

Yes, I have two female bettas.

i think bettas shouldnt be with hard water fish in hard water, it makes them more weak
along with tetras and plecos.
if he was raised in tank water it is ok.
plecos do you mean more than 1?
he has dropsy and mouth rot maybe

I have two baby plecos. They were sold to me as BR plecos, but they are common plecos. Right now they are barely three inches, but as they get bigger, I'm going to rehome them.

Like they said it does look like dropsy. It usually affects fish with compromised immune system, could be genetic but could also be from stress.
You could do epsom salt baths to reduce the bloating, I would also move him to another tank if possible.

I don't have another tank to move him into but I'll definitely do the salt baths.

 

[EllRog]

Yes, I have two female bettas.

Have you thought about the incompatibility of the stocking of the tank?

 

[Silencedogood]

Have you thought about the incompatibility of the stocking of the tank?

No I have not. All of my fish are compatible with each other. I have done extensive research and there are others that have kept bettas with livebearers, neon tetras, and plecos. Like I mentioned before, my betta was raised in my water (as were most of my fish because I breed them) and he didn't have any issues prior to the ick. I'm pretty sure the ick was caused because I hadn't been keeping up with water changes.

 

[EllRog]

No I have not. All of my fish are compatible with each other. I have done extensive research and there are others that have kept bettas with livebearers, neon tetras, and plecos. Like I mentioned before, my betta was raised in my water (as were most of my fish because I breed them) and he didn't have any issues prior to the ick. I'm pretty sure the ick was caused because I hadn't been keeping up with water changes.

Probably as he has a weakened immune system from stress. You realise you can't just skip evolution like that right? You've still mixed hard water fish with soft water fish within hard water and having a male betta fish, permanently live alongside female betta fish is frankly mental. I really don't know how extensive your research was

 

[Silencedogood]

Probably as he has a weakened immune system from stress. You realise you can't just skip evolution like that right? You've still mixed hard water fish with soft water fish within hard water and having a male betta fish, permanently live alongside female betta fish is frankly mental. I really don't know how extensive your research was

I'm not sure what you mean. I have had the female bettas for three weeks because I was trying to breed them. I have a LFS that gives me store credit if I bring them fish.
Bettas can live in water that is harder, especially if they are raised in your tank water. The ph level they can go up to is 7.4.
AND, female bettas can live with a male betta, as long as you have multiple females.
I have had fish for nine years and have had my tank set up this way for three years and my fish are typically extremely healthy.

 

[coriesinhawaii]

Don’t understand why so many discussions turn into fights on this forum

 

[Sgooosh]

Don’t understand why so many discussions turn into fights on this forum

yea...
there's so many different opinions on this forum
people can get defensive at times, too.

this forum has turned to utter shite, I'm off

noooooooooooooo

 

[EllRog]

Don’t understand why so many discussions turn into fights on this forum

Do I refrain from questioning fish abuse to please you? Do you have any suggestions as to how I can question why someone is subjecting their fish to stress?

 

[Silencedogood]

I'm not offended at all; we just seem to have a difference of opinion.