Nippy Fish
Aquarium Advice Regular
I've been keeping bettas for years, but I just had 2 die from the same tank and I can't figure out why. I had the first betta in a 20 long planted for a couple of months, all is well, then one day he's suddenly dead and so are two corycats. All of the other fish are fine and thriving. I tested the water...ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 10. I change the water 40% every 10 days.
I waited a few days, decided it was a fluke, and moved one of my other bettas from a smaller tank into the same 20 long and within a few days without any signs of illness or stress he and another fish were suddenly dead. Both of these bettas were show bettas from a highly reputable lfs.
Then, the next day, a third betta in a different tank (a Petsmart betta) was dead. No warning, no signs, just dead.
There is no stress in the tanks whatsoever, nothing has been going on with the tanks at all, nothing added, nothing removed, nothing changed. There are no predators, no bullies. They eat a varied diet, something different all the time. No vast temperature changes. I just can't imagine.
Any ideas? I'm afraid to get another betta.
I waited a few days, decided it was a fluke, and moved one of my other bettas from a smaller tank into the same 20 long and within a few days without any signs of illness or stress he and another fish were suddenly dead. Both of these bettas were show bettas from a highly reputable lfs.
Then, the next day, a third betta in a different tank (a Petsmart betta) was dead. No warning, no signs, just dead.
There is no stress in the tanks whatsoever, nothing has been going on with the tanks at all, nothing added, nothing removed, nothing changed. There are no predators, no bullies. They eat a varied diet, something different all the time. No vast temperature changes. I just can't imagine.
Any ideas? I'm afraid to get another betta.