Nippy Fish
Aquarium Advice Regular
I've kept bettas for years and haven't seen anything like this. I have a 20 long planted community aquarium in which my centerpiece is usually a male betta. My male betta died unexpectedly with no warning signs. I'd had him for about 6 months. I got another one. He died in a week. Again, no signs, he was just dead one morning. So this time I got 5 female bettas. Within 3 days they started dying about 1 every 1-2 days. Only one is left and she is dying, the only one to show actual symptoms. She's lethargic, her mouth and face are white, and she flits from place to place instead of swimming.
Only the bettas in the tank are dying, no other fish. The parameters are ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 10. I change the water about 40 percent every 7-10 days. My tanks are immaculate. I haven't done anything different, I haven't added or removed anything. I can't think of anything it could be, especially anything affecting bettas only. I have bettas in other tanks that are fine. The two male bettas came from one lfs, the female bettas from another. And there's no chance for predation or bullying, the other fish are smaller and passive.
Any ideas?
Only the bettas in the tank are dying, no other fish. The parameters are ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 10. I change the water about 40 percent every 7-10 days. My tanks are immaculate. I haven't done anything different, I haven't added or removed anything. I can't think of anything it could be, especially anything affecting bettas only. I have bettas in other tanks that are fine. The two male bettas came from one lfs, the female bettas from another. And there's no chance for predation or bullying, the other fish are smaller and passive.
Any ideas?