mysterious betta death

[Rinzy]

I had this betta for a few months and he was doing great.

All my water parameters were fine - ph 6.8, ammonia/nitrites/nitrates - 0 temp 78f. I had him in a 3 gallon tank with heater and filter. One morning I woke up and he had some discoloration on his tail - almost looked like burnt paper.

so I took some pictures and showed the guy at the fish store - he had never seen anything like it. I asked on a betta forum and they also had never seen anything like it either. - 7 hours after taking the first pictures - he looked like this

and by the next morning, his tail was completely grey and shredded and he had died. It was so fast spreading - and no one knew what it was so I didn't want to go treating him for the wrong thing. Just wondering if anyone has ever seen anything like that or know what that was. I'd like to be able to prevent that from happening if possible.

 

[Rinzy]

Bump for any leads.

 

[Shadey]

Oh, wow.

A couple times people have mentioned here that fish can get burned by the heater, if they lean against it. Maybe something like that?

That's crazy though... sorry for your loss.

 

[Rinzy]

Yeah, I thought that may be what happened but it spread so fast and he never really hung out by the heater

 

[alLexX]

thats weird...

 

[ChemEngineer]

Just a thought since this is what I would do since no one seems to know what the disease was. If you still have the carcass, (or at the very least the pictures), bring it to a local veterinarian school if you have one. Someone might be able to identify it there, and if you don't have a local school, search online for one. I know Auburn University has an excellent veterinarian school, and if you contact someone in the aquatics department they might be able to identify the problem. If nothing else, they might be able to suggest someone with whom you can talk.

...when in doubt go to people with advanced degrees on the subject!

 

[shynepo3]

How was he acting since you noticed until he died? I really can't offer you any help, I'm just curious.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Rinzy]

How was he acting since you noticed until he died? I really can't offer you any help, I'm just curious.

Sorry for your loss.

He was fine, swimming around, eating ect. Then the day all this happened he just layed on the bottom, he would still swim up to eat but went back to his spot on the bottom afterwards.