Betta problem

[Fierce Deity]

My mom's betta spent a while always being vertical. It also lost its color. By that I mean from brilliant red to a dull brown. It died a week later. Any ideas? It is was being kept in one of those betta keepers, and all of the directions were followed properly.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

It is was being kept in one of those betta keepers

Can you describe this?

 

[Thoth]

two questions:
How old was the fish?

How often was the water changed?

Personally I've never had a betta live longer than a year and a half, my manager had hers two and a half years before it died. It might have just reached the end of its life. Average life span is 2 years.

Also since those betta keepers are smaller than optimal, a partial water change should be done at least once a week if not twice. Otherwise nitrates can build up to dangerous levels quickly.

 

[Fierce Deity]

Can you describe this?

Yeah sure. Here is the exact product:
http://www.petsandponds.com/c64273p16346766.2.html
As you can see it is a simple plastic container, a plastic plant and some aquarium gravel. The kit is designed specifically for bettas. It came with food and a water conditioner as well.

 

[Fierce Deity]

two questions:
How old was the fish?

How often was the water changed?

Personally I've never had a betta live longer than a year and a half, my manager had hers two and a half years before it died. It might have just reached the end of its life. Average life span is 2 years.

Also since those betta keepers are smaller than optimal, a partial water change should be done at least once a week if not twice. Otherwise nitrates can build up to dangerous levels quickly.

The water was changed once or twice a week, although the fish died after a week of having it.

 

[Thoth]

It could have been sick from the start, they are not treated the best between shipment and sitting in those tiny cups for God knows how long, and probably not fed.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

The water was changed once or twice a week, although the fish died after a week of having it.

These weren't *complete* water changes, were they?

 

[Shelob]

If they were complete water changes then that could have continuously stressed the betta till it died. I recommend no more than 50% water change once a week. Also overfeeding is common with bettas, depending on the type of food I suggest no more than 2 pellets a day.

I suspect old age though.

 

[Alissa]

If you have a small tank like that, 100% water changes are pretty much necessary, unfortunately. The stress of a water change isn't as bad as the stress of ammonia poisoning. I wouldn't worry as much about nitrates or nitrites, you really can't get a cycle going in a tank that small and the ammonia never really gets converted by the nitrifying bacteria in the tank.

I would not keep a betta in a container that small even though I have before and it is possible. It just isn't optimal and creates more work for you.

If you wanted to set up a 2.5 gallon tank with a small heater and filter (i like the red sea nanofilters turned down all the way, bettas don't like strong water flow) I would consider the heater more necessary and the filter more convenient though if you're trying to go cheap. Bettas do much better at 78-80 deg. F than room temperature. I noticed a huge change in my bettas coloration and personality when I switched it to that type of setup.

 

[Fierce Deity]

I changed about 2/3 of the water. What makes it wierd is how it lost it's color, not that it died. And that water conditioner thing is supposesd to help with anything harmful in the water.

 

[Thoth]

All my bettas lost color either immediately before they died. I'm not sure of the physiological explanation for this.