Mysterious Beta death

[AmbientXplosion]

Ive been in the beta hobby for a 5 years now. I love the guys! Recently one of mine randomly died.

He was in a 10gal tank, with a filter (no heater) his tank mates where a snail, and 6 ghost shrimp.
The tank was completely cycled before I even stocked it - fishless cycle.

I admit I didnt test my water often, but I kept up with 30% water changes every 4-6 days. So I highly doubt my water perimeters are too blame here.
This tank has only been set up for 4 months. Everything was going wonderfully until I had a black/green algae issue, due to an algae disc left uneaten in the aquarium and the light left on while i was away for the weekend.

I did water changes, and scrubbed the algae from everything using tank water ( from the water change)
Ever since the algae outbreak the poor beta was laying on his side often. He swam funny and was mostly inactive. And a few days ago he was found dead in his tank. I tested the water, all perimeters were fine.

There is a minor amount of this algae stuff on the walls of the tank. I have been scrubbing it off, sparsely feeding and limiting the light.
Needless to say, I want to restock this tank. I never got it completely stocked before issues came. My plan was a snail, 4 or 5 black neon tetras, 6 ghost shrimp and my beta. I hope soon to still get my black neons and possibly another beta, adding them in a few at a time. I am scared to add anything because I do not know what is going on with my aquarium. The snail and my shrimp are healthy and active.

What do you think? Did the algae for some reason kill off my beta? Ive had him for 2 years, got at walmart as an adult- he was one of those with a 4th cup of GREEN water, about dead upon purchase. - I did one fish in cycle with him once since I had him (another 10gal) -but like I said before, the recently cycle was fishless. Maybe he just had a hard life... I dont know, Im bummed out about it. Many of my betas Ive had 3 or 4 years.

When would you add a couple of new fish?
Any tips on getting rid of this algae? -- MOST all aquarium chemicals for such things are unsafe for snails

 

[bugmankeith]

Bettas need heaters they are tropical fish. Minimum is 78 F and 80 F is about average. What did you feed the Betta? They will sometimes take a bite or two of algae but bettas are carnivorous fish, so things like frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp are excellent for them, as well as frozen daphnia. Could the Betta have been ill and you didn't realize so it wasn't treated and died, most bettas purchased are sick with something and should be quarantined before introducing to a community tank. Ich,velvet,dropsy,bacterial infection are all common illnesses and ammonia burn on gills from being kept in dirty cups, all these things need to looked for when you bring a Betta home.

 

[AmbientXplosion]

from my research Bettas do well with heaters. they are not required for them to live happily given the room they are in is a bit warm. Many Betas can live a full healthy life span with no heater. Infact keeping the snail and the shrimp in cooler temps has been proven to increase life span. And the light significantly warms the tank. Of course I need a heater before I acquire the other fish, however. I fed him beta pellets and freeze dried blood worms.
Two years ago when I got him I didnt think he would make it.
He died with no visible signs of illness. He acted like the ammonia was high or something... but it was not. and no other aquarium life affected.

 

[bugmankeith]

from my research Bettas do well with heaters. they are not required for them to live happily given the room they are in is a bit warm. Many Betas can live a full healthy life span with no heater. Infact keeping the snail and the shrimp in cooler temps has been proven to increase life span. And the light significantly warms the tank. Of course I need a heater before I acquire the other fish, however. I fed him beta pellets and freeze dried blood worms.
Two years ago when I got him I didnt think he would make it.
He died with no visible signs of illness. He acted like the ammonia was high or something... but it was not. and no other aquarium life affected.

Betta pellets over time can cause impaction and freeze dried bloodworms are bad and besides impaction and lack if nutrients that is why frozen is better, you should do more reading Betta breeders never feed pellets or anything freeze dried.

 

[pyro fiend]

i must agree yet disagree with this all. iv taken in many many betas over the years from many conditions. bowls, jars, big tanks. all go into 10gs [some get slightly bumped up slowly especially the ones kept in bowls] each fish is different. iv had ones who would not move in a nice 5 or 10g planted tank. and get gloomy unless they are in 1g. iv seen betas who would not eat in 75degree water but loved life living in the high 60s

but iv also had some be happy and playful following my finger. i go get a drink and they are more or less belly up with great water conditions[the day before the next water change]. iv found out so long as the betas happy it don't matter. tho freeze dried is bad. but i wouldn't say breeders only use frozen. alot use pellets. [im in beta forums too] but it is important to keep not use certain ones and use a mixture of foods to keep a happy fish. and always give a day or 2 of fasting per week so they don't get impacted i myself don't feed sun and wed with some fish... sometimes a fish dies for no reason it seems. i think some of it is genetic. but food can be a huge thing with them. over feeding and old age is usually one of the top reasons [wally world fish are usually a year old or so] because they typically only need a few pellets once a day maybe more with the exception of king betas and abnormally large ones [i have a 3inch female whos a pig]

as for the mysterious death its hard to find out what it was. water levels and parameters okay? could be illness or age. as far as algae being the reason for death i highly doubt it. i had a 125 [long/short] female beta sorority with cory cats, Malaysian trumpet snails and live plants. every time i fed them the girls would try and eat the wafers, and the cats wouldnt eat veg. i ofc would then have all my pellets or shrimp go to waist and would cause green algae probs with my med light levels... i just wiped it off befor it gets too yucky and that tank survived for 3 years before i tore it down after a few girls died of age...and a few girls had a habbit of eating so much wafer theyd bloat [even when id feed corys wiel they was asleep cuddled in the plants]

as far as the algae. id do a huge water change[maybe 50-60%] rinse your media in the bucket of old water, wipe it all off with a sponge, when doing so squeeze the sponge out in the bucket of water so you dont contaminate the old water with tap water and u dont make ur water green[i learned that one]. once youv done that refill and have a blackout. im not sure what kind of snail you have, im guessing apple or mystic. but it wont mind the water being dark for a few days. if the tanks near a window or a lamp. id put construction paper on back of tank and sides. so you dont get a new algae outbreak.


WHEW! that was a mouth full... lol this wall of gibberish make sense?

 

[AmbientXplosion]

Betta pellets over time can cause impaction and freeze dried bloodworms are bad and besides impaction and lack if nutrients that is why frozen is better, you should do more reading Betta breeders never feed pellets or anything freeze dried.

Thank you for your input, however I have been keeping bettas for years now. All of mine are exceptionally healthy. I am not keeping them in small bowls feeding them goldfish flakes for crying out loud. Maybe it has changed, but a few years ago when I originally joined my beta forums the pellets were recommend over the flakes and the bloodworms for another source of protein to be fed occasionally. If this has changed, perhaps I will reconsider what I am feeding my fish.
I KNOW diet did not kill this beta. I brought him back from the brink of death a year ago on this diet, and all my other betas are doing great. Ive had some 3 and nearly 4 years. I do not have a local fish store where I live. I cannot find sense in placing an online order and paying shipping for fish food. I am sorry if that somehow makes me less of a beta owner than you. I feed what I can from walmart for the most part, and that is how its going to have to be. Having said that I think they have a decent diet and get expectational care.

Pyro- that made sense and was helpful! I did algae management as you suggested but only a 30% WC. In about 5 days some algae started appearing again on the side of the tank, which I scrubbed off during a WC. My snail is a "mystery" snail. The type that are dark brown in color with faint stripes

 

[bugmankeith]

This site is one of the most modern so try browsing here http://www.bettatalk.com

 

[pyro fiend]

Is your tank near a window or any room with alot of ambient light?? If so might wana try the construction paper iv had similar outbreaks due to no plants in a tank and in a bright room/near 2 planted tanks. But never a death

 

[Smokehound714]

Sounds like either a swim bladder disorder, or ammonia poisoning. Could even have been impaction, as well.

 

[AmbientXplosion]

ammonia was well below concerning.
not near a window.