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Me and my wife have just recently purchased some bettas. I have cleaned tanks every week, fed twice a day...everything i've read and heard i have done. we have had these bettas for about 2 months then suddenly this weekend in 2 separate2.5 gallon tanks which house 2 bettas a piece (with a divider ofcourse)All 4 have fallen ill. The first tank which houses Shayne (a beautiful blue betta) and Red (I think you can figure out his color). They both have lost their appetites and are either just sitting up in their plants or sitting on the bottom. Shayne has become very pale while Red has kept his color. For 2 days now, since they have not eaten, I have treated the water with "Splendid Betta-Betta Fix Remedy" with no visible results.The second tank houses Blue (A mostly blue W/red betta) and Isaac (A pink betta with blue and red fins)Both of these bettas visibly seem ok, however neither is eatting and they are both hanging out at the top of the tank and not doing much moving. They have both kept their color, but just by having them for 2 months i can tell they are not themselves. Also i have noticed Isaac's pectoral fin looks as if it stuck to the side of him and unusable. This tank has also been treated with the same medication. Any advice or suggestions on a better or more reliable treatment would be appreciated.



[span class="edited"][Edited by 2004-08-09 11:59][/span]


[span class="edited"][Edited by 2004-08-09 12:27][/span]

[span class="edited"][Edited by 2004-08-09 12:51][/span]

Hrm... have you treated the water with dechlorinator when you do the water changes? Your best bet is to use a water treatment that neutralizes both chlorine and chloramine, unless you know for certain that you don't have the second.

If you DO use the dechlor, make sure the treatment is still good, as this sounds like what a friend's betta went through... found out the dechlor was bad and the betta was probably suffering chlorine poisoning (prolly not a technical term, but that's the best description I can come up with).

Other than that, all I can say is that bettas in divided tanks always wind up sharing diseases, so it's usually suggested that you don't keep them in tanks with porous dividers. If I were in your position, I'd get seperate tanks for everyone, just to keep future diseases in check.

If this turns out to be something other than chlorine poisoning, perhaps try bettaMax if you can find it... it's supposed to be a good all-round med for bettas. Bettafix is like melafix, sort of like putting peroxide on a cut, it helps keep out infection, but doesn't cure.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Update: Blue has passed away.

Oh, no... I'm so sorry...

Can you update me on the situation with water treatments? I can't do much to help if I don't know what to rule out, first. If you're using tap water, can you let us know what dechlorinator you're using? Are you on well water? Buying bottled water?

This doesn't sound like a sickness, per se, but like there's something to do with the water that's creating the symptoms.

Have you used soap or chemicals in/near the tanks? Sprayed anything recently? My advice would be to do an immediate water change. Something's wrong with the water, not the bettas... Or, that's my opinion. Seems odd for a sickness to have effected four bettas in two tanks at the same time.

I'm certainly no expert, but I'd like to help if I can...

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I am using town water and using Tetra aqua "Aquasafe" it says it neutralizes chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals harmful to fish, and that was purchased at Petco less than a month ago. Have just moved remaining 3 into separate bowls and treated with Melafix. the 2.5 gallon tanks they were in have been cleaned and are drying out. Never have used soap or any detergants to clean tanks..they are only 2 months old anyway, but when i clean them i just use water and maybe one of those scrubbies for the glass.

but when i clean them i just use water and maybe one of those scrubbies for the glass.

Are the scrubbies made just for aquariums?? If not they could have had some detergents(sp) in them.

HTH,
Stella

No it was made for tanks , it's that new Tetra magnet scrubbie. Ive started a new topic on the hospital forum like i was told. we could still use the help if anyone out there is interested in helping us and our little guys.

Perhaps something was sprayed near the tanks? Perfume, cleaners, etc? Even in the same room... I don't know, it still seems to me like there's something in the water, rather than a disease, though I could be wrong.

Definitely keep using the aquasafe, do 100% water changes weekly, more often if the containers you're using now are smaller than a gallon. Clean everything with hot water... I don't know what else to say, I certainly hope someone can help!

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Sorry, went and read your post in the Labyrinth Lounge just now. Of course you have dividers.

I’m at a complete loss. I’ve gone through whatever medical stuff I have and can’t find anything that matches the symptoms you describe.

The best I can come up with is as stated by Kitten is that it does sound like a water contamination problem rather then a disease. Particularly as it’s now affecting all fish in different tanks. Do you have any seashells or rocks in the tanks, are there any white lines at the water mark when you do changes?

If there is nothing you have been doing that may have been contaminated the water, maybe you can make a quick call to your local water authority and see if there is anything they have changed. I have heard people running into problems with changes in their water supply, especially during when the water boards increase the level of treatment in the water supply because of problems with the increased temps during summer.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Updatehayne and Red have passed last night and Isaac passed today...thank you to anyone who tryed to help. My wife is very upset, she grew quite attached to them. hopefully this will be a learning expierience.

I'm so sorry to hear about your other bettas

Stella

Sorry to hear that Jessnick.Wish there was something we could have done.

I would still try to check if there is something changed in the water supply just to avoid any future problems.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.